We were allotted 2000 pounds in our advanced shipment, and we only used 1100 pounds of it. Note-furniture CANNOT be sent in the advanced shipment, only items that can fit in a box!
Items we sent in our advanced shipment:- 2-sets of ACU's (BDU's if you're going to an area where they're worn)
- 1-pair of boots
- 1-beret (if you have more than one)
- linens for beds (but note that beds in Germany are "shorter" than in the US)
- towels
- pots/pans
- crock pot (so we can "visit" somewhere during the day and come home to dinner already cooked)
- forks/spoons/knives for each person
- cooking spoons, spatulas, etc
- plates and bowls for each person
- colander
- warmer jackets for everyone for autumn), in case the nights cool down
- sweatshirts for everyone
- extra clothing for each person (so we don't have to bring too much in our suitcases) - since your main HHG shipment will take 6-8 weeks to get there
- rain coats/umbrellas (we were told it rains alot in Germany- and it would stink to buy more umbrellas, when we already have them)
- hiking boots (so we can enjoy lots of walking adventures over the summer, but won't have to carry in our suitcases)
- board games - to enjoy some family time in the evenings
- Toys for the younger kids - doll house, ponies, etc.
- Books - I got some books at Goodwill that I knew the kids wanted to read, so they'd have something "new" when we arrived.
- "favorite" foods - if you don't know if they'll have them in the commissary.
- some "dressier" clothes for everyone - in case there's a function you need to attend
- we also bought a trampoline and net to go around it, and sent that in the original box. We knew the kids would have a great time jumping on it during the summer, especially without their bikes and other toys.
- we also sent an inflatable pool, that the packers put in a box.
- a trampoline - we ended up buying a brand new one and sending it in the box, and sold ours that we had in the yard, the week before we moved. The kids enjoyed it in Maryland, and LOVE having it here in Germany! In fact, ALL of the neighbors enjoy it! :)
- party plates (we got nice, clear plastic ones from Sam's)
- party napkins
- party cups
- punch bowl
- forks, spoons and knives
- party toothpicks (for using with meatballs or cheese cubes)
SO...now is the important part of the list! The things that I didn't bring with us (or send in our advanced shipment), but sure we I had! :)
- Bathroom shower liner and curtain - had to buy here
- bathroom trash can - had to buy here
- phones - sent one phone in adavnced shipment, but didn't think about the fact that we would have a german home number, as well as our vonage number. And our router won't work without the German line being connected. So - had to buy another one here, even though we have one coming in August.
- bathroom rug/non-slip mat for outside of shower. Master bath only has a shower stall (and not quite large enough to dry while inside
- baskets/storage boxes - would be nice to have books /map/papers, etc., inside small boxes or baskets while we await our bookshelves
- craft items - hard to find a "wal-mart" to buy feathers, googlie-eyes, marbles, etc. PX doesn't have that kind of stuff (not here, anyway)
- extra pens, pencils, sharpies, crayons, markers, paint, construction paper, loose leaf paper. I have all of this stuff coming in August, and brought enough for the plane, but didn't think about the 2 months we'd have before we get our stuff. Not "critical", but necessary for keeping little one's happy! :)
- water bottles - we're doing lots of walking/hiking and have so many of our "good" water bottles coming. So, rather than spend the money on new ones, we just bought a case of water, and we refill the bottles.
- computer printer - we have ours coming, but it sure would be nice to be able to print stuff before August. May go yard saling to find one.
- Music CD's - local radio is either German, or whatever is playing on the Armed Forces Network (AFN), and we can only get AFN when close to post. We usually buy our music on itunes and download directly to the computer, so now we want to burn CD's of our music, so we can enjoy them in the car.
