Green is more than just a school color... College Planning Tips for Parents

College students — and their parents — are beginning to get ready for the start of the new college year. Students either living in dorms or setting up an apartment have several unique factors to consider this year:
     -    our current economy dictates every purchase needs to
          be made with good value in mind
     -    more than ever we need to be mindful of minimizing
          the carbon footprint, and looking for "green"
          alternatives.

Marie Carr, who has sent three daughters off to college, has written Sending Your Child to College: The Prepared Parent's Operational Manual — with her daughters help. The book, which recently received numerous awards, covers all the nitty-gritty details from safety, privacy laws, paying tuition bills, managing a sick child no longer at home, health care proxies, dorm insurance, identity theft, hidden costs and budgeting. The clear, concise instructions, organization charts and forms, tips and shopping lists allow parents and students to plan ahead, be eco-friendly, save time and money and make the most of these exciting years.    

Here are a few ways college students can do their part for their wallet and their planet:

Remember to re-use and recycle wherever possible rather than buy new. A little asking around of family, friends, and neighbors -- and stops at a few garage sales -- will usually net you much more than you could imagine. And, of course, there is always e-bay and craigslist to check out, too.

Other ways students can reuse and recycle include:

• recycling gift wrap to line dresser drawers
• recycle gift boxes, mugs, flower pots for desk accessories
• utilize their college's student paper print allowance and possibly not purchase a printer
• use their computer as their TV and DVD player
• use their cell phone as an alarm clock

Consider these options before setting out to the stores:

• purchase bamboo and organic fiber bed linens and towels
• purchase bamboo hangers, racks, sweater bags, storage boxes, plates and desk accessories (easily found online and some at The Container Store)
• purchase messenger bags for use as book bags since they are made of partially recycled water bottles — www.uncommongoods.com
• create your own cleaning products from baking soda and vinegar. Recipes can be found online at www.ideabite.com
• purchase dry erase boards of recycled melamine
• purchase recycled retractable pens

Help get the new college semester/year off to a good start by using some of these ideas to keep your new home-away-from-home green.

This is only one of the numerous topics dealing with kids and college that Marie Carr covers in Sending Your Child to College, (http://www.preparedparentguide.com/, $15.95 pb, ISBN: 978-0-933165-16-8).

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There are lots of other ideas and "moving in" suggestions in Sending Your Child to College. Chapter 6: Green Is Not Only for Trees includes a checklist and offers suggestions for Planet and Eco-Friendly Dorm Room Purchases, Green Cleaning ideas and more. Chapter 7: The Dorm Room--A Well-Stock Locker covers everything from insurance (yes, you need it), to must-haves that include a sewing kit and a tool kit, to storage ideas. There is even a ready-to-use Personal Property Inventory Checklist.    

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