Janice Posted April 30, 2014 Share Posted April 30, 2014 So I know September is a while away and we are still waiting on funding that may or may not happen. But DD has realised that she probably won't be able to get home every week. 'That's ok' she said 'you can send me things in the post' !! What things are essentials for dancers away from home on a tight budget and any ideas for fun things? In my DD's case phone credit and chocolate would be essential. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
madhatter Posted April 30, 2014 Share Posted April 30, 2014 I will probably be sending tights for my DD given the way that she goes through them with me washing them!. As for cheap fun things to do, I am completely out of touch with what 16/18 year olds like in the UK. My DD will be on a very tight budget too, so will have to learn to like vegetables! 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cornishprincess Posted April 30, 2014 Share Posted April 30, 2014 I agree...chocolate and tights. I'm also hoping to be able to do her grocery shopping via the internet every now and then.... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jan McNulty Posted April 30, 2014 Share Posted April 30, 2014 If they are anywhere near an Asda they do a "student card" that you can load with cash remotely. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fiz Posted April 30, 2014 Share Posted April 30, 2014 Graze boxes, cosmetics and personal times like tampons, soap, tooth and antiperspirants as they are recurrent expenses and are not cheap for students? 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fiz Posted April 30, 2014 Share Posted April 30, 2014 Items, autocorrect!: ( Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tulip Posted April 30, 2014 Share Posted April 30, 2014 If she is 16 send money. She will be able to get the train into London to buy her own tights and point shoes etc. there is also a big tesco up the road and slightly around the corner. She will definitely appreciate the extra money. Oh and there is a costa up the other end of the road that a few of the students go to. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
madhatter Posted April 30, 2014 Share Posted April 30, 2014 The Asda card sounds like a good idea, I wonder if Tescos do something similar? I think Tescos is the only option where my dd will be. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2dancersmum Posted April 30, 2014 Share Posted April 30, 2014 DD is not able to get home during term time. We do a shop with her just before dropping her off to make sure she has the essential items that Fiz mentions as well as items for packed lunches. Its amazing how soon they learn to live on a tight budget. Cheap fun things to do - they can spend a long time in Costa or similar and DD and friends tend to have movie nights at each others house. Sorting out mobile phones and internet access are essential though. The ASDA card sounds good - pity DD does not have one near her 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Picturesinthefirelight Posted April 30, 2014 Share Posted April 30, 2014 Graze boxes are very popular at vocational schools. I can send you a code for a free one. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janice Posted April 30, 2014 Author Share Posted April 30, 2014 We have tried graze boxes but I ended up eating them, for some unknown reason DD did not like them. Can you get gift cards for Costa? The asda card is a great idea and there is one close. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
along for the ride mum Posted April 30, 2014 Share Posted April 30, 2014 (edited) Sainsburys used to do a student card too, the parent has one card and the student has the other, the parent tops up at the checkout with their card, a great idea ( although I'm well aware that Asda might be preferable for students) Sending a few face masks and pampering bits can be fun, madeup as a 'girls nigh in kit' and also you can get some lovely hot chocolate sachets these days Edited April 30, 2014 by along for the ride mum 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
munchkin16 Posted April 30, 2014 Share Posted April 30, 2014 Just an idea, if she doesn't like the actual graze boxes maybe you could make your own version with her favourite snacks and send it in the same way? My mum did this for my sister at uni and she loved it especially the homemade oero fudge (not healthy but an incredible thing to arrive in the post!) Maybe regular postcards which can then be put on the wall. They would be cheap but still the excitement of post and then decorate the room. Or those recipe cards you can pick up free at the supermarket for inspiration if she's cooking herself? Another idea, stationary, coloured pens,highlighters always come in useful! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mumofballetmaddaughter Posted April 30, 2014 Share Posted April 30, 2014 I left an 'emergency' box in my daughter's room when she first went away. It contained things such as travel size gel, shampoo, conditioner, make up wipes, cold/flu tablets and being ever practical, a toilet roll. It was just in case she forgot to buy something that was an essential and would tide her over until she could get to a shop. I also put in a supermarket gift card just in case she ran out of money or lost her debit card. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KathyG Posted April 30, 2014 Share Posted April 30, 2014 Yes you can get Costa gift cards, I gave a colleague one when he left as he spent so much time in there! My DS loves gifts of Jelly Tots and Creme Eggs as he can't get them in Poland. Sausages is another but they go in the case each time he goes back. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jan McNulty Posted April 30, 2014 Share Posted April 30, 2014 You may also be able to top up Costa gift cards remotely but I am not 100% sure about that. If DC has a Costa loyalty card then registering it entitles the registree to free unlimited internet access. You can also get gift cards for Starbucks (and they seem to offer internet access anyway) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
porthesia Posted April 30, 2014 Share Posted April 30, 2014 Fluffy socks, silly pens. Sometimes it's just getting a parcel and not about what's in it. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
taxi4ballet Posted April 30, 2014 Share Posted April 30, 2014 Bun nets, post-it notes, Blu Tack, nail varnish, stamps, and if you can run to it - a subscription to the Dancing Times 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Strawberyy Posted May 1, 2014 Share Posted May 1, 2014 My dd appreciated the occasional letter in the post even though we talked/texted most days. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
madhatter Posted May 1, 2014 Share Posted May 1, 2014 Some great ideas, loving this thread Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
balletqs Posted May 1, 2014 Share Posted May 1, 2014 Gosh things have changed since I was a student in the 90s. I was on a strict £10 a week budget that was food and everything! None of us went to coffee shops and no phones or internet then. But a couple of home cooked meals in the freezer box at start of term drop off used to cheer me up! My mum used to send me nice teabags/hot choc sachets/face packs, vitamin C as vits are pricey. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BankruptMum Posted May 1, 2014 Share Posted May 1, 2014 My dd loved getting postcards and letter. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guesty Posted May 1, 2014 Share Posted May 1, 2014 I sent a bouquet of sweets to my dd when she made finals of the schools comp and I couldn't make it. Work wouldn't give me time off It was great though.she loved it and got to share the sweets with everyone so it went down well! She loves just getting a letter though...nothing beats opening a card or letter just saying hi! We are all so savy with social media and texting but snail mail still rocks ! 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2dancersmum Posted May 2, 2014 Share Posted May 2, 2014 I agree with the snail mail rocks comments. To be honest, we very rarely send DD anything in the post (it usually means a trip to the post office to collect a parcel anyway) but she says the things she treasures most are the little notes I pop in with stuff or letters from family and friends. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wildflowers Posted May 2, 2014 Share Posted May 2, 2014 My DD's love getting letters and postcards, Paperchase do a range of fun postcards for 60 p each, they change designs all the time, DD's decorate their room with them. When they tidy their rooms at end of term they put them in a scrap book to look at when they are homesick! We then start again each new term! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
macnatt Posted May 3, 2014 Share Posted May 3, 2014 This is a great thread, my DD will be lucky to get home more than once a year so I plan to send a bi- monthly box of her favourite Australian goodies, but the idea of a letter is great too... very oldschool but so meaningful! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DancingPixie Posted May 3, 2014 Share Posted May 3, 2014 Do try Touchnote - you upload pictures and price is good as card gets printed and sent in UK. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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