She's off to uni in a few weeks - what does she really need to take?

[oldenoughtowearpurple]

So DD is off to self-catered uni accommodation for her first year. The accommodation is downright palatial - ensuite, new-build flats for 4-6 mixed sex sharers (not like it was in MY day, I can tell you).

What does she really need to take with her? all hints and tips gratefully received.

2 bath towels and half a dozen packets of batchelors cheesy pasta ( DS loves them & on offer at supermarket)

Thanks for all the tips, been very useful for us too. Just to say, check whats included in the accommodation - we were about to buy crockery, cutlery etc and have just discovered its all supplied.

Our first purchase has been a cheese grater!

We have a cheese grater as well follyfoot! DD2 is about to go on holiday with a group of girlfriends so we'll start getting things properly when she gets back.

Well, DD didn't get allocated the accommodation she wanted, and is in the crappy run down out-of-town shared facilities instead. So will be buying Crocs and bathmats I think. Really like the idea of a gift-a-day until she goes, off to buy her something right now!

marriednotdead I remember those wonderful evenings where everyone seemed to set the smoke alarm off throughout the night and we all had to stand on the cold :(

ajandjjmum - that website of your son's is really excellent, hope it makes him rich and famous so you can have a comfortable old age!

Oldenough Bit of an arse about the accommodation, but I'm sure she'll love it when she's there. The halls I was in (cheapest ones available, bit old but perfectly adequate) was mostly made up of students who had got it as the 5th/6th choice (or hadn't even put it as a choice) but everyone soon settled down and loved it.

As soon as she's in and made friends with everyone, it'll all feel different

Could I just ask those of you who have done this before - will DD need to take a printer with her? Was going to give her my old printer/scanner to take, but not sure whether she will need one or not....

It is always easier if they have their own printer. My DD took hers. It is however easy also to buy a photocopying card that you top up. There are photocopiers in the libraries.

I found it easier having my own. If you find you need to print a couple of things whilst you're sat in your room in your pyjamas, the last thing you want to do is trek off to the library. People often asked to borrow mine. And definitely take it if it's got a scanner as well. Strangely useful.

this thread is wonderful, thanks all - am copy/paste & printing some of it & then annotating print with other bits, I hope to end up with a definitive list

I've just bought DS1 an Epson printer/scanner/copier which has cost me £39. It's relatively small, apparently reliable (according to my IT guy at work) and economic with the ink. Which is just as well, because a set of ink cartridges will be £30!

Thanks all, I'll send her with the old one I think

This is what I have bought so far:

KITCHEN
6 tumblers (IKEA)
4 wine glasses (Sainsbury's - reduced to £4)
plastic cooking implements, such as spatula, tongs, spoon etc
2 wooden spoons
tin opener
bottle opener
sieve
potato masher
two sharp knives (one a paring knife, the other a chef's knife)
knife/scissor sharpener
one small frying pan (non-stick)
one saucepan (non-stick) with lid
one wok (non-stick)
one Pyrex casserole dish with lid
Tala measuring cup (like the one we had in domestic science, circa 1970!)
plastic boxes for freezer (IKEA)
cutlery set (16 piece - only £7 at Sainsbury)

STATIONERY
printer
2 reams of paper (HP paper on offer at Staples at

Is she on FB and are her future roomies there too? They should arrange between themselves what each will bring or else they will all go to wasteful expense duplicating items.

the only thing I've bought so far that isn't on any of these lists is one of those plastic sets of 4 drawers (with optional castors) - it was suggested on one of the threads on TSR about DS2's halls, because they're not supposed to bring actual furniture apparently, but only get 3 tiny built-in drawers. This will tuck under the built-in desk thing (I hope)

(£14.99 from B&M - comes in lots of lovely girlie colours, plus grey. He's got grey of course )

I forgot something - I have c+p the whole thing just in case anyone wants the whole list - the surge-protected extension cable:

KITCHEN
6 tumblers (IKEA)
4 wine glasses (Sainsbury's - reduced to £4)
plastic cooking implements, such as spatula, tongs, spoon etc
2 wooden spoons
tin opener
bottle opener
sieve
potato masher
two sharp knives (one a paring knife, the other a chef's knife)
knife/scissor sharpener
one small frying pan (non-stick)
one saucepan (non-stick) with lid
one wok (non-stick)
one Pyrex casserole dish with lid
Tala measuring cup (like the one we had in domestic science, circa 1970!)
plastic boxes for freezer (IKEA)
cutlery set (16 piece - only £7 at Sainsbury)

STATIONERY
printer
2 reams of paper (HP paper on offer at Staples at

can anyone recommend a good clock-radio-ipod-charger-speaker?

DS2's, which was a great deal from play.com ages ago, is a bit old & unreliable now

I don't know if someone has already mentioned this but will your dd have some sort of insurance for all her stuff. I think there is usually some sort of student one available. In my day decades ago it was about £10. It might be worth looking into.

Oh, also, drawing pins for the noticeboard (everywhere within a 3 mile radius of our uni had sold out of them in the first week and it's pretty standard to have a notice board) and White-tack (it stains less than blu-tack, it was actually specified in our tenancy that we had to use this instead).

Re buying kitchen stuff, the fact that this is all included at my DDs uni was well hidden in the info, I was about to get loads, but actually she doesnt need anything.

Also, insurance is included in rental for DD, so again worth checking first.

The facebook idea is a really good one, all 6 flatmates have made contact so they arent going to double up on too much hopefully. Exciting times for them!

PS our Sainsburys has got a ream of decent paper for £2.50 at the moment - might be worth checking out?

DS2's rent includes insurance but only for stuff actually in his room - ie if he takes his laptop or guitar out, it's not covered, & bikes aren't covered at all.

Endsleigh do kindly offer an upgrade (at a price )

Yes, DS's rent includes basic insurance, but stuff like laptop/iPhone/guitar will not be covered.

BIWI, has he opened a student account yet? Santander's includes cover for phone, laptop & 2 "gadgets" (it mentions MP3 & games console, not sure if guitar would count)

I haven't looked at the small print yet but it's potentially a very useful perk. DS2 currently pays £6 or £7 a month already for his phone insurance with O2.