<p>My dear filmxoxo: I had a rain poncho that covered my backpack and went over my jacket, etc., and it was the only way I got to school dry and kept everything dry. Yeah, I looked like a dork, but for a couple of dollars (by now I think they cost $10), I wa DRY. Dry is a good thing when it's 35 degrees out and your bus is late so you're waiting in sleet. A lot of college students walk long distances to save money on buses--and don't have cars.</p>
<p>Ilcapo...actually unless you have a specific major in mind that has very specific types of reference books, I would NOT suggest getting books before you leave for college. They are a pain to pack and move, and you will get PLENTY of books when you begin your first semester of classes. The Christmas of DS's senior year in high school, we bought him a compact (but very good...he's a music major) stereo system (so that he COULD take it with him to college), and gift cards to places where he could buy a bunch of new CDs.</p>
<p>We got our son a tool kit and a coffee pot. Those two things have made him the most popular kid on his floor.</p>
<p>I think the tool kit is a GREAT idea. Some colleges don't allow coffee pots...I'd check before buying that for a prospective college student. If it's allowed, it would be terrific. I know DS would LOVE his own coffee pot..not allowed in his dorm at all.</p>
<p>Of course I pay for my car :) Why would anyone else? It's mine!! I'm really happy that January's car payment is my birthday gift though.. that's a nice relief right after spending money for christmas. I'm going out tomorrow and buying a bunch of stuff - Digital camera for my mom, and a TV for myself (maybe) :)</p>
<p>hey i have a brand new obsession!</p>
<p>oxford companions...so far i have requested oxford companions to:
politics of the world
the supreme court
and shakespeare!</p>
<p>im quite excited!</p>
<p>even though i dont uh celebrate christmas, i AM asking for stuff because everything is cheapest around christmas time..(although i think our biggest sale is the after thanksgiving day sale here..)i want a laptop and an ipod lol. laptop for college wherever i go..(if i get in anywhere that is), and an ipod so i dont have to lug my 200 cds everywhere and scratch most of them</p>
<p>you ask for many things.</p>
<p>DS was home for the Thanksgiving break. He asked for an IPod or a PDA for a Christmas present. He knows he won't get both. He wants a laptop too....he won't get that at all as he has a perfectly good desktop that meets his needs right now. DS would surely love to ask for all of these things for Christmas, but he also knows that we are paying the yeoman's part of his tuition, fees, room and board costs too. Perhaps your family can afford to buy you all of the above requested items. If so...go for it.</p>
<p>Thumper--the iPod can function as a PDA, albeit a limited one.</p>
<p>Actually his cell phone can function as a limited PDA also.</p>
<p>a very limited one.
I tried to talk my daughter into getting a PDA instead but she needed the ipods larger memory for large file transfers.
Sad Ipod story
My daughter recently financed the purchase of an ibook & ipod through Apple to build her credit instead of waiting a few months and paying cash.
This is the 2nd ibook she has bought and paid for, her first she got shortly before freshman year. She is generally very responsible with her belongings although she can be inattentive. She often studies at local coffeeshops to use their wireless connections and cause she finds it less distracting than home. Unfortunately just last Friday she stuck her ipod in her coat pocket and somebody swiped it when it was on the back of her chair. apparently it was more distracting than she thought :(
I feel really bad for her, she hasn't even completely paid for it yet. My dilemma is do I help her buy another one as I was considering as I haven't gotten her anything for xmas, do I let her finance another one herself? The police aren't interested ( they werent even interested when a neighbor had her car stolen from in front of her house), she can look at pawn shops, but my feeling is, that it is gone. It does seem to be a pretty tempting item, using one is like saying " I have $300 in my pocket".</p>
<p>EK4--some credit plans come with insurance on the loss. Your D may wish to check the fine print on her Apple credit plan. My sympathies to her on the loss--</p>