University and ‘starter’ pack

[Sausageandpicklesandwiches]

My nephew is off to uni in a week and I wanted to put together a box of useful things for him to take. Can I have your ideas please of what would be useful?

Condoms and vodka

Nando's voucher

Pot noodles
Packet mashed potato
Dried fruit
Cereal bars
Homemade cake

I wouldn't get anything 'physical' now unless he tells you he needs it. Presumably he will have what he needs if he's going in a week.

If it's a house share rather than halls you could get him something for the kitchen, my dad bought me lightbulbs when I went which was great as it saved us dividing the cost of a lightbulb by seven when one went in the communal areas.

@Cliques 🤣. Practical but no! Perhaps yes to the vodka!

@MarigoldGlove great idea with the Nando’s voucher, that would go down well. Cereal bars and pot noodles are now on the list. Thank you. Yes he does seem to have all of the practical things.

I did something similar a few years ago. I put it in a small gift bag and put in some sweets, a couple of stationary items, a little teddy. The best part was a very small tin money box. We put several notes inside which were a nice surprise a few days later!

A little padlock and key, sticky labels and blu-tack.

I was lucky and had fab flatmates who wouldn't take any food without asking but not everyone is that lucky, so a padlock and labels for his food cupboard might be useful 😉

Cold relief tablets, hankies and lozenges in case of freshers flu. Small first aid kit.

Great ideas everyone, thank you. First aid kit I wouldn’t have thought about. Perhaps a voucher would be good too, we have done a couple of monthly subscriptions to help him out with the odd bit.

Talk to his parents first about what they might have already bottom-drawered for him, so you don't duplicate

If you want something a bit landmark/permanent, then leatherman tool or Swiss Army knife

Don't wrap items in your hamper, put them in useful Tupperware type boxes

Yes, unfortunately vodka might be the most welcome item (how times have moved on, it was a bottle of wine or 6 tinnies in my day!)

Stationery - boring but necessary - post it notes, scissors, sharpies (esp in shared accommodation!), paper clips (all the things that make you think 'how much! when you buy them rather than inadvertently take some home from the office

Alarm clock (for when out of charge, or back up needed)

Small 'housewife' sewing kit

Cookbook

Marmite, nutella, chilli flakes, hot sauce, ketchup, favourite crisps or other preferred long-life nibbles,

Gift voucher for Wilko's so he can get whatever mugs/kettle/plates the hall of residence is missing? Box of tea bags.

DS went to Uni last year and I made him a survival box with things in including;
Travel mug so he could drink a coffee on the bus to lectures
Nando's voucher
Glass jar of sweets (which I'm refilling this year)
'In case of emergency break glass' framed £20
Berocca tablets
First aid kit of plasters, paracetamol etc
Bottle of vodka
Pack of his favourite snack

Some older friends made me a box up when I moved into uni. It included things like coffee, hot chocolate, biscuits, sweets and then lots of essential stationary - page markers, highlighters, biros, fancy notebook etc.

I did preset have lots of these things, but they came in very useful as my first term’s loan ran low and things started to need replacing.

Find out what his nearest supermarket is and then get a gift card for him for emergencies