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

Definitely a ‘threshers flu’ pack, throat sweets, Vicks etc as nearly everyone comes down with that in term 1

With labels stuck on them, big writing saying PARACETAMOL 1 OF 8 in 24 HOURS on everything that has it - too many kids have no idea that the paracetamol they take for a headache at 9am can't be followed up by two cold & flu remedies at 10.30am, followed by a lemsip and two paracetamol at midday, then two more paracetamol at 2pm, etc, etc.

Even better, teach them to have separate decongestants and have them with single item paracetamol and a can of Coke/whatever has caffeine. Mainly because they're less likely to mess up and have too much, but also because it's so much cheaper.

Also add a gel cold pack to chase headaches around and deal with sprains.

This is outing for anyone who went to my very small uni at the same time, but I bought a mannequin torso from a charity shop the day before I left for uni and displayed it in my bedroom window- as I say it was a v small uni with a very small halls, it was an excellent icebreaker/conversation starter as basically everyone who was in halls saw it at some point (my room was right by the entrance to the halls). If I had my time again I'd take something equally weird to display in my window!

A waste paper bin, a folding laundry basket and a multi-USB charger plug. A fan was also a must as DD seemed to have the hot water pipe for the whole building running through her room!

That cuddle cushion is such a good idea!

The Higher Ed forum has a few of these lists as well.

I think there’s a lot to be said for arriving with the basics and seeing what you need after a couple of weeks. It’s easy to take too much otherwise.

Honestly go with less is more and she can buy anything she finds that she needs.

If you're moving her in, do a big shop to start her off and include a crate of alcopops. It's an easy way to start friendships.

I second this. Lakeland do a great one too, for 9.99. I have one myself at home and it saves so much room on my rack.

Cheap flipflops for the communal manky showers.

DDs most used item was a shopping trolley that she used as a laundry basket - the washing machines were in a different block and her flatmates struggled carrying heavy bags over.

We also got her a fold up airier and small fan heater because it was £5 wash and £5 dry, so she'd bring the wet clothes back (even heavier!) put them on the dryer and aim the heater at it.

Following

Isn't that a fire risk??

Maybe. But the heater wasn't against the clothes, and she was there at the same time so would have seen anything happening. It's a device for pushing hot air out, so I'm not sure how that is risky?

Even if it's not a fire risk, it would make the room absolutely swampy, so not something dd would want to do.

Little fold up shopping bags is one of things my son said he found most useful.

Hmm it's not something she complained about (and she's a champion moaner!), so maybe it depends on the size/type of room and if the doors open onto a corridor etc?

Another useful thing OP was boxes/baskets that fitted in the bottom of the wardrobe/under the bed. DDs halls were quite newly refurbished and had good storage, but no drawers for underwear and she didn't want it on shelves. We went to ikea and got lidded boxes for a couple of quid and they did the job.

I also say an airer - every day it was used for wet bath towels, as well as for laundry.

My daughters Halls flat had a really draughty windows and the room was really cold in winter, she had a wearable blanket thing like an oodie which she wore loads and I got her lots of extra fleecy throws. Now in her student house she has an electric blanket as it's also freezing in there. (She's up north and from the south coast so not used to it!)
Herbs and spices if they like to cook. I gave her all the things to make her favourite dishes.
Tin foil for leftovers!

The basic ikea dryer is excellent. £6

https://www.ikea.com/gb/en/p/jaell-drying-rack-in-outdoor-white-80242892/

It’s lightweight, and folds flat to go behind a door or under bed. It’s has about 10 rails and easily would dry most things.

Dressing gown and slippers for those night time fire alarms.

It's not about standing in the cold November night waiting for the fire brigade, but at least you are warm.

For my sister we saw a student kitchen set in the shop with everything you could need. We paid a few quid extra to get her the cutlery and plate set that was one up from the set so that she would have different to everyone else. We record everyone would have chosen the set or similar think she had blue plates in the end. Also if into make up get a small rug from ikea or somewhere I have one at home means when there eating at there desk or doing make up they won’t risk there deposit by staining the carpet. Mine at home gets bunged in the wash once in a while and it’s great as I’m so clumsy.

Generally the rooms are very small so it is better not to take too much.

Coathangers, there are rarely enough if any.

We’ve kept it really basic to start with and will just sort out needs as they emerge and get stuff delivered to her. I do remember using my airer almost constantly when I was a student in halls though.

The uni DS is going to has a swap shop/cup of free stuff which is basically left over stuff from students from past years. Plus there's always a charity shop in town so you don't need to overthink the kitchen stuff

A folding crate on wheels (the teacher trolley type) is really good - it makes moving heavy shopping (ie, drinks and cans), books, etc, easy.