Sensible list to take to uni

[peach125]

Can anyone direct me to a list of what we need to help DD buy for 1st year at uni?

You don't necessarily need to buy everything before you go, especially heavy/bulky items or things that might be duplicated by every student in the flat.
Many shops (Tesco, Asda, Wilko etc) are clued up to the annual student migration and will have loaded shelves at your destination town. If you wait until you see the student halls then it saves on (1) buying uncessary stuff and (2) the transportation problem from home-town to university-town.

Second vote for plug extensions, and a printer - much easier than using the uni print facilities.
Also lots of passport sized photos, think DS took 6 and used them all.

In his kitchen they all clubbed together and did a shopping trip for toaster/kettle etc. I think it was a good bonding exercise.

We found on moving in day there were lots of older students around who came to the car and carried stuff for you. It was a huge help.

Plastic wine glasses! Things get broken a lot.

I'd make her a little recipe book with quick simple and cheap meals and hangover cures :o. Would have come in so handy when I was burning packet pasta!

Mattress topper, bed linen, pillows and duvet are a must.

A lamp. It's amazing how I forgot a lamp but came in ridiculously handy.

Hang off on big kitchen appliances as you'll have loads. See what's there and then offer to go out and buy it if it isn't in the pile.

Storage boxes/under bed storage.

We bought DD2 scissors and a Kitchen knife mainly because shops are not allowed to sell these to under 21's anymore. We also bought bedding, cutlery and a crockery set.

milk thistle

Good quality bedding and lots of cushions. I would also say a mattress topper (or even a value quilt to put over it) as they tend to be covered in plastic so squeak wehn you move. Most halls have a small desk and chair but a good lamp is essential to save having the harsh ceiling light on all the time. A bookcase is handy and can be picked up cheaply enough if there is space. A cheap iPod dock is good too.

Personal essentials that can be hard on student fianances are also good... nail clippers, razors, shaving foam, body wash, cloths etc.

When my brother went last year I activated a sainsburys student card and I top it up every few months and let him choose some food/drink treats. I think asda have brought out a similar scheme. I know my parents also send him tesco deliveries from time to time.

Also a good backpack... books are heavy and you need to lug them about most days.

Carbon mono-oxide alarm and batteries.

They both had bath mats, a medical box, a desk light, duvet, pillow,a mattress protector is a must as they are often not clean. They really have a mini home at uni with everything that you need on a daily basis to cook and live. Dd loves to cook so she had cake tins, scales, blender, slow cooker etc but she is a long way from home so does not come home during term time. She kept the things she cared about in her room and the rest got used and abused by other housemates. Some were " nice" and washed things up after they used them but others did not and some things emerged from others rooms after a few weeks :(. Generally they dont have too much space in their room, the suitcase lived under the bed and was full of excess food etc.. I gave them both a book that they wrote down favourite recipes in. I would buy cheap cutlery as i just gave them old stuff and half of dd's has not come back.