<p>On a related note (for the newcomers among us): <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parents-forum/240831-do-any-other-parents-include-silly-gifts-when-sending-care-packages.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parents-forum/240831-do-any-other-parents-include-silly-gifts-when-sending-care-packages.html</a></p>
<p>I second the endorsement of flat rate boxes - they hold a ton of stuff. S1 favorites include Ramon noodles, popcorn, granola bars, goldfish, and peanut-butter crackers. I often throw in a Time or Newsweek, or some interesting local news story. For holidays, I’ll send a silly decoration or treats. And, a roll of quarters for laundry is always welcome!</p>
<p>If you don’t already use it, try Click 'n Ship with USPS, where you pay for and print out your postage label on-line. For the Flat Rate Priority boxes, you can even arrange for front door pick-up.</p>
<p>Flat rate boxes rule. My daughter asked for her 5 lb. weights and a hardcover book in her last package. I use Hanes (men’s) v-neck t-shirts as filler because they are always welcome. I added four pairs of knit gloves from Target at the incredible price of $1.50/two pairs.</p>
<p>Food is harder this year because she spent the whole summer getting into incredible shape (hence the weights) and is really careful about what she eats. So I send gum.</p>
<p>I have yet to use a flat rate box…I think you need to be FAR away for it to be worthwhile (we are “only” 300miles). I shipped a forgotten CALCULUS BOOK (now that’s heavy) and found out at the P.O. that it was cheaper to send it Priority Mail!!</p>
<p>To those who haven’t used flat rate boxes:
They ARE priority mail, so the get there quicker. They come in 3 or 4 different sizes (and prices for shipping). The boxes and tape are FREE from the post office – you can even get usps.com to send you a carton of 10 or 20, so you always have them on hand. I encourage you to try them out – you might be very pleasantly surprised. For smaller items (and prices), try the small sized FR box, or the flat rate envelopes.</p>
<p>(I don’t work for usps or anything… just a big fan of simplicity)</p>
<p>D. cares much more about the card that I include in a package than the rest of its content. She even keeps them. The apples and oranges, I believe, just getting rotten, but she likes to receive a package. So, I concluded that it is very unimportant what package contains.</p>
<p>I ordered two stacks of flat rate boxes (in two sizes) last year. Ordered on line from USPS. I love having them on hand.</p>
<p>I knitted my daughter a hat. Going to send it with some soup and tea in a flat rate box. (Soup is heavy.)</p>
<p>here in PA we have Tastykakes and DS loves them. That’s always a good snack.
packs of microwave popcorn, and every so often I send new toothbrushes and toothpaste. cheap from the company store ;)</p>
<p>For kids in NYC, check out Fresh Direct, [url=<a href=“http://www.freshdirect.com%5DFreshDirect%5B/url”>http://www.freshdirect.com]FreshDirect[/url</a>]. I order things like fruit, cereal, coffee, gatorade, and they deliver to my S at Columbia.</p>
<p>My son told us last night that neither he nor his roommate have ever used the microwave that his roommate brought. So I assume that at some point that huge box of microwave popcorn will be coming home.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>I always include a new toothbrush in my annual Halloween care package.</p>
<p>Around here, the Flat Rate priority boxes are free from USPS but NOT the tape–you have to pay for that. It’s still a great deal, especially if you’re mailing heavy stuff.</p>
<p>I order from [url=<a href=“http://www.alice.com%5DAlice.com%5B/url”>http://www.alice.com]Alice.com[/url</a>] to send care packages to my S. Free shipping!!!</p>
<p>HIMom - here is the link to California Suncakes. D is a vegetarian with vegan tendencies and I think they fit both philosophies…[Suncakes</a> Store](<a href=“http://www.heartthrives.com%5DSuncakes”>http://www.heartthrives.com) I cannot vouch for taste as I haven’t tried them but she loves them. But she also likes this rather nasty juicey stuff…so I don’t know! </p>
<p>I have never heard of flat rate boxes and the local postmistress is a friend…so what is up with that??? You can be sure I will be checking those out. Thanks for the tip!</p>
<p>So what am I missing about the flat rate boxes? When I brought my kids’ Halloween care packages to the post office today (already boxed in cartons I had on hand), I asked whether I would’ve done better to send them in flat rate boxes. I was told I would’ve spent over $10 each to ship the smallest size flat rate box. How is that a bargain (unless you’re shipping 5 lb weights, like ghostfire13)?</p>
<p>The fellow at my post office said the flat rate boxes only made sense over regular priority mail if the stuff was really heavy or going a very long way.</p>
<p>I always weigh my boxes first and then check the postage on [USPS</a> - The United States Postal Service (U.S. Postal Service)](<a href=“http://www.usps.com%5DUSPS”>http://www.usps.com) before I decide whether or not to use the flat rate box. 9 times out of 10, it’s cheaper to mail it regular priority mail but sometimes the convenience of printing the label and arranging the at-home pickup right from my computer outweighs the couple of bucks difference in postage for me. It’s not always convenient to get to the post office since there’s never a parking place.</p>
<p>1littlepiggy – thanks for the info on alice.com. I hadn’t heard of it before but it sounds interesting and the prices look good. It’s a great option for students to order needed items themselves (especially if they don’t have access to a car).</p>
<p>Just saw this Halloween-themed offer in our Sunday paper: “Special 1/2 Price Offer: Just $14.99. A Boo-ti-ful Gift, a design snack assortment.” Includes candy, pretzels, ghost cookies, nuts, as well as an assortment of popcorn…I’ve never used Popcorn Factory, but thought I’d pass the bargain along to those interested. Here’s the link:</p>
<p>[2</a> Gallon Boo! Party Pack - The Popcorn Factory](<a href=“http://www.thepopcornfactory.com/2-gallon-boo!-party-pack.product.1001222.10101?cm_mmc=tagged-_-na-_-na-_-na&storeId=10201&ddkey=http:Entrance]2”>http://www.thepopcornfactory.com/2-gallon-boo!-party-pack.product.1001222.10101?cm_mmc=tagged-_-na-_-na-_-na&storeId=10201&ddkey=http)</p>