Gifts for someone going to university shortly

[Brogues]

I’m a bit wary or buying big or expensive stuff they won’t be able to take with them but I also don’t want to buy e.g. an iron!

I was thinking homely stuff like a throw, dressing gown? Any slightly more exciting ideas 😆 ? I guess this will be a bit of a recurring issue. What do you buy for prospective/uni students?

A bag is always useful - big enough for a long weekend?

Personal alarm.

I got my nephew a Deliveroo or Just Eat card !

'Enjoy your new found freedom, have a rape alarm!'

A George Foreman grill. So much easier than using a big oven when cooking for one and easy to wipe over rather than wash up (or collect) dirty pans.
That's what my DD asked for and had when she went to Uni at 18.
Great for making toasties too.

My brother gave me a Good Housekeeping cookbook and a sandwich toaster when I went to University in 1984. They are both still in regular use.

An oodie

Sliders if you know their size

Please don't do this.
It's boring but I'd suggest gift vouchers so they can order something they actually can make use of.

I bought my son's friends a Wetherspoons voucher

Things my kids have found useful but are also nice to have

Amazon echo
Some nice stationery
Blankets and cushions
Amazon prime subscription
Food/coffee vouchers
A nice desk lamp
Posters
Framed prints (they usually can't damage walls but my kids just leaned them and they looked nice or you can get that strong tape to hang them.
Nice toiletries, face masks etc
Toastie maker

I still have a kitchen knife that I bought from a catering supply shop with a cash gift from a family member when I went to Uni - most expensive thing I owned at the time (it really wasn't actually that expensive, I was just poor!) - still giving good service nearly 30 years later. If they're into cooking, some thing like that is nice (you could even get it engraved)

robotgun Peonies12

Unfortunately I am not being sarcastic.
Women should carry personal alarms. It's not like it will be her only present. She probably won't think to buy one for herself.
A young woman away from home, probably going to have a few late nights out.
We were given them by my workplace.

You can get lovely custom photo blankets with a collection of photos that are good if they are missing home!

How about simply giving them a voucher to put money on their mobile phone? A basic cookbook is a good idea or perhaps a sandwich maker.

Air fryer
Toastie Maker
bluetooth speaker

I think they stopped selling phone vouchers about 10 years ago 😁

I suggest vodka or a really good pan with a lid that they can fry things in/ cook curries etc

Not sure that many people have a PAYG phone anymore!

I'd go with something very practical like cash or Tesco gift vouchers.

Most students have loads of belongings to try and transport to their student accommodation. Most will also realise there's something extra they really need once they arrive. If there really isn't an object they need they can buy food with it.

Slow cooker or air fryer and recipe book, if they don't have/ are allowed
Electric blanket orange nice snuggly throw
I'm getting theatre vouchers for our friend who is off to London doing a music/drama type degree... when I lived there I had lots of opportunity to see shows but little cash

A gift card for a supermarket near their campus

Definitely vouchers ... Deliveroo, UberEats etc or a local chain restaurant like Nandos or nearest supermarket.

Believe me the car will be rammed with enough stuff already.

One little thing you could get , pretty sure I saw it suggested on here and we made sure DD had one ....a doorstop. Sounds weird but if they're moving in to halls it's great as they can prop their door open and it encourages other new flatmates to say hello, pop in and introduce themselves.

A bus pass for the city!

Thinking of my dd. A Young Person's Rail Card, a good coffee machine, Argos / Costa Coffee / Weatherspoons / Starbucks / Amazon / Waterstones / W H Smiths voucher. A Boots or Superdrug voucher. Some unis have prepayment cards which give discounts on campus. I might get my dd a personal alarm after seeing it suggested. A mobile phone portable charger. Depending on budget a new laptop or laptop case / satchel.

Smoothie blender (also used for sauces etc)
Storage - trolley, bins, shoe rack
Bread knife (for bread, bagels)
Decent frying pan
Clothes airer
Desk lamp
Air fryer
Large tub of mixed herbs
Milk frother
Rug
Slippers or sliders
Battery fairy lights

Student cookbook. I was given one when I started uni and got a lot of use out of it. Sadly I've since lost it so can't recommend that particular one but anything that covers a bit about how to meal plan/ budget as well as the actual cooking is probably a good idea.