Post by sunshine on Jul 18, 2005 0:55:45 GMT 10
Just a note, many of you have mentioned that your kids are leaving for college
this fall. Here are several ideas for fairly inexpensive care packages
(Monthly).
Each Month you could create a New Theme Box:
Month 1: Back to School
Essentials like toiletries, phone card, roll of quarters (for vending &
laundry), instant soup mixes, snacks, drink mixes and maybe some homemade
goodies. Lotions/razors/trial size items, etc.
Month 2-3: Exam time
Instant coffee Mixes (see our beverages pages on www.budget101.com ), ramen
noodles, microwave popcorn, candy, Tylenol, Stress balls to squeeze. Cookie
Mixes if they have a Kitchen in the dorm. Eye pillow with lavender flowers in it
to calm and soothe during these high stress times. A CD of music made by you to
help relax or energize as needed. Ear Plugs (some dorms are so loud you can't
think!)
Months 4: Christmas/Yule/Kwanzaa/Hannauka/etc
send some small decorations to brighten her room and some holiday goodies
including beverage & snack mixes, JAW (Just add water) soups from our site.
Inbetween Months:
"Chocolate" theme...cookies, brownies, her favorite
chocolate candy. Items like Brownies & blondies seem to have a longer storage
life than cookies.
Football Theme: Super Bowl package w/ cheese, crackers, beef sticks, Beef Jerky,
etc.
Birthday Box: (for those celebrating during the school year)
goodies, balloons, confetti. (One year I sent a friend Fireworks.. but this
didn't go over well with the dean!)
Journal Jars:
You can use a jar or pail as needed, fill with pens/ stationary/stamps/
Envelopes, address labels (make them on your puter), etc. You can include notes
for her to send out "Thank You's" etc. One year I created a jar for a friend
that had birthday dates/ anniversary dates 7 addies all written out so she
wouldn't forget anyone when she got busy. It didn't cost much, but she really
appreciated it.
Cake in A Mug: Check this out on our site! www.budget101.com These are great
mixes that you can make for her to have cake anytime by just adding water and 2
minutes in the Microwave. You can include frosting mixes that just need water
as well.
Off to College Basket: When they first leave:
large Rubbermaid laundry basket. Lining w/ twin sheets for the dorm bed & bath
towels, a daytimer planner, stationary, rolls of quarters for laundry, a phone
book, address book, assorted school supplies, a backpack, plastic tumblers, a
photo album, film, plastic plates and flatware (from Walmart), shower shoes, a
college sticker for the car, and an university sweatshirt.
These and other great ideas at www.budget101.com
this fall. Here are several ideas for fairly inexpensive care packages
(Monthly).
Each Month you could create a New Theme Box:
Month 1: Back to School
Essentials like toiletries, phone card, roll of quarters (for vending &
laundry), instant soup mixes, snacks, drink mixes and maybe some homemade
goodies. Lotions/razors/trial size items, etc.
Month 2-3: Exam time
Instant coffee Mixes (see our beverages pages on www.budget101.com ), ramen
noodles, microwave popcorn, candy, Tylenol, Stress balls to squeeze. Cookie
Mixes if they have a Kitchen in the dorm. Eye pillow with lavender flowers in it
to calm and soothe during these high stress times. A CD of music made by you to
help relax or energize as needed. Ear Plugs (some dorms are so loud you can't
think!)
Months 4: Christmas/Yule/Kwanzaa/Hannauka/etc
send some small decorations to brighten her room and some holiday goodies
including beverage & snack mixes, JAW (Just add water) soups from our site.
Inbetween Months:
"Chocolate" theme...cookies, brownies, her favorite
chocolate candy. Items like Brownies & blondies seem to have a longer storage
life than cookies.
Football Theme: Super Bowl package w/ cheese, crackers, beef sticks, Beef Jerky,
etc.
Birthday Box: (for those celebrating during the school year)
goodies, balloons, confetti. (One year I sent a friend Fireworks.. but this
didn't go over well with the dean!)
Journal Jars:
You can use a jar or pail as needed, fill with pens/ stationary/stamps/
Envelopes, address labels (make them on your puter), etc. You can include notes
for her to send out "Thank You's" etc. One year I created a jar for a friend
that had birthday dates/ anniversary dates 7 addies all written out so she
wouldn't forget anyone when she got busy. It didn't cost much, but she really
appreciated it.
Cake in A Mug: Check this out on our site! www.budget101.com These are great
mixes that you can make for her to have cake anytime by just adding water and 2
minutes in the Microwave. You can include frosting mixes that just need water
as well.
Off to College Basket: When they first leave:
large Rubbermaid laundry basket. Lining w/ twin sheets for the dorm bed & bath
towels, a daytimer planner, stationary, rolls of quarters for laundry, a phone
book, address book, assorted school supplies, a backpack, plastic tumblers, a
photo album, film, plastic plates and flatware (from Walmart), shower shoes, a
college sticker for the car, and an university sweatshirt.
These and other great ideas at www.budget101.com
