Halls of residence must haves.

[livingonhomemadesoup]

DD heading to uni next week, I've bought all the kitchen bits and pieces I think she'll need and things for her room. Anyone got any "must haves" or "wish I'd known" purchases??
Someone mentioned a mattress topper to me yesterday which I thought might be a good idea.
Thank you

Mattress topper. Beds can be a bit comfortable. Most other things have been mentioned.
Was in IKEA yesterday and saw lots of students with mums or dads.
Made me feel a bit nostalgic. Mine are all done.

Found this book invaluable when my son went to Uni last year - It has tick lists inside too!

Mattress topper. At least 2 really long extension leads as sockets are often nowhere near where need to be. Packing bags that squash down and can go under bed. Wardrobe hanging storage shelf as often there aren’t any drawers. Laundry sheets take up less space that liquid or pods. Cough/cold/sore throat meds / tissues for when they get freshers flu. Thermometer / covid test / oximeter for when they ring you convinced they are dying and you can get them to check and confirm that yes they’ve just got Covid (again and again). They will almost certainly get student Amazon prime so don’t spend out on kitchen / decorating etc stuff until they arrive as they can just order what they need next day delivery and there are often eg poster sales and they often club together if something is missing. Bottle of vodka and a crate beer is always welcome. 90% of what we took for kitchen came back untouched.

Food for a few days that keeps (noodles, pasta, etc)

My son took only one big plate, one small plate, one pasta bowl, and one cereal bowl to make himself wash up every time he ate!😂
Check the available floor space carefully if planning extra storage - mine has barely any room for anything extra on the floor.

Probably not the type of “essential” you’re looking for but perhaps the most important one! Double check all vaccines are up to date especially the menACWY, it’s usually given at school but could easily be missed with absences. It’s absolutely essential before moving to halls. I’ve recently seen some very tragic cases of young people coming through my work (ICU) with meningitis and losing multiple limbs and worse.

I think the answer is very different depending on both what your DD is like and the split between parent/student 'must haves'.

When I was at uni, the only thing I bought myself for my room was a drip-coffee machine - it was a bargain and so nice to be able to have a coffee without going to the kitchen.

There's very little storage so I could have done with some of the hanging storage you add to wardrobes but other than that you just cram all your clothes in and then everything else goes under the bed!

Agree with mattress topper being lovely and very obvious utensils are handy (I went with green handles so easy to see). Nothing too nice, as things as well as food will go missing from communal kitchens!

I also just used a large bag for life to transport my washing as you can fold it up.

A nice purchase is loads of notepads if they'll be taking paper notes as it sucks spending money on paper when you want to go out!

From a student pov must haves are: Pack of cards, fancy dress basics like a set of face/body paints, interesting art for your walls, any stuff youll need for societies (e.g. swimming costume/shin pads/hiking boots), lots of snacks to share with housemates and alcohol. You'll get about 80 bottle openers and pens during fresher fairs.

The best purchase in my first year was one of my housemates getting a hamster that we all took turns hiding during inspections!

A mini tool kit. Something fairly small with a few screw drivers and a hammer and tape measure. Really useful for yourself and a good way to make friends when someone else needs stuff!

Scissors

Flu max strength tablets. I sent some to an amazon locker for my son when he caught the lurgi and he was very grateful

My daughter loves her bed tray and back cushion .
https://www.ikea.com/gb/en/p/klipsk-bed-tray-white-00258882/

https://www.dunelm.com/product/teddy-bear-high-back-cuddle-cushion-1000204053?defaultSkuId=30836550&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Cushions_Cushions-PMax_%5BGOO-PLA-CUSHIONS-CUSHIONS%5D&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjw0Oq2BhCCARIsAA5hubVs21aO5WKdXGvkRbT76ubiHI08DwPQX-QhOeiW2_aVcHQsDKbwfE8aAnz_EALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

We took up duvet, linens, pillows, towels, clothes, books, laptop, plug extension lead, toiletries and did a reckie of what was needed immediately: bathmat, bin liners, mirror. There are shops in most uni towns and Amazon.

DD developed a habit of buying cheap knickers and socks from Primark when the laundry built up!

If she's a heavy sleeper and you have to wake her up at home, get a very loud alarm clock.
paracetamol, cold medicine etc
blue tack for putting up posters
box sets, Netflix subscription or similar. I have gone memories of watching endless episodes of friends with some of the other girls in my halls.

My older 2 were really glad they took an airer and used them loads. One is going into his 6th year (PhD) the 2nd into his 3rd year.
Rubber door stop.
They weren't allowed colour catcher sheets.
Thin towels that were quick to dry.
Sliders if in shared showers.

I've just bought dd a trolley coin keyring as she very rarely has cash. Her nearest supermarket is a Tesco so have swopped some of my old Tesco bags for life for new ones for her.

Also do a food shop before you leave your home town if possible, both times the closest supermarkets were empty of useful food.

A fan

If you have a family pet, a cushion with photo of pet on it

Their own washing up bowl. Can stash their own dirty dishes if they’re feeling lazy or can use instead of the one in the kitchen where someone else has left their dirty dishes. Also doubles up as a vomit bowl.

DC and his new student friends were really organised. A WhatsApp group for their halls, all rooms that shared the same kitchen, set up before they had even met.

Between them they arranged who was taking what in terms of equipment. Meant no duplicates but a great range of what they needed, one student taking only one item.

Don't know if it's been mentioned but one of those small boxes that contain a handle with lot of different screwdriver and socket fittings and also maybe a set of alan keys fir tightening things up!

A bin with no holes, very useful if they are feeling a bit poorly.

@Zen I've already been asked if the basin I've bought is for dishes or being sick in 🤣

@Anonymous2224 I thought about that the other day and phoned to check !

Yes to a mattress topper. By year 2 and private renting we also ended up getting a dehumidifier by the end of the first week.

An Oodie or similar