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

[MissMarplesBloomers]

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

[FizzyFeet]

A couple of cushions or - if the room is big enough - a beanbag. Lots of sitting on the floor in halls!

Own corkscrew and tin opener.

Small jar of herbs (mixed or oregano) if self catering to cheer up pasta and tomato sauce.

Nice washbag for taking stuff to and from the bathroom, if it's communal.

[inneedofrain]

Please note from my own uni years!

Do not decant kitchen herbs into small packs, there will be some interesting questions to ask!

NOT ME; but my room mate

[ajandjjmum]

An academic year wall chart, to mark everything on. No DM around to continually remind them.

Doorstop to keep their door open, letting others know they're happy to talk.

[goinggetstough]

I second the vitamin C tablets. I sent both mine back with them in the hope it would ward off Freshers flu or colds as the term progressed.

For the Survival Box|

• a stain devil for tomato based sauces to hopefully prevent clothes getting ruined from pasta sauces etc
  
• a few stamps

[IShallWearMidnight]

Not a "something to take" but do check the dates hall fees need to be paid, and the dates student loans arrive - DD1 found in her first year that the final must pay by now or you don't get your place deadline was 2 weeks before the loan arrived. Fortunately we were able to stump up the £1800 or so needed (then were paid back, that's also important ), but could have been a massive problem

[Littleen]

A little bedside table lamp is nice to have for living in halls

locks for your cupboard - I had such a massive issue with people stealing my food last year that I ended up buying a minifridge to keep in my room!

floor mat for the bathroom

scented candles (if the ventilation system isn't amazing, chances are you'll be high on the weed your neighbour smokes. It's a big problem, but scented candles atleast get the smell away.

plastic glasses (like those picnic ones) as they are likely to get broken if glass :P

I had my own kettle in my room, as the kitchen was too dirty for my taste, so I avoided it!

Washing up bowl - people leave everything in the kitchensink, so don't count on being able to wash up in it.

Top mattress, the ones they supply are not normally that comfy so you might want to add another one, or lots of blankets under your sheet!

[mumeeee]

Littleen Bolton have put a padlock for your food cupboard on their list. each student has their own small cupboard not sure how big it is though, They don't allow candles which is just aswell as DD3 being Dyspraxic would probably burn herself or something,

[JGBMum]

Hs anyone mentioned an extension lead, with extra sockets? There always seem to be more things than sockets to plug them into.

[BroodyTroody]

Definitely a huge cake (or something to share with housemates!)

I found I really missed a full length mirror as that's not standard in many places...

Also, if you are going to take a TV, a freeview box is a little luxury too!

[OldRoan]

Broody I remember calling the lift which had a mirrored wall opposite the doors for the sole purpose of checking my outfit. A floor length mirror would have been a sensible thing to buy!

[CleverlyConcealed]

Top tips from me

Send them with the bedding they have at home - nice to have something familiar.

Send old towels - you will not get them back and if you do you won't ever want to use them again

ditto mismatched crocks/pots/cutlery from your kitchen - you never get everything back and it's often chipped etc

sandwich toaster

extension cable

door stop

flip flops for communal bathrooms

take photocopies of their important documents

remind them to register with the GP on campus

Finally - If you have young men and they don't have ensuite facilities send cheap disinfectant. They will piss in the sink in their room at night rather than wander down the hall. I can guarantee it.

[mouldyironingboard]

Basic cook book

Student railcard

Small rucksack or sports bag for weekends home by train

Alarm clock and watch (for your early morning lectures)

Earplugs (for when your flat mates stay up and you have a 9am lecture)

Fleece type jumpers which dry quicker than woollens

A onesie to wear over clothes during the winter

Outfits for fancy dress during freshers (spare sheet/toga, striped t shirt/pirate etc)

[arialultra]

A basic tool kit is always a good one that is often overlooked. I remember me and a flatmate building a bookcase with a boot as a makeshift hammer, it was very enterprising of us, but after that, I had a tool box with a hammer/screwdriver/nails/tapemeasure. Everyone wanted to be my friend, especially once we moved out of halls.

[JugglingFromHereToThere]

My advice would be to do a little bit of preparation work on your new subject before you go - especially if it's a completely new subject for you.
For example I went off to study geology (many years ago) and it might have been an idea to get my head round the different periods in geological history, and maybe a few other things, before my first lecture.
Not that that was particularly expected, but I just feel it would have been a better start for me - to begin taking more of an interest.
And they've all had a long enough holiday now surely !
Also at freshers week do join some interesting clubs or societies, that's the idea, as well as meeting new people.

[JugglingFromHereToThere]

Oh, and I thought the suggestion to take a cake, a bottle of something, and maybe a doorstop were all good, friendly ideas

[Still18atheart]

Just finished my final year so this v much fresh in my mind.

Name plaque for door. All doors look v similar in the flat can get quite confusing on first few nights when coming in a bit worse for wear. Also reminds people who lives in what room.

Microwave tupperware type tubs
Remember that although it is August now and summery that in a few months it's going to be winter so, although it will seem unnatural pack scarves, hats, gloves etc.

DVDs Dad told me only to pack one or two, turned out I watched loads more than normal would due to not having a T.V

Mixing bowl
Jug
Orange b & q Bucket - handy for cleaning products storage in en - suits + sick bucket cleaning bucket
Step ladder - initially brought as the top shelf in my wardrobe was out of my reach. Ended up being a sort of table.
From the range I got a bedside locker. Only tiny but several drawers in it to keep jewelry etc.
Cushions to easily add the homely feel.
Pack of cards
Sewing kit
Pack things in Plastic boxes, handy for storage once moved in or as a washing basket. Not cardboard ones

Not to take...

Mum gave me her old weighing scales, they never ever left the box
Apron never worn
Iron - Always thought of buying one, neer actually needed it especially as clothes were immediatly removed from dryer and folder or hung- up. Jeans didn't even need it really. If I thought I did it need it I would defo would of brought one but just didn't


There are loads I could add, I will put thinking cap on.

[Still18atheart]

yy to doorstop, although due to fire regs might need to be hidden during inspections.
Over the radiator dryer for wet towels or things which are still slightly damp
Old bath mat, even to put wet shoes on etc

[Still18atheart]

Bedside light .. nothing pisses me off more than snuggling down with a good book only to then have to get out of my warm bed to turn a light off
Ofiice desk light and my work desk always seemed to be on the darkest corner of the room

How all of this all , fitted into my Dad's Ford Focus i will never know, + the books and everything

[StabInTheDark]

Brilliant thread, very helpful! DD1 is off in a few weeks and is the first in the family. No experience whatsoever and really struggling with what to send her with- just marking my place to wait for yet more great suggestions!!

[bucylen]

Has anyone mentioned lots of passport photos?
They were useful for joining union, clubs/socs. etc.

[elinorbellowed]

A cafetiere and some decent coffee.

[MABS]

not sure dd knows what an iron even is...

[QuickQuickSloe]

Electric blanket! I froze in my halls.

[MissMarplesBloomers]

redstarburst Dd & I are compiling lists from this thread, Uni numpties here too!

[MrsWedgeAntilles]

A sieve.
My friend bought me one when I went into halls and the number of things you can use it for it staggering - as well as the usual sieve duties I used mine as a collander, I used it to steam things in over my boiling rice or potatoes, you can use it to get things out of the oil if you are deep frying.

Also very few people think to bring something like this with them so it helps the sieve owner get to know people as well.

A few people on here have said about sending them with old towels and bedding. When I went part of the excitement was kitting myself out with things that I'd chosen myself. It wasn't expensive, I went along to WhatEverys with my holiday job money (outing my greatly advanced age there) and I still have some of the stuff now, nearly 20 years later.
I do remember the mum of a friend of mine insisting that she took old stuff from the house and this friend being really upset that her mum wanted her to start her new life with ancient old towels and sleep under a Barbie duvet cover :)