9 Must-Have Tools for Your College-Bound Kid

So your son or daughter is off to university and will soon be living in an apartment of their own for the first time. Along with this major life milestone comes furniture assembly, plumbing problems, picture hanging, and other household chores that are incredibly tedious without the right tools on hand.

Why not make their lives a little easier by equipping them with a tool box full of the basics? They might not appreciate the gesture right away, but they'll be thanking you mightily when that dinky wrench that comes with IKEA furniture snaps in half. Below, we've listed the basics that are indispensable for anyone living on his or her own.

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Tool Box

Of course, tools aren't worth much if they're lost in the bowels of a drawer or under a sofa among the pizza boxes. A good set of tools needs a home. Look for a tool box with a lock, in case your student's roommates sometimes borrow without asking.

Claw Hammer

Any time you need to hammer, this is the tool to have. Plus, the claw is ideal for removing nails that were not precisely placed (a likely occurrence for a novice handyman).

Vise Grips

When you need a pair of pliers, think vise grips instead. The plier-like tool can lock in position, giving you a much better grip on the problem, whether it's a loose plumbing pipe or a bolt that won't come loose. (It can also be useful to crack nuts!)

Tape Measure

For those times when a precise measurement is necessary, a tape measure is indispensable. (Remember, measure twice, cut once!)

Adjustable Wrench

A set of pliers can round off the edges of a nut and make it impossible to loosen. Instead, an adjustable wrench is the proper tool for this job, with its flat edges that mesh with the flats of a nut perfectly.

Needle-Nose Pliers

There are times and situations when vise grips are too large or clumsy to wield; repairing jewelry is one example.

Screwdriver Set

Although it comes as a surprise to many people, there's a right size of screwdriver for every screw; one size doesn't fit all. Look for a ratchet screwdriver with a variety of sized heads in both Phillips and flathead.

Utility Knife

From cutting tape to scoring drywall, shaping plastic to trimming wood, a good utility knife is an essential part of any tool kit.

Toilet Auger

Lastly, a tool that will be a godsend to anyone living in an apartment or house with old, inadequate plumbing (and this is likely the case for your student). Forget the plunger and instead invest in an auger. It's well worth the price, saving your child from multiple plumber visits, landlord calls, and roommate shouting matches.

Did we miss anything? Let us know your picks for apartment tool essentials in the comments below.