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

Mandy I'm from London and went to uni in Scotland by public transport - coaches and/or trains. The first coach was hard as I took loads of stuff but I got better at travelling light! I'm sure he'll be fine.

Emergency condoms?

Thanks for the links about lappy's. She's working on her dad for a contribution hoping he'll buy her one

That was to Jellicle on p1, definitely not a suggestion.

I agree with Boffin: take the minimum, there are always incredibly good start of year deals in whichever town or city you're in.

Also for anyone traveling by train or coach (eg Mandy's DS) you don't have to take everything in one go. You could always come home for the weekend after a few weeks, which might be nice anyway ? (though of course slightly expensive depending on distance)

Joining so I can sort out a box for DD to take when she gets in next year.
I am dreading the amount of stuff she will need especially as I will be at Uni as well so very little money going around atm

Going into my 3rd year at uni at the moment. There are loads of really good suggestions already but one thing I did was get loads of photos printed before I went (lots of companies do your first 50 photos free and you just pay postage).
I was all by myself the first night there (no one in my flat was interested in talking to anyone else) so sticking up 200 photos gave me something to do, it was a great talking point whenever anyone came in and made it really feel like home.

Really agree with everyone who says take the minimum - you can always get it while you're there and the cupboards can rarely fit 8 of everything in them :P

Mandy one of my flatmates always went to uni on the train - he arrived for freshers' week with a holdall, a laptop bag, and a saucepan. Definitely doable, even if you are not so good at travelling light!

Thank you for this thread.
DD off to Sussex and we are gathering and plotting right now.
Most of you will have done this already, but we have a National Express card and a railcard for cheaper travel

But all your ideas and experience are really helpful. We have a good list building up from this thread. Thank you

Oh, and I LOVE your name OP (heeeeheeeeheeeeheee)

Yes, there are shops in university towns, and, amazingly, they stock things students might need.

Insurance; a decent bike but nothing flashy; cycle helmet; D Lock for bike; Laptop; a couple of decent sized USB Flash Drives; A copy of Delias Cooking for One; Access to an emergency cash fund in a deposit account that they can only access with your permission; Mobile phone

as freshers flu has been mentioned - low income form to claim exemption from prescription charges/ dental costs apps.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/LISWebAppStaticData/begin.do

Not sure if they can claim or not but worth finding out, especially if they are on any regular medication

Mandy you can get suitcases/ a trunk delivered. Some kind people posted a link for me to companies that do this. There are also firms that do storage for the vacations if needed.

Santander currently offering a free 4 year railcard

My DC has just insured his bike. Do check your policy before buying a bike lock as many specify the grade of lock that the policy will cover.

A colander, tin opener, corkscrew. Any expensive branded treats that they won't want to spend the extra pounds on themselves. A family sized box of washing powder and softener (and instructions how to use it!). Plenty of booze to help breaking the ice in freshers week. Warm linen, towels, dressing gowns. Plenty of underwear. Stuff from room at home to give uni room a personal touch. One of those HUGE bags of pasta from Tesco so there's always something to eat. Bright blue plates from ikea so you an easily spot what's yours. Four sets of everything (glasses, cutlery, mugs etc).
I can't think of anything else I needed, or used. Do whatever you can to make it easy inthe first few weeks. Mum and DSD took me food shopping when we arrived to fill the cupboards (lasted me pretty much a full term!), and gave me some money to buy a round at the bar on the first night.

Can I play devil's advocate and wonder why DD isn't sorting out her own stuff for uni? I'd have been very unimpressed if my mum had got in any way involved with my uni packing almost 20 years ago and equally so if my kids want that in a few years time! Surely the role of the parent is simply confined to taxi to driving her there at the start of the first year, and possibly helping her carry her stuff up all the stairs (not that my parents did the carrying part, dad had a bad back and mum somehow had an unquestioned never expected to carry anything heavier than a handbag immunity)? :o

Sometimes it's just fun to be involved, as if they are launching out on an expedition and you are helping them prepare.
Technically all the DD needs is clothing, washkit and cash. Less fun.

I haven't read all of the posts so I could have missed someone saying this already but my mum made sure I had a thermometer and knew how to recognise the symptoms of meningitis. No one I knew had meningitis while I was a student but students are all suitably scared of meningitis and think they've got it whenever they have a rash so it was useful to know what to look for and to be able to reassure people.

alreadytaken dd had an NHS exemption form for all the time she was at uni which was very useful for the prescriptions and dental charges.

Larry5 I have the form to fill in, can you tell me what the benefits are? Thanks

Def yes to insurance particularly for those going to big cities (eg Manchester). And if you have a list of their jabs/diseases ie have they had measles, chickenpox etc give them a copy to give to the gp they really ought to register with while away at uni. Also BIG YES to meningitis symptoms - Manchester ran a big campaign most years I think 20+ years ago when I went (old woman cough) but sadly there were still a couple of people who did get it, and badly.

Oh, and we had no fridge in halls so don't assume there will be one! The hall I was in was - allegedly - catered so our 'kitchen' had a cooker (2 speeds, on or off) and a 3 legged table with Jurassic formica on top. We just slung the milk in a carrier bag and hung it out the window. I presume the days of gas fires are gone too...? but warm robe/slippers also good. Main thing is to enjoy themselves!

thanks larry5, it's the summer job that's making me wonder.

amumthat cares they get dental charges free (if you have an NHS dentist) and also free prescription charges and free sight tests/glasses if they need them. Two dental appointments a year costs 36 pounds if you just have the check-up, a filing would add another 31 pounds. If they have to pay they can reclaim but easier to get the certificate in advance.

If in halls for first year then put a noteboard and wipe off marker board on your own door. That way friends etc can leave messages for you if you are out. You might not want to hand out your mobile number like water so if others in the same halls pop over they mightnt know it to text you.

Was highly useful when I went even with mobiles etc.

Thank you already - will definitely apply