Comments on: Care Packages: Thanks that Costs Less http://www.savingadvice.com/blog/2008/03/28/102081_care-packages-thanks-that-costs-less.html Bridging the gap between saving money and investing Sun, 18 May 2008 05:56:03 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.1 By: Jessica http://www.savingadvice.com/blog/2008/03/28/102081_care-packages-thanks-that-costs-less.html#comment-299477 Jessica Sun, 04 May 2008 21:43:34 +0000 http://www.savingadvice.com/blog/2008/03/28/102081_care-packages-thanks-that-costs-less.html#comment-299477 I like to go to the dollar store for most of my care package stuff. Every holiday they rotate their stock and I like to send my friends boxes filled with things for that holiday so they get to celebrate it too. On Easter I sent plastic eggs with stickers to decorate and bags of candy so they could full them up and pass them out. On Valentines Day I sent valentines cards to fill out and pass out to friends. They always have a great variety of candy that won't melt, and they have little puzzle games and books that you can send. If they don't use it odds are they'll just give it to someone else that will. I like to go to the dollar store for most of my care package stuff. Every holiday they rotate their stock and I like to send my friends boxes filled with things for that holiday so they get to celebrate it too. On Easter I sent plastic eggs with stickers to decorate and bags of candy so they could full them up and pass them out. On Valentines Day I sent valentines cards to fill out and pass out to friends. They always have a great variety of candy that won’t melt, and they have little puzzle games and books that you can send. If they don’t use it odds are they’ll just give it to someone else that will.

]]> By: patt http://www.savingadvice.com/blog/2008/03/28/102081_care-packages-thanks-that-costs-less.html#comment-296840 patt Thu, 01 May 2008 14:03:56 +0000 http://www.savingadvice.com/blog/2008/03/28/102081_care-packages-thanks-that-costs-less.html#comment-296840 I was surprized when my son told me that over half of the service people NEVER recieved a letter or a package from home while serving in Iraq. He said that many service people were from disfunctional homes and they join the service seeking some place to belong. SEND PACKAGES!!! COOKIE KITS. No matter how carefully I wrapped them or when I sent them the icing melted into the cookies. I started sending cookie kits. Enclude homemade sugar cookies, tubs of store bought icing, sprinkles in shapes like hearts, pumkins or shamrocks and of course plastic knives. It brought back memories of making cookies with mom, made memories of a fun time with their buddies in the middle of hell and of course the cookies. I write cute of funny sayings on the outside of the packages and tape copies of "Humor in Uniform" from the Readers Digest. I was surprized when my son told me that over half of the service people NEVER recieved a letter or a package from home while serving in Iraq. He said that many service people were from disfunctional homes and they join the service seeking some place to belong. SEND PACKAGES!!!

COOKIE KITS. No matter how carefully I wrapped them or when I sent them the icing melted into the cookies. I started sending cookie kits. Enclude homemade sugar cookies, tubs of store bought icing, sprinkles in shapes like hearts, pumkins or shamrocks and of course plastic knives. It brought back memories of making cookies with mom, made memories of a fun time with their buddies in the middle of hell and of course the cookies.

I write cute of funny sayings on the outside of the packages and tape copies of “Humor in Uniform” from the Readers Digest.

]]> By: Devildogwife http://www.savingadvice.com/blog/2008/03/28/102081_care-packages-thanks-that-costs-less.html#comment-277596 Devildogwife Sat, 05 Apr 2008 16:26:43 +0000 http://www.savingadvice.com/blog/2008/03/28/102081_care-packages-thanks-that-costs-less.html#comment-277596 I'm sure that you already know about the bigger flat rate box. Military (apo/fpo addresses) receive a lower rate of $10.95. They are probably twice the size of the older flat rate box and only cost $2.00 more to ship. I use protein bars and other health bars for my "filler" in packages as that is what my hubby likes. I tend to buy things in bulk as it's a bit cheaper. Don't discount places like Amazon for getting groceries/snacks for the care packages. I also send away for lots and lots of samples. I send those his way. If he can't use them, he'll pass them along to someone who can. Oh, and don't forget about things like individual packages of drink mixes. I’m sure that you already know about the bigger flat rate box. Military (apo/fpo addresses) receive a lower rate of $10.95. They are probably twice the size of the older flat rate box and only cost $2.00 more to ship.

I use protein bars and other health bars for my “filler” in packages as that is what my hubby likes. I tend to buy things in bulk as it’s a bit cheaper. Don’t discount places like Amazon for getting groceries/snacks for the care packages.

I also send away for lots and lots of samples. I send those his way. If he can’t use them, he’ll pass them along to someone who can.

Oh, and don’t forget about things like individual packages of drink mixes.

]]> By: Another Soldier http://www.savingadvice.com/blog/2008/03/28/102081_care-packages-thanks-that-costs-less.html#comment-274942 Another Soldier Tue, 01 Apr 2008 12:40:42 +0000 http://www.savingadvice.com/blog/2008/03/28/102081_care-packages-thanks-that-costs-less.html#comment-274942 A cost nothing approach to fill boxes or for packaging: Old newspapers. Most people will give you their old ones no problem, especially if you tell them what they are being used for. If not, I know my Dad recycles at these a month's worth of papers at a time so if you're not too proud, recycyling bins make sense. I believe it is from Magazines.com (Google for assurance) that you can go on there and request one new free year's subscription per person that signs up and have the choice of many magazines. If each person in her squad or platoon do this, they should have plenty to trade around and keep occupied. That is just a little 2 cents from another deployed soldier. A cost nothing approach to fill boxes or for packaging: Old newspapers. Most people will give you their old ones no problem, especially if you tell them what they are being used for. If not, I know my Dad recycles at these a month’s worth of papers at a time so if you’re not too proud, recycyling bins make sense. I believe it is from Magazines.com (Google for assurance) that you can go on there and request one new free year’s subscription per person that signs up and have the choice of many magazines. If each person in her squad or platoon do this, they should have plenty to trade around and keep occupied.

That is just a little 2 cents from another deployed soldier.

]]> By: Lori http://www.savingadvice.com/blog/2008/03/28/102081_care-packages-thanks-that-costs-less.html#comment-273280 Lori Sat, 29 Mar 2008 03:20:49 +0000 http://www.savingadvice.com/blog/2008/03/28/102081_care-packages-thanks-that-costs-less.html#comment-273280 Please see if she is able to sign up at www.anysoldier.com. this is a great website that connects citizens with soldiers that need letters and care packages. She, or someone with her, will have to accept responsibility of taking care of the packages for the group. Please see if she is able to sign up at www.anysoldier.com. this is a great website that connects citizens with soldiers that need letters and care packages. She, or someone with her, will have to accept responsibility of taking care of the packages for the group.

]]> By: baselle http://www.savingadvice.com/blog/2008/03/28/102081_care-packages-thanks-that-costs-less.html#comment-273055 baselle Fri, 28 Mar 2008 16:31:12 +0000 http://www.savingadvice.com/blog/2008/03/28/102081_care-packages-thanks-that-costs-less.html#comment-273055 Media: My local library system (Seattle Public Library) has a clearance sale every 6 months or so. In addition to books, they sell CDs and DVDs. ($1 to $3 range) They sell as-is, so you probably want to play them first to see if they skip or are weird. Media: My local library system (Seattle Public Library) has a clearance sale every 6 months or so. In addition to books, they sell CDs and DVDs. ($1 to $3 range) They sell as-is, so you probably want to play them first to see if they skip or are weird.

]]> By: Homebody http://www.savingadvice.com/blog/2008/03/28/102081_care-packages-thanks-that-costs-less.html#comment-273039 Homebody Fri, 28 Mar 2008 16:07:43 +0000 http://www.savingadvice.com/blog/2008/03/28/102081_care-packages-thanks-that-costs-less.html#comment-273039 I always use the priority mail flat package rate. They can hold 6-8 bags of chocolate candy (which I only ship in the winter). I keep the boxes and forms here at home so I have them filled and ready for the post office. I get a lot of joy out of sending packages. I watch the ads for things to send and used my Costco coupons to buy candy, jerky, etc when they are something that would be good to send. I also (gasp) bought a carton of cigarettes to send in the last box I sent. I get names/addresses off anysoldier.com, but right now my BF's son and stepson are both there, so I send to them now. The flatter type box is perfect for filling with magazines. I always use the priority mail flat package rate. They can hold 6-8 bags of chocolate candy (which I only ship in the winter). I keep the boxes and forms here at home so I have them filled and ready for the post office. I get a lot of joy out of sending packages. I watch the ads for things to send and used my Costco coupons to buy candy, jerky, etc when they are something that would be good to send. I also (gasp) bought a carton of cigarettes to send in the last box I sent. I get names/addresses off anysoldier.com, but right now my BF’s son and stepson are both there, so I send to them now.

The flatter type box is perfect for filling with magazines.

]]> By: Cortni Marrazzo http://www.savingadvice.com/blog/2008/03/28/102081_care-packages-thanks-that-costs-less.html#comment-272999 Cortni Marrazzo Fri, 28 Mar 2008 14:40:06 +0000 http://www.savingadvice.com/blog/2008/03/28/102081_care-packages-thanks-that-costs-less.html#comment-272999 Next time you write her a letter, you can tell her that despite the many people in this country that don't care, there are many more who are very thankful to her for her service and sacrifice for our country and we pray for her and her fellow soldiers every day. :) Next time you write her a letter, you can tell her that despite the many people in this country that don’t care, there are many more who are very thankful to her for her service and sacrifice for our country and we pray for her and her fellow soldiers every day. :)

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