College Fun (Care) package ideas

[Fishbone†]

I'm going to send my DN a box of fun stuff for her at college. I'll of course include some of her favorite snacks, etc, but was looking for some other creative ideas. Does anyone have some fun ideas of things they've sent or received or would like to send or receive? She's a Junior this year, and shares an apartment with a bunch of other girls.

All ideas are welcome!! THANK YOU!!

 

[daisyduck123]

How about some stuff to decorate for the upcoming holidays??

Halloween decorations?? Lights, window clings, pumpkins, etc?
Maybe a BIG Halloween bowl full of candy?

 

[Rora]

DVDs, iTunes gift card, games (Apples to Apples, Catchphrase, etc), maybe some baking supplies and cake/ cookie mixes.

Those are just some things I got in college and really enjoyed!

 

[RitaE]

I try to go with consumable items and not "stuff" that will clutter up tight living spaces.

Good shampoos and conditioners and soap, make-up, rolls of quarters (heavy to mail though), burt's bees lip balm, lotion... does she have an iPod? Ear buds...my kids are always in need of those....

 

[missypie]

Cozy slipper socks?

 

[cabanafrau]

Quarters for laundry & such are always a great idea. Before mid-terms I once sent a couple of packages of giant-sized Smarties candies I found -- along w/ a note they were insurance to guarantee successful exams. You could easily do the same w/ regular-sized Smarties, I just did the giant ones because I ran across them in a store & came up w/ the idea to fit.

 

[tiggger1]

another idea is to add some first aid stuff. I made a basket for a friend going to college and i put Rolaids, tums, cough drops, cough medicine, aspirin, bandaids, pepto, tissues, toe nail clippers, anti itch lotion...

all the stuff that they would have a home but dont want to spend their $$ on at school....

 

[browneyes106]

Here are my suggesttions
-Itunes gift cards
-gift cards to grocery stores
-highlighters
-index cards

 

[My sister's princess]

My sister sends THE BEST CARE PACKAGES EVER.

Highlights from the last few boxes include

many pairs of Disney socks (from Target, I have small feet lol)
Little Mermaid lip gloss
Hannah Montana hand sanitizer
good smelling lotion
Lip gloss
Snacks
Highschool Musical Gel Pens
Princess BandAids
Hannah Montana post its
Nemo stampers
Scrapbooking stuff
Picture Frames
Movies
Medicine
Make up, nailpolish


We share a big love for Disney so she sends me lots of little things that I can use, that will make me smile. I would never spend extra money on these things, so when she sends them they are a real treat. EX- I would get plain bandaids, not the more expensive tattoo princess ones lol

 

[hoosll]

I would always throw in:

Pez dispenser with refills
Pep Farm Goldfish
Roll of quarters - vending machines and laundry

 

[Abbie]

If you have a nice-sized dollar store near you it is a wealth of small, cute things that are easy to mail! I just sent my daughter a big box, mostly small snacky things, but I found great stuff to add at the dollar store.

 

[kafitty]

TIDE PENS. always a lifesaver.

 

[DisneyDayTripper]

I graduated college in 2008 and can say that I absolutely LOVED seeing the little card in my box stating that I had a package. Great feeling! I'd suggest some of their favorite candies and maybe some random ones as well that they could share with their roomies or friends or something. I also second the idea for the card games because those are what were fun to do on the weekends and late night when you're bored. Also gift cards for Wal-mart or iTunes are great ideas as well!

 

[The Princess]

I like the holiday decoration idea.

What about magazines???

 

[minkydog]

I just sent a care package to DS23. I just put his favorite candies in it--you know, a bag of Halloween pumpkins, caramels, and a bag of mixed Hersheys, Snickers, and Reese's peanut butter cups. If my box had been a little bigger I would have put in some of those little pumpkins, like you put on your table.

My mother used to send me care packages that were the best. She put in magazines, homemade Toll House cookies, pantyhose, oranges, tuna, quarters, cute hair do-dads. It was so great to get my box and aaaaallll my friends were jealous. I'd find them lined up at my door, waiting for me to come back with that box.

 

[clh2]

I have sent my nieces care packages that have included home-made goodies...caramels, brownies, chocolate chip cookies. And then...I keep a little stash of "fun" stuff I pick up here and there...the one that was really well-liked was a pad of "flip-flop" shaped post-it notes. FWIW - we live in Wisconsin, and currently have 2 nieces out-of-state. I love to pick up UW-Madison items and cow-print items - like pencils, as they really do not cost a lot.

Don't forget to send an inexpensive toy, something "silly"...Silly Putty, slinky's etc. The goal is - the care package doesn't need to cost a lot!

Have fun...I've been thinking I should send out a fall package.

I coached a HS team for Destination Imagination last year, and just loved the 2 seniors on the team. I am half tempted to send them a care package too!

 

[christineann]

Nabs
granola bars
peanut butter
homemade cookies
pictures drawn by the youngest cousins (always a hit)
laundry detergent tablets
snack size boxes of cereal
hot chocolate packets
plastic Halloween pumpkin filled with candy
small novelty picture frames
post it notes in different designs
Crystal Light to Go
reed diffuser room freshener (no candles allowed)
grocery store gift cards
Bath and Body gift cards
restaurant gift cards or coupons

 

[wendydarlingt]

My mom once sent me a care package just before finals week, and I was the most popular girl in the dorm for a while. She sent lots of candy, mostly focused on the stuff I'd liked as a kid that came in single-serve packages. Also, she sent a slinky, which I have in my office to this day (20 years later!), and some other kid-type toys like a small etch-a-sketch and play doh. The toys were the best tension breaker during finals. I had people come to my door at 2 am to borrow play doh during study breaks.

 

[JEmaryland]

Beer.

 

[RAV]

My son enjoys receiving his packages. I send one each week and try to make each one different. He really enjoys gift cards to local restaurants just to get a break from dining hall food. Well wrapped homemade baked goods are always a hit. He even appreciates things like socks and boxers just to delay laundry day. Cash is always greatly appreciated.