What does DC actually NEED for Uni (first year, hall hopefully)

[WhiteRosesAndCandles]

I don't want waste money and have things that will not be used. It it so easy to go overboard and I want to avoid that.

What what a great purchase, used over and over?

What stayed in the cupboard?

Any recommendations for things they won't have thought of? My BiL recommended coloured plates.

We have things they can take, like cups, glasses, cutlery etc. I was going to buy a duvet, pillow, sheets, covers. The only thing they really want is a whiteboard.

Food for a few days. Stuff that just needs hot water such as pasta and noodle pots

Flip flops and dressing gown if they're sharing a bathroom

A Sharpie, label everything in communal kitchen, fridge food included!
Bath mat
Reusable coffee cup and water bottle to discourage spends on drinks on campus.

DD has got lots of stuff from car boot sales, such as old plates and bowls and stuff that will be nice and distinctive in the shared flat. But we just had a very pleasant time at IKEA getting some more bits:

We got:
Loo brush
cutlery set
oven gloves
tea towels
over the door hooks
dish drainer for sink
bath mat
slimline clothes drying rack
6 socket extension lead
Chopping boards
a 3 tiered mini shelving thing on wheels

and then we nipped to Dunelm and got:
fitted sheets
Duvet cover
oven trays
3 tier shower storage thingy

We have bought

2 sets of bedding
2 sets of towels
bath mat
duvet
pillows
pillow protectors
mattress topper
mattress protector
desk lamp
2xsaucepans
1xfrying pan
set of cutlery ( coloured handles)
2 plates, bowls (coloured)
chopping board
baking trays
kitchen utensils - (fish slice, slotted spoon, wooden spoon, pizza wheel, can/bottle opener , scissors, sharp knives
tea towels
oven gloves
2xmugs
2xglasses
extension lead
clothes airer
bin

Sharp knife
chopping board
pyrex jug
pan sized for pasta
frying pan
oven tray
can opener
fish slice
wooden spoon
plate
bowl
knife fork and spoons
mugs
sturdy drinking glasses
teatowels
washing up sponge that can be filled with liquid
rug to cover the minging carpet
blutack
bedding
laundry pods
ikea bag for laundry
airer (dryers are ££ and useless)
multipurpose bucket or bowl for soaking laundry/vomiting into/ice bucket

Yes agreed. The mattresses are generally rubbish.

Door wedge and a tin of biscuits to help break the ice during freshers. Ds had a little drinks tray of 2 mugs, teabags and coffee in his room too which was useful

One of these is good for displaying photos and adding a personal touch

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Picture-Pockets-Mega-Size-AA/dp/B00G9TO28C?th=1&psc=1

My DC had a whiteboard and cork board already in his room. Worth a check before buying one.

Saucepan, colander, frying pan, chopping board, bread knife, pairing knife, utensils, towels, tea towels, flannels, laundry basket. Basic food to get them over the first couple of days because they'll be too busy to think of shopping! Basic food normally equals pot noodles! Usual toiletries plus washing up liquid and laundry power (a sharpie pen pack is handy for labelling stuff!). Obviously, usual stationery stuff, folders, sticky notes.

Those fold up plastic crates that you can get from B&M are good for moving stuff and for storage/organising (other shops are available!).

All the best!

A washing up bowl to put their dirty dishes in if they don't have time to wash them straight away. Means they aren't leaving them out to annoy their flat mates and also means their flatmates won't help themselves to stuff left out..

My son is about to go into his fourth and final year. Things he’s found particular useful -

Knives with covers (as he kept them in his room, so safer to carry back from the kitchen)

A pop up washing basket - was able to easily slide under bed when not in use

An airer with arms - hard to describe but had several arms so he could hang tops on on hangers which meant they dried better

Extra duvet set

Extra towel sets

A wok - doubles up as a frying pan/Saucepan

second year onwards (as not allowed in halls) - Airfryer!

Really recommend this Facebook page.

“What I wish I knew about university”

Facebook page

for some reason my photo is under review

I think this is a great list. I would only add 4 gang extension cable (the plugs are not always where you want them, and there is never enough of them) One or two extra phone charger cables and plugs, and a power pack, cheap enough, but always seem to be nicked, and the one thing you do not need is them saying "phone is out of charge". I would add a very small first aid kit, basically what they normally go through - a strip of paracetomol, a strip of ibuprofen, a few hot lemons, few plasters, indigestion tablets that sort of thing, they all last for ages, but when they get ill they can at least have them until they source something better. A hot water bottle is nice if they are used to having one or get cold, although I think student accom has moved on since my day (or in fact my teenagers days), it was always too hot when I visited ! A voucher for B&M to make their room look nice might be easier once they get there, or a spend limit on your amazon. A railcard for 3 years is also quite a thrifty spend in the long run. Son's ran out (4 days !!), we did not realise, he did not realise. that's £35 penalty fare none of us is getting back ! Best of luck with it xx

A mesh drawstring laundry bag that can be put into the washing machine, a washable mattress topper, and a multi-purpose saute pan are the things my DC found most useful. I'd buy a double duvet even if they have a single bed because it may change to a double or 3/4 bed next year.

Dd says a full length mirror 🙈🤷‍♀️😆

I agree. Mattresses in Halls are generally very uncomfortable. All of dd’s friends took mattress toppers which really helped.

This 👆Keep everything minimal ,working on the basis that these items will never come home ! Mattress topper and bed linen are main priority.

A good piece of advice I was given for my dsd’s first year was to give her our things and buy new for ourselves. Some bits were new but towels, cups, utensils etc were all used

Thanks so much.

I have over door hooks and hangers. The white board is freestanding but suitable for a desk.

I like the idea of them taking things from home and getting new. We have a lots of stuff on your lists already.

I will definitely get a mattress topper.

A lot of halls provide kettles because they don't want 8 students all arriving with a kettle.

Mattress protector/topper is a must as is 2 sets of bedding. A fleecy blanket to cuddle up with. Long phone charging cable.

A couple of saucepans or 1 saucepan and a wok, a fry/griddle pan and utensils.

Cutlery and 2 large plates, tea plates 2 bowls and 2 mugs and 2 glasses. If you buy more they let dishes pile up.

Tin opener, wooden spoon, tea towels. A few storage containers for teabags, coffee, rice. A baking dish.

Check individual rules DS told no electric blankets. Some halls don't allow air fryers.

A small emergency/first aid pack
plasters, blister plasters, paracetamol, lemsip, burn dressings, germolene type stuff is always handy

Get plates and glasses from charity shops, most students get them from Ikea and they all get mixed up and if one breaks everyone claims it wasn't theirs.

List of local GPs and how to register.

List of birthdays of anyone they might want o send a card to (although I think they send an SMS instead).

I know this will sound crazy but does he know how to put a duvet on and make a bed? I know every 12 year old should know but it is worth checking.

A hot water bottle if they are in newish accommodation, the heating is often you press a button and get heat for a while, he doesn't want to be getting out of bed at 3am to press a button.

A small first aid kit and a small sewing kit.

Does he have a shared bathroom? If so flip flops.

A winter coat and warm clothes, it is easy to think you are packing for a holiday and forget you won't be home until December.

I forgot about flip flops, but actually sliders are more popular I think.

Passport or driving licence
I was given laundry tabs / pods instead of washing powder as it's lighter