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 Tue, 24 Nov 2009 19:49:00 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8 hourly 1 By: Kaitlin http://www.savingadvice.com/blog/2008/03/28/102081_care-packages-thanks-that-costs-less.html/comment-page-1#comment-622087 Kaitlin Mon, 27 Jul 2009 03:03:57 +0000 http://www.savingadvice.com/blog/2008/03/28/102081_care-packages-thanks-that-costs-less.html#comment-622087 Anyone who finds shipping to be a bit pricey should try the USPS APO/FPO flat rate boxes. It costs only 11.95 to ship it to any APO/FPO address, regardless of weight. I've sent my boyfriend tons of packages and while the boxes seem small, it's amazing what you can all fit in there. They're free to pick up at any post office or even on the usps website they'll ship them to you for free! Anyone who finds shipping to be a bit pricey should try the USPS APO/FPO flat rate boxes. It costs only 11.95 to ship it to any APO/FPO address, regardless of weight. I’ve sent my boyfriend tons of packages and while the boxes seem small, it’s amazing what you can all fit in there. They’re free to pick up at any post office or even on the usps website they’ll ship them to you for free!

]]> By: Lori http://www.savingadvice.com/blog/2008/03/28/102081_care-packages-thanks-that-costs-less.html/comment-page-1#comment-618019 Lori Wed, 15 Jul 2009 04:04:51 +0000 http://www.savingadvice.com/blog/2008/03/28/102081_care-packages-thanks-that-costs-less.html#comment-618019 Jen, Again, check www.anysoldier.com. They have tons of ideas on what to send and how to send it. The forums are great too. They can answer your questions. And please tell your friends to consider becoming recipients and signing up for the site. Jen,
Again, check http://www.anysoldier.com. They have tons of ideas on what to send and how to send it. The forums are great too. They can answer your questions. And please tell your friends to consider becoming recipients and signing up for the site.

]]> By: Jen http://www.savingadvice.com/blog/2008/03/28/102081_care-packages-thanks-that-costs-less.html/comment-page-1#comment-617524 Jen Mon, 13 Jul 2009 19:30:31 +0000 http://www.savingadvice.com/blog/2008/03/28/102081_care-packages-thanks-that-costs-less.html#comment-617524 My husband is staying behind this tour but our two best friends are leaving next week for Iraq. One of them really doesn't have much family support, so I am planning on sending him lots of packages and am looking for ideas. These are some great ones, thanks! My husband is staying behind this tour but our two best friends are leaving next week for Iraq. One of them really doesn’t have much family support, so I am planning on sending him lots of packages and am looking for ideas. These are some great ones, thanks!

]]> By: Stephanie http://www.savingadvice.com/blog/2008/03/28/102081_care-packages-thanks-that-costs-less.html/comment-page-1#comment-616608 Stephanie Sun, 12 Jul 2009 12:35:04 +0000 http://www.savingadvice.com/blog/2008/03/28/102081_care-packages-thanks-that-costs-less.html#comment-616608 I appreciate all your ideas. My dh is leaving in Oct. this is his first tour overseas. He has been stateside in supporting the war her in the US. I know there are a lot of changes coming up and with our three young children I want to keep them involved in the packages. Thank you for your ideas. I appreciate all your ideas. My dh is leaving in Oct. this is his first tour overseas. He has been stateside in supporting the war her in the US. I know there are a lot of changes coming up and with our three young children I want to keep them involved in the packages. Thank you for your ideas.

]]> By: Becky Bevins http://www.savingadvice.com/blog/2008/03/28/102081_care-packages-thanks-that-costs-less.html/comment-page-1#comment-405973 Becky Bevins Tue, 26 Aug 2008 16:49:26 +0000 http://www.savingadvice.com/blog/2008/03/28/102081_care-packages-thanks-that-costs-less.html#comment-405973 I have a brother inlaw in Iraq and at night they sit around citronella candles to keep from getting bit from the bugs over there.We came up with an idea and now it is going great.We send these out in care packages.Its called skeetereez it keeps the bugs off from them.We only send the desert camo though. I have a brother inlaw in Iraq and at night they sit around citronella candles to keep from getting bit from the bugs over there.We came up with an idea and now it is going great.We send these out in care packages.Its called skeetereez it keeps the bugs off from them.We only send the desert camo though.

]]> By: Jessica http://www.savingadvice.com/blog/2008/03/28/102081_care-packages-thanks-that-costs-less.html/comment-page-1#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-page-1#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-page-1#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-page-1#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-page-1#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 http://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.

]]>