<p>I'm not making wallets or belts or clothes out of duct tape. I'm bringing wall mounting tabs for posters. But having it there to offer to people who could become friends sounds good. Thanks for the tip. </p>
<p>I would think bringing your own printer would be essential.</p>
<p>I want to know about the printer too. Is it just as easy to go print somewhere on campus?</p>
<p>To be honest, I didn't find any need for it. Really depends if your dorm or a nearby building has 24-hour printing, and usually that's available, but it depends on your school. Yeah, it costs money to print, but at my school you get 500 free pages a semester (I hear most schools do similar), so you might as well use them.</p>
<p>On a related note, make sure when you finish papers at like 4am the morning they're due, to print them out before you go to sleep. Believe me, you will oversleep, have to run to the lab, get the computer that doesn't print, and end up late to the class where you were supposed to turn it in. Been there, done that...more than once.</p>
<p>My school has unlimited printing, but sometimes I'm just not gonna want to go to the library to print out stuff. </p>
<p>Duct tape...oh my. I'll just say that my current cell phone is held together with it and leave it at that. I'm pretty crafty with duct tape.</p>
<p>Anyway, I'd add meal replacement-type drinks (Slim Fast, Ensure, Carnation Instant Breaksfast, etc) and granola bars to the list. Not for trying to lose weight or anything, but as quick breakfasts when you're running late or don't have time for lunch between classes. Quick, tasty, and will hold you over well until you can eat a real meal.</p>
<p>Yeah, my sis had duct tape on her phone to keep the battery in place. But that wouldn't have happened if she wasn't so rough with her stuff. I'm not saying you all are the same way, because I know things break with even the most cautious of people. I'm keeping the duct tape with me for whatever comes up.</p>
<p>Do those meal-substitute drinks really taste good? I want to avoid the freshmen 15 as much as possible, so I'll drink those if they don't taste like crap. i've heard they aren't the best for dieting, but they've got to be lower in calories than a full meal, right?</p>
<p>I think they taste really good (at least the three brands I listed do). Slim Fast has a better variety, though. The other two pretty much just have chocolate and vanilla.</p>
<p>I'm not all that rough with my stuff, but I've had my phone for nearly two years so time's taken its toll. It's a flip phone...I don't know how to explain...but the little thingy on the base that allows the screen to flip up broke. It's been held together with glue-stick and duct tape for a month and a half now (works great). I'm getting a new one later this week or next, though (my contract's up so I get it for the reduced price).</p>
<p>SlimFast used to be absolutely delicious, but then the whole low carb thing happened and they came out with SlimFast Optima, which is higher in protein and lower in carbs. And I think it tastes like chocolatey chicken broth, no joke. </p>
<p>The company that owns SlimFast bought all the rights to Hoodia, which is that plant in Africa that makes you not hungry. Right now there's a bunch of fake products on the market, but in 2008 they are planning on coming out with the real thing...and I bet you it will be in SlimFast, which will be awesome.</p>
<p>extension cord with multiple outlets. 'nuff said.</p>
<p>*cheap toolkit (you'd be amazed, I bought all my stuff from the dollar tree)
*3m hooks
*brita filter
*floor lamp
*lysol/clorox wipes</p>
<p>Mmmmm slimfast. I love them. And when I feel like I've gained weight, I'll go three days drinking three or fours a day and that's it and I'll lose whatever I've gained, it also just flushes your body. I like slimfast optima, less calories. The cappuchino ones are the best. And you can dirnk them in the car, walking, in class, wherever.
Ensure is nasty though.</p>
<p>Check the recipe thread on here (pretty recent) for directions on how to make regular Kraft Mac and Cheese in the microwave.</p>
<p>Anyway, here's what I call the "essential survival kit".</p>
<p>-Screwdrivers. You might need to remove battery covers, get inside laptops, or repair stuff. I recommend at least five--a small and large regular and phillips and a Torx. One with bits would be a good idea too.</p>
<p>-Tape measurer. When you are laying your room out, or just need dimensions of something (like if you mail a package) it's always good to have. Home Depot sells a nice 3 foot measurer keychain at some of the cash registers.</p>
<p>-Tweezers. No matter if you use them for repair, makeup, or anything else, they are good to have on hand.</p>
<p>-Duct tape. For minor repairs, including rebinding books (I've done it before), it's definitely something you want around.</p>
<p>-Scissors. I don't think I need to go into detail much here.</p>
<p>-Utility knife. Same reason you have scissors, but this is for other stuff where scissors aren't enough. Cables come to mind, especially if you cut your own phone and patch cords. (I've made many patch cords in the past and would be lost without a utility knife).</p>
<p>-First aid kit. At many drugstores you can find one that's already made up. It should have bandages, gauze, ace bandages, tape, and alcohol prep pads. Replace any ointment with Neosporin, it's the best to prevent both infection and scarring (also prevents acne scarring if you pop one). Add more band-aids, the five or so they give you might not be enough, and make sure you have different sizes including those little round ones. Finally, I keep an oral thermometer in mine. Make sure you have enough alcohol pads to clean it off with. The thermometer I have was bought at a drug store and displays your temperature on an LED. It's pretty compact and is about the size of a ballpoint pen. Not sure of the cost of any of this, I bought my kit in 1996 and the thermometer dates back to 1991. All was bought by my mother, a nurse, at Thrift Drug (a now defunct drugstore chain in Pittsburgh, all are now Eckerds).</p>
<p>-Batteries. Your remote, clock, tape player, and a few other things might go over time. I usually keep 8 AA, 8 AAA, and 2 9V on hand. You probably won't need C or D size batteries unless you have one of those Eveready flashlights that takes D's. In that case keep 4 D on hand.</p>
<p>-Flashlight. Should the power go out, you'll want this to get around with. Get one that takes AA or AAA batteries as they are not as akward as D's.</p>
<p>-Elmer's glue. Believe it or not, this works on almost anything. Superglue and a glue gun couldn't fix a trim piece on my car but Elmer's did. It works on a lot of other stuff too.</p>
<p>-Hammer. Good for any sort of furniture assembly or maintence. Also handy to have if you have a can you want to securely put a lid on. Bring a few nails with you as well.</p>
<p>-Wrenches. Same reason you have the screwdrivers. Take two sizes.</p>
<p>-Needlenose pliers. Again, you want these to loosen or tighten stuff.</p>
<p>-Eyeglass repair kit. These are usually a bunch of small screwdrivers. Good to have if you wear glasses.</p>
<p>-Rubbing alcohol and cotton swabs. If you've got a sick roommate, this is good for disinfecting stuff. Lysol wipes also work well, and are really handy if you are going to disinfect a toilet seat in the bathroom.</p>
<p>-A small file. Not just for your nails, but for anything else that might need it. You never know when this will come up.</p>
<p>-Sandpaper. Same as above. 120 grit should be good for most things.</p>
<p>-A small hacksaw. Again, another good emergency tool.</p>
<p>-A paper stand for your desk. It keeps clutter down.</p>
<p>-Pencil sharpener. So many people forget this. Electric and mechanical are both good choices. If you get an electric, Boston is cost-effective and good.</p>
<p>-Extension cords and power strips. I recommend two extension cords and one extra power strip. If you're not using grounded extention cords (grounded ones have the third plug) take some adapters with you.</p>
<p>-Ice cube tray. Most mini-fridges don't have icemakers.</p>
<p>-Sunglasses. Never leave home without them. They protect against macular degeneration and keep the sun out of your eyes!</p>
<p>-WD40. If a squeaking door annoys you, or if you just need to lubricate something in general, have this on hand.</p>
<p>-Somewhere to put all this stuff. Toolboxes work fine, but if you want something a little less bulky just use a messenger bag. I got almost all of this crammed into one.</p>
<p>-$20 to store away somewhere. Keep this in a safe place and consider it your emergency fund. If you run out of money or something, you'll have this until you can get some.</p>
<p>nice to see that you're opening up your own home depot there.</p>
<p>Haha, people used to joke with me that I bought one out. Home Depot is definitely one of my favorite stores, right up there with Abercrombie and Restoration Hardware.</p>
<p>I think being a woodworker, you get used to having tools around not just for hobby but also for everyday stuff so I brought everything. If I had stayed on campus another semester, I would have likely brought my vise, a coping saw, and a few more files and I would have practiced my craft in my dorm. Nothing power though, since it would have been too loud--would have missed my power sander but I can go without it.</p>
<p>I keep meaning to get an ice tray but I haven't. Do you think I'll really miss it?</p>
<p>-WD40. If a squeaking door annoys you, or ** if you just need to lubricate something in general,** have this on hand.</p>
<p>^^ with the types of posts we've been seeing on CC lately, do you really think this comment was a good idea?</p>
<p>Eek I really didn't like the slim fast taste (I'm picky with flavors...) but i drank it anyways to lose weight...</p>
<p>Then my bro tasted it (Uh he's around 6 foot something and he's like 145- 150 lbs.. typical skinny asian guy) and he's like "It's good!" and started stealing my stack of them...snif.</p>
<p>Yeah, Ensure comes in a distant third to SlimFast and Carnation for me, but it's still decent enough for me to drink without complaining.</p>