This is an idea for a going away gift for anyone going to college. My neighbors daughter is leaving for college and I wanted to give her something special to take with her. I found a very nice small vintage looking suitcase at an estate sale. I have had such fun filling it with inexpensive necessities and I am really proud of myself at how thrifty I have been. Items included in the suitcase are, cookies, instant ramen noodle soups, instant hot chocolate, a pretty mug, again purchased at a estate sale. Pencils, pens, highlighters, a dayplanner, a phone card which was a buy one get one free at Walgreens drug store, a pretty package of notecards and a book of stamps. Gifts do not have to be expensive to be a blessing! All of the items I have purchased at estate sales, or at a very good sale price!
One thing I needed was a stand for my text books. I didn't have a whole lot of room in my apartment, of course, and an open text book lying flat took up my entire desk! One that stands the book up and keeps the pages from falling.
Ink for the printer and computer paper. If they are in a dorm (especially for guys) I heard the shower floor can get all sorts of nasty, so get them flip-flops. The place where I went to college had very cold winters and very hot summers, so anything to help with the weather was great.
As far as gift cards go. Instead of getting them calling cards get them pay-as-you-go cell phones (if they already have cell phones, then calling cards wouldn't do much good, anyway). But get them a card for their local grocery store, definitely, and gas cards are nice. Also it is a lot cheaper for them to get their text books off of Amazon.com rather than at their school book store so an amazon card is great.
Other good ideas are the Chefmate Dorm cooking Kit 40pc. Can be found at www.goodwilltoo.com for $30 Also a Hot Pot. Totally different than a Hot plate (which is not allowed at most dorms) Great for boiling water for Ramen, Oatmeal, instant coffee, tea & hot drink meds. $10 at Target or Walmart. One more thing is an Air purifier, this will help the air circulation in those cramped areas, preventing many illnesses. $30-50 at Target or Walmart
This is a list of things that I'm going to put in a basket/box for my brother; who is going to college this year. I did some research and found that these are the main components, other than toiletries and the big stuff like laptop, microwave, mini-fridge, and desk stuff. i know that some of these have been said before, but I don't think that duct tape has been and that is very important.
-Air Freshener -Instant Hot Cocoa -Cool/Funky Mug -Pens, Pencils, Highlighter etc (Emergency Only) -Ear Plugs -Book Light -Energy Pills, Gum, & Drinks -Pizza Coupon/Certificate -First Aid Kit -Popcorn (Big & Personal Size) -Candy -Clothes Hamper -Big Bag of Gum & Mints -Roll of Quarters (Vending/Phone/Laundry) -Notepad -Envelopes -Stamps -Bookmarks -Yo-yo -Stress Ball -Shock-Tarts -Nail Clippers -Screw Driver Set -Duct Tape *** Very important -Bike Lock -Pics of Family -Pizza Cutter -Medicine: Ibuprofen, Thermometer, NiQuil, DayQuil, $2 Target Nose Spray (MIracle worker), Cough Drops (Brown Kind aka: good kind; Yellow kind aka: yummy tasting kind)
Everything that was already said plus a laundary basket or a laundary lug around thing if they come home on weekends to wash clothes. A flash drive would do great wonders. Otherwise more expensive items like a labtop, tv, fridge, etc. I think a radio would be appreciated plus a few cd's if you are generous, oh, and an alarm clock and a water bottle (don't be cheap an give em an aquafina bottle) aka a reusable bottle, plus dish soap and towels to get their dishes clean. Last thing, add an item(s) that they would or do enjoy doing. Ex. if they like to read give that a novel or a gift certificate to a local bookstore.
1 - TOILET PAPER! 2 - Different dorm friendly snacks, popcorn, pop-tarts, top ramen, trail mix, ect 3 - PRINTER INK! seriously, some of us students use it more than others but it is EXPENSIVE! parents if you can put it in the care package! 4 - Quarters of course 5 - MEDICINE! Cold and Sinus meds especially. We're leaving our "normal" environment (Home) and moving in with other people and theirs germs. How many of us have sniffled our way through long lectures? 6 - and of course ENERGY DRINKS, for the almighty all nighters
We have a College Survival Pack that teaches kids about CREDIT CARDS and STAYING OUT OF DEBT. More than 50% of students are getting into $5,000 or more of high interest credit card debt by the time they graduate (according to the Jump$tart Coalition for personal finance).
Our illustrated financial survival pack teach kids everything they need to know about building credit, controlling their spending, and budgeting. We also cover the most common mistakes that students make.Check out www.DollarCampBooks.com .
My friend's oldest daughter did it in reverse: a "mom survival kit after sending child to college". She wrapped 30 tiny presents (chocolate, hand-written cards etc.) to be opened one a day for the first 30 days she was gone. Since the parents are in Japan and the daughter has gone to the States, this was a big trauma, and the mom has really appreciated it!
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Archives:
Request: College Survival Kit
Archived on 09/04/2007
Hey folks, it's getting close to time to start sending kids back to college or off to college for the first time. Do you have any ideas for a college survival kit?
Answers:
RE: College Survival Kit
I make up gift baskets and sell them and one of the ideas I use is as follows:
A wire basket or plastic shower basket
soap or body wash
sponge
shampoo
toothpaste
toothbrush cover
shaving creme
lotion
coupons for pizza hut, subway etc.
address book
small photo album
disposable camera
envelopes
stamps
The list is endless and they are so much fun to put together.
Hope this helps!
(08/11/2004)
Small first aid kit is something most kids don't think they will need, but eventually have to have.
Nail clippers.
Scissors.
Small sewing kit.
video rental gift certificates
school supplies. If they don't have a car to get to places to shop, they may be forced to shop at the campus book stores which tend to triple their prices.
Small cleaning kit for minor messes. Paper towels, Windex, 409, Pine-Sol and toilet brush if they have their own bathroom. Maybe add a 4 pack of toilet paper too. hee hee (08/12/2004)
By Tawnda
RE: College Survival Kit
Last fall was my first semester as a non-traditional college student. Here are the things that many of my classmates complained about not having:
Extra money on student ID card (used for snacks, drinks, photo copies, etc)
Bike lock
Gift certificates to local restaurants and grocery stores
Shower shoes
Disposable camera
Plenty of notecards and cool pens
GUM!!! (Waaaay overpriced at student center)
Nalgene water bottle (everybody has them)
Calling card (First semester I had a classmate with a 700$ cell phone bill. She did not think to add minutes to her plan before she left home). I found that Wal-Mart or Sams are the best value.
Bus pass (if ID card does not work)
Cool lights or pillows for dorm. In the dorm everyone is trying to be different. Keep that in mind when shopping.
A roll of quarters is $10 -- quarters will be needed for vending machines, parking meters, etc. How will the student be getting from the dorm to the classes? If he/she is riding a bike, a nice quality bike lock will be a pleasant surprise. If walking, how about a collapsible umbrella? When my nephew went to college, his biggest complaint was that the toilet paper in the communal dorm bathroom was like sandpaper -- the most-appreciated survival item was name-brand, soft tp!!!! (08/17/2004)
By Becki in Indiana
RE: College Survival Kit
Quarters (for laundry), tea, chocolate chips, candy, multi-tool thing (or wrench), sewing kit, duct tape, first aid kit (or just band-aids), peanut butter, ramen, earplugs, eyeshades, condoms. (12/19/2004)
RE: College Survival Kit
Medicine! Send lots and lots of medicine! (04/10/2005)
By Jennifer D.
RE: College Survival Kit
Bring extra sheets.
In a bunkbed in a dorm situation, you can drape sheets from the top bunk down the sides and foot and head to make a privacy cave. A cave for the top bunk can be made from dark colored sheets by hanging from the ceiling using deeper thumb tacks (tack into ceiling) or ceiling hooks (screw into ceiling and hook sheet to that.)
This cave also keeps you warmer in the winter, or fall when the cold weather comes but they have not turned the boilers on yet.
(01/25/2006)
This is my first year as a college student and where I am at it is an apartment style dorm with 3 roommates. The thing we use most are:
cleaning supplies
TOILET PAPER!!!
paper plates
gift cards / money
quarters for laundry
hangers
storage containers
pictures from home
computer / printer / computer paper
paper clips / stapler
magnets
cooking utensils
pots and pans
plastic baggies
tinfoil
saran wrap
(02/01/2006)
By Stacy
RE: College Survival Kit
sstationary (notepads folders etc)
decent toiletries (shampoo shower gel deodorant toilet paper etc)
basic store cupboard (dried pasta tinned foods milk tea coffee sugar rice and so on)
gift vouchers (those for local supermarkets/shops r always welcome)
(02/12/2006)
By kezza
RE: College Survival Kit
Shower Shoes! Very important (05/29/2006)
By Iles
RE: College Survival Kit
Gas cards are nice if they have a vehicle. (07/08/2006)
By auburng92
RE: College Survival Kit
I'm going to be a college sophomore and I'm making a "survival kit" for a friend who's going to be a freshman. This is what I'm putting in it:
SOFT toilet paper (dorm tp sucks!)
pop tarts (a morning, afternoon, evening, and late night staple!)
package of many small boxes of different cereals
air freshener (a must for smelly boys!)
gum
readivac hand-held compact vacuum
ear plugs (snoring roommates are a killer.)
poster adhesive (you never have it when you need it.)
laundry soap, stain remover, and a roll of quarters
band-aids
computer paper
6-in-1 screwdriver
and of course...TOP RAMEN!! (08/11/2006)
By Elizabeth
RE: College Survival Kit
Medicine is a must! As a freshmen I have bought tums, cold medicine, pepto, cough drops, nasal spray, and lots of others! quarters for dorm college students is a necessity. Sending regular mail like the local newspaper or a short note from the family is nice during the semester. (01/08/2007)
