<p>Tool kit was never used.
Duct tape likewise.</p>
<p>That play-do-ish bluetac stuff works for posters.</p>
<p>Cell phone.</p>
<p>(Just kidding… I’m sure he used it to call OTHER people.)</p>
<p>colorado_mom, that was funny!</p>
<p>Not used:
Duct tape,
Vitamins,
Flannel sheets (bldg was hot). K1 did switch from cotton jersey sheets to regular percale ones that came with the comforter because they were less “hot” I think the 3rd flr room was pretty warm.
dishes/plates ( but used bowls)
Alarm clock ( only used cell phone)</p>
<p>Used:
3M adhesive hooks, tack strips, (a lot)
snack foods (care packages)
chocolate (care packages)
laundry soap
Tervis tumblers
Dress clothes
Fridge (we bought a big one–it stored a lot of “stuff”)
Dustbuster (roommate had one)
Leatherman</p>
<p>Preface - Ds lived in suite of 6 - three doubles sharing a single bath - ymmv. </p>
<p>used and appreciated:
- stick dustbuster/vacuum cleaner (Target had for $15), not wireless but great versatile and well appreciated by entire floor apparently
- mattress topper - 2" memory foam off ebay - went for noname variety which was much nicer than what you get for 3x more$ at BBB.
- slipon snow boots (which he wouldn’t be caught dead in during HS)
- sticky-tac - that blue or white putty for attaching posters to walls
- $20 floor lamp with 5 positionable heads - everyone had this and since they only had desk and a small overhead flourescent, it was very useful
- tool kit - screwdriver, wrench, small hammer - came in handy to tighten chairs, he actually fixed a drippy sink with the wrench.
- otc drugs/bandaids/icepack - basic stuff for colds, headaches etc - CVS can be confusing for someone who just says “MAAAA! My nose is stuffy, what do I take?” (he’s getting better at this but during the first year, he would call me with his basic first aid box I made in front of him and ask what to take.)
- over-the-door or bedframe hooks - there were great ones at Target, plastic with padding on the part that hooks over - which fit best and didn’t jostle around. Was a pack of 3 types (1 hook, 3 hooks on one bar…) Basically something you can hang a towel on because his shared bath didn’t have anything and was disgustingly dirty.
- duck tape - not for putting up posters, but for lots of other uses like taping boxes, fixing broken things…</p>
<p>never used - still in original packaging:
- sponges,
- bathroom cleaners (ewww, I don’t want to know)
- white board - a “girl” thing apparently</p>
<p>what he will take less of next year:
- t-shirts - in addition to the collection he brought, everyone was handing out t-shirts through the year for concerts, clubs, dorms…so when he came back he had something like 60 tshirts. And that is stupid.</p>
<p>used once and left dirty
2. plastic dishes and cups (when asked for something to clean them with when we were packing him up, he handed me “swagger” body wash…ugh)</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>bawahahaha Amamnda you are hilarious!</p>
<p>Yes our k1 - who took only 10 T shirts came home with about 2 doz more. So some old Hs ones will stay here. Also had taken dress clothes–which were worn - yet didn’t wear as many–so will take less variety I guess…</p>
<p>If I was planning again, I think I might not do the plate/bowl things and go for really good/microwaveable paper products for bowls/plates.</p>
<p>Not all schools give out tshirts. Mine did maybe once per semester.</p>
<p>Whether they want disposable or reusable dishes may depend on the “green” culture of the school. We compromised and sent some of each – regular for typical use and a few disposable for rush mornings (he was doing breakfast in his room) or days when the dishes hadn’t been washed. He threw the dishes in the dishwasher when he came home, but they weren’t disgusting. I think he used them most of the time.</p>
<p>I had two plates, two bowls, and a set of silverware… to be used only in an emergency if I ran out of paper/plastic. Ended up getting used a lot, but didn’t spend as much time sitting dirty in the sink as it would have otherwise.</p>
<p>We returned a tension rod and blackout drape panels, bed risers, and over the door hooks. The only reason the over the door hook went back was because of the age of the bldg/old heavy wooden doors…and the thing wouldn’t fit over the door (the wood door was too thick).</p>
<p>The bed frames had rising ability and stack-ability. </p>
<p>I think the black out panels would have been nice to keep–as the thin panels on loops weren’t great nor wide enough–however k1 and roommate were fine with them–so it saved some $.</p>
<p>Getting ready to send my last child, S, off this fall and already the getting things together is way different than when my girls left. I made sure they had enough stuff to last 4 years! In hindsight, it was ridiculous, but it was a necessary step for me to get ready to send them off. This time, it’s different. My son shows little interest in getting ready unless I prod him and I’m way more relaxed and willing to concede that sometimes less is more. That was a long intro to my question. My son’s university has a laundry service that charges by the pound and makes weekly pickups with 24 hour turn around. It’s not cheap and we have never done this. However, with this last one, I’m thinking about it. While it’s more convenient, they miss the opportunity to learn how to manage their laundry. Anyone have any experience in this and if so pros & cons, please.</p>
<p>More of a surprised used item was a digital thermometer. I sent one because I had an extra. The first day of classes our oldest called asking if I packed one because someone down the hall was sick and wanted to see if she had a temperature.</p>
<p>Used by S: cooking utensils (has picked up a few more–now he’s specifying pot size but he’s just refining the list),spices, paper plates (gotta cut clean up somewhere). Tervis tumblers. Dye sheets so you can throw all your stuff in together.
Unused: organizer stuff I thought (and still do) think is great. and probably the hamper (but I refuse to think about that very much).</p>
<p>Used big time: Here’s a great one actually–the large reuseable bags from Sam’s (sure Costco and BJ’s have them also) that work for laundry hampers, groceries, and moving stuff. they are stiff enough to stay open but fold up to nothing. Best for all kinds of storage and have handles to boot.</p>
<p>Unused: pink duct tape. Nerf gun. (I believe that they had water gun wars, but never nerf gun wars.)</p>
<p>missypie, sounds like your school didn’t have humans versus zombie tournaments. My DS is planning to take his Nerf collection in order to play in all the tournaments. Seems they have a Zombie Eradication club.</p>
<p>Love this thread, just read it all. Very helpful.</p>
<p>Same here - and thanks also for a lot of laughs!</p>
<p>The things I learned most from this thread (and I have found true as well): send one set of sheets, and tool kits are handy.</p>
<p>I also send a medicine bag. They don’t even know they have it until they call home sick and you tell them that the remedy is in the bottom dresser drawer in a ziplock bag.</p>
<p>Oh yeah, my son’s stapler was a big hit, too. I think he was the only person on his floor who had one.</p>
<p>When my daughter started talking about leaving for college her jr year in hs , I knew it was time for her to start becomming independent. It an easy chore that everyone should know how to do. </p>
<p>I told her she was going to start that summer and throughout her senior year in hs to do her own laundry. I didn’t want her being stressed out with college and learning to do laundry at the same time. It was THE BEST THING I DID ! I was there for any questions and now she is totally in control and has no questions about how to do it when she leaves in 3 weeks. She already knows what she doesn’t want in dryer, etc.</p>
<p>My son who is 15 is starting to do an occasional load for me now,</p>
<p>She hates to shop so I’ve purchased 90% of stuff, (I love to shop so fine by me) lol , told her everything will be dumped into living room floor and she will repack into tubs so she knows everything she has ! Very important I think !</p>
<p>Extra sheet set will be sent for emergency (never know if someone will get sick in the night). She does a lot of art and wanted a scanner , so school printers (allowed limited use) will be used mainly to save ink costs on her own. </p>
<p>Don’t forget to have your child to contact their room-mate ahead of time and ask if they will be bringing a rug for the room (if needed) , or other items you won’t want duplicates of. I had her to contact room-mate and suitemates to remind everyone to bring a couple of rolls of paper towels and a 6pack of tp. This way they all start out sharing the cost and don’t leave one person buying all the supplies. Good way for them to start chatting with each other too.</p>
<p>I packed a dustbuster…never, ever used. Laptop lock…never, ever used.</p>