Gifts for new uni starters

[ItsFineReally]

My goddaughter starts university in a few weeks and I want to send a gift. She is already sorted with the big items like kitchenware and bedding etc.

When I went to uni, my aunt sent me a box of random but very useful bits - Alka-Seltzer for my inevitable hangover, Compeed for dancing all night etc - each with a note. I remember it being fun and thoughtful (and something of a lifesaver in those first few weeks), so I was considering something along those lines.

I’ll be visiting her in the first term to take her for a proper supermarket shop and a meal out with her boyfriend/friend, so I’d rather not just post cash, unless that’s now considered the holy grail of student gifts?

Any bright ideas? Or what have you done in a similar situation for a young adult heading off to uni?

THB I’d just give her cash, or a voucher - unless you know of something she’d particularly like.

This is a really excellent list, done by Esther Coren every year. You’ll find lots of ideas here.

https://thespike.substack.com/p/undergraduate-2025

You sound like a lovely godmother.

This is amazing, thanks! Exactly the right tone of what I was going for.

Door stop and tea towel.

Halls all have fire doors that auto close. It’s game changing to be able to wedge it open when you’re in your room and be a bit more engaged in the world passing by.

@ItsFineReally Pleasure 😊

Starbucks or costa voucher or better still see if there's a local coffee shop near to them and get a voucher for there

A few things on the list already then. It's prompted a few more thoughts but I was at university a long time ago so a lot wouldn't be relevant any more.
I was just remembering having to ensure I always had 20p pieces to do laundry but I bet they're all card operated now, arent they? Otherwise I'd send a load of change.

I researched the various shops, restaurants and supermarkets near my nephew’s Halls. Every so often I would send them a voucher for somewhere. They absolutely loved getting a random pizza voucher etc and said it really made a difference to have an occasional, unexpected treat.

Yes when I was at Uni, coins for the phone & the laundry were essential, were stamps!

That's really lovely, great idea.

Johnnies, dry shampoo, multivitamins.

You could do a pack for when she gets fresher's flue and whatever other illness is doing the rounds. Dioralyte, paracetamol, lucazade, plasters, throat spray, soft tissues, pharmacy grade moisturiser, heat pad, eye drops, vaseline, snacks, longer life orange juice, coffee etc. Then other new house stuff, eg the good washing up sponges (and a note of how often to replace them as everyone tried go make them last wayyy too long), pan scourers, washing up liquid, bleach, antibacterial spray, clothes, tea towels, washing up gloves, bin bags, spare teaspoons and utensils, toilet rolls. I think I would have been overjoyed with food parcels. But wait until she is there for these things so they can be delivered or handed over there and she doesn't have to carry it with everything else.

I know door stops are regularly recommended but they are frowned upon by unis as the doors are fire doors for a reason

Vouchers/gift cards for takeaways

Some great ideas, thanks.

My DD will start on 3 weeks and it seems reed diffuser are very popular and also electric candles as they aren’t allowed open flames in the halls.

she also asked for some fairy lights she can clip photos and mini posters on.

What a lovely thing to do!

DC1 won an M&S voucher while at uni and used it to buy steak. My friend gave DC2 a Tesco voucher which went down very well.

A Spotify subscription would go down well with DC2.

A toastie maker would have gone down well with both DCs .

Many halls tell the cleaners to remove doorstops, unfortunately.