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Higher education

Talk to other parents whose children are preparing for university on our Higher Education forum.

Original poster

Ideas thread for what to take/not take to Uni.......

424 replies

MissMarplesBloomers · 17/08/2013 11:37

We have found already that the student forum on the Warwick Uni website has been a valuabel resource.

Also advice from past students on here & other friends so thought I'd share a few "ooh ...good tip" moments that we've already had as the lists are mounting up!!

-Keep stuff to take to a minimum, check the list of stuff provided first or else the kitchens end up with 8/10 sets of everything by the end of first week.

-ditto for groceries, stick to dry/tins so tehy last longer & the shared cupboard in the kitchen/fridge shelf may not be that big!

  • plain white china/crocks can be muddled/lost/appropriated with all the other IKEA stuff in the kitchen, a couple of granny's patterned plates will stand out as yours & can be found cheaply in charity shops. Ditto cutlery. Then no biggy if it doesn't come home at end of term.

-some halls provide linen/bedding but having your own from home helps with the settling in. Eg DD is taking her double duvet & own covers as that is snuggly on a single bed.

-lots of pound coins for laundry & buses.

-Double up the amount of underwear you pack, you'll be too busy the first week to do washing!

Loads more I'm sure, all little things but useful!

Please share your top tips

OP posts:
mumeeee · 12/09/2013 19:10

DD3 has about £350 saved. She actually has another £300 in a websavers account but has asked us to look after that for her and she"ll ask for it if she needs it. She is getting a student loan which should be in her account 7 days after she has enrolled on campus.

melodyangel · 12/09/2013 22:17

MissMarplesBloomers Grin Oh yes the nice ones that don't leave your nose all red, the eyes will be red enough don't need a matching set.

MABS · 13/09/2013 07:30

she not home yet, was out last night, funnily enough I feel ok today.

goodasitgets · 13/09/2013 07:44

Remembering from my time at Uni Smile
I don't know if anyone has mentioned this but sending post is a good idea - we used to get so excited for post!
Mum used to send sachets of beauty stuff, a tenner, a magazine, just a card, a pre loaded supermarket card, funny tissues/nail files, just little bits. Oh and sachets of cappuccinos, cup a soup...

goodasitgets · 13/09/2013 07:45

Oh and we had a condom box. All the ones we got at freshers etc were put in a box in a kitchen cupboard as I got sick of people knocking to ask for one!!!

mumeeee · 13/09/2013 08:57

Good idea to send post. DD1 was in our home town and I would meet her and buy her stuff but did also send her letters occasionally. DD2 was 3 hours drive away and I often sent her bits and pieces such as coffee sachets, stationary and silly stuff like stickers she loved getting these. They both live in London now and I still send them stuff. So will do the same for DD3

noddyholder · 13/09/2013 10:16

I am thinking 75. Ds has his iphone paid by us and netflix for breaking bad (or he wouldn't have gone). We will pay his travel too This is why I think university is a stepping stone now and not a complete 'I've left home' as they are still not really self sufficient. But I hope ds will learn to budget becasue up to now has hasn't budgeted at all. Spent all his savings at a festival last week

mumeeee · 13/09/2013 10:59

DD2 was hopeless at budgeting when she went to uni and we thought she'd run out of money. She surprised us and learnt to Budget. She finished uni last year and has managed to pay her rent herself and she hasn't asked us for anymore money. She now has 2 jobs one in an hotel and one working in an after school drama club where she is using her drama skills from her drama degree. She has also taught herself the guitar and did a pre theatre show and has also done a little bit of film work. This is the girl who at 18 was very obnoxious and hard to live with and didn'r really have any work ethic. She went to uni at 19 and is now a mature young lady. We are very proud of her.

MollyBerry · 13/09/2013 15:52

noddy 75 is more than enough! Although I only had a very loose budget mine I spent about 50 on a normal week. It does depend on how much you spend when you go out though (ie how proactive you are in predrinking) and how often you go out.

noddyholder · 13/09/2013 17:27

Thanks molly :)

MotherOfGirls · 14/09/2013 07:16

Such a useful thread! Shopping today and DD has a list she has compiled from various sources but there are a few things here I will suggest. I totally agree the choices are hers but I am enjoying sharing her excitement :)

MABS · 14/09/2013 07:32

off we go, will post how it went when back tomorrow

JGBMum · 14/09/2013 07:48

Good luck mabs

DalmationDots · 14/09/2013 10:17

Good luck!

Original poster
MissMarplesBloomers · 14/09/2013 22:06

xx

OP posts:
MABS · 15/09/2013 15:41

Went well but very long way. She out friends ystdy and today, she very social. I sat in her room crying :(

JGBMum · 15/09/2013 17:24

Oh mabs, Sad
Hope you feel better soon x

Isthiscorrect · 15/09/2013 17:24

Oh MABS Hmm. Chin up you should be proud of your beautiful talented daughter. Her roots will keep her with you and her wings will let her soar. Open your wine and toast her, roots and wings. {{{{}}}}

mumeeee · 15/09/2013 21:57

Hope you feel better soon MABs. I know how you feel. It was very strange coming into the house without DD3 I keep thinking there's something wrong.

Original poster
MissMarplesBloomers · 15/09/2013 22:14

Oh isthis that made my eyes leak!

{{ MABS }}

OP posts:
MABS · 16/09/2013 07:02

thanks all, really appreciate your support. Bad evening, wine drunk, facetimed her, she fine! am pretty good this am, tho tired. Not used to seeing her before 11am anyway! thanks

mumeeee · 16/09/2013 10:29

Glad you're feeling better MABs, It seems very quiet here. There isn't any music coming fronDD3"s room and I haven't had an offer of a cup of tea.

MABS · 16/09/2013 14:54

quiet here too, but good! she very happy it seems :)

noddyholder · 16/09/2013 16:03

I am NOT going into his room until at least friday Sad

mumeeee · 16/09/2013 16:17

Think that might be a wise decision noddy. I went into DD3's roim earlier and suddenly felt very sad. I'm really proud of her getting to uni but will miss her loads,

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