Sept 16 uni starters essentials list!!

[hennipenni]

It's just occurred to me that DD will be moving into her accommodation around sept the 10th (gulp-not long at all) and we're no where near ready with the essentials and the not so essentials!!

So far we've thought about a door stop, tin of biscuits/sweets, extension leads and some fancy dress (don't think DD is up for that one though!)

What else will your DC's be taking?

Some people took a cake or cookies to share. I'm rubbish at baking so sent DD with a tin of celebrations choc.

She said her well stocked first aid tin got used loads by the whole flat. It's prob OTT but I was feeling anxious at the time!

DD2, 17, is off to do an apprenticeship and moving to lodgings an hours train journey away so will put together kit for her. She's shy and I thought she would be home until she was 35

My Dd says her favourite things were a double duvet for a single bed and a teddy mattress topper from Dunelm. Everyone loved her comfy bed!

Most fairy lights are battery operated nowadays. They will be fine.

This was me last year! DS moved into his second year house share (privately rented) in July with 7 others . He has volunteered to help out at Freshers week which he is really looking forward to.

A clothes airier
Emergency box - choc, underwear, painkillers, £10, pens, condoms
We took up a big box of homemade brownies for him to share with new housemates
Wash basket
Blue tack
Tea towels
2 small plates, 2 large plates, 2 bowls, set of cutlery, 4 glasses, can opener, pizza cutter, bottle opener
Whatever alcohol they like

DS and his housemates just pooled everything together and shared but all brought their own stuff home when moving out. They all shared bread, milk, butter, kitchen paper, dishwasher and washing machine tablets - just took it in turns to buy on a rota basis.

DS didn't use a mattress topper, his bed was lovely - think you have to see on the day really - can always go out and buy one. He did have two sets of bedding though and did/does change his bed every week...yes really he does .

Got this from the Uni if it's any help to anyone...

list

Seriously, you won't need half of the stuff that people list, especially if a shared kitchen because everyone else brings it all too. Would agree double duvet, first aid kit, stock of coffee/biscuits etc. Also multi-way adapter and a basic first shop with seasonings, herbs, pasta, noodles, etc.
Oh, and a decent backpack for laptop and books.

Re kitchen stuff, dd was in non-catered halls for her first year, with shared kitchen. All she really needed iirc was:

• medium pan for pasta
• frying pan (can cook omelettes, pasta sauces, stir fries etc in it)
• small baking tray
• tin opener
• small chopping board
• couple of decent-ish knives
• couple of plates/pasta bowls

She also ended up buying a cake tin and muffin tray, so she could do some baking.

Has anybody mentioned coat hangers?

Corkscrew and bottle opener.

He did have two sets of bedding though and did/does change his bed every week...yes really he does

wondering where we went wrong!

Duvet, mattress topper, perhaps new bedding that she's chosen herself if you can afford it (new start), pillows
Door wedge
Clothes airer
Portable heater (mine was a tenner from Argos. May have to hide it in inspections but heating will break at some point)
Obviously stuff like clothes, toiletries, paracetamol, plasters etc. Seems simple, but you'd be amazed how many don't bother with a winter coat
Do a big food shop (if self catered) when at uni town
Send her with your old plates, cutlery, pots and pans etc
YY to extension cable
A bottle opener, some alcohol if she's that way inclined - a few bottles of wine, bottle of vodka/similar
Bedside lamp would be useful, and a cheapy bin
Toilet paper
Washing powder, comforter, change for machines, big washing bag - IKEA bag would do
Stationary - things like folders, loads of writing pads, USB sticks, pens, highlighters, sticky note pads etc
Don't forget the important file - passport, NI card, passport photos, birth certificates (big and small), uni acceptance letter, accomodation documents, UCAS letter, certificates (even if not likely to be needed for uni, could be useful for part time jobs), letter from bank/student finance adressed to home address within last 6 months |(proof of address), letter from doctor with vaccinations on
My printer I found really useful but not essential
If she's going to freshers events have her decide if she needs any fancy dress stuff - hula necklaces, rugby shirt etc. Uni town will be full of students trying to do this so she'll be lucky to get something at last minute
A few cab companies phone numbers
Dressing gown and slippers
Bin bags and washing up liquid - no one ever has enough
Likewise tea and coffee and a few mugs
Shot glasses and straws would be good too
Scissors and hole punch and stapler
A wok, chopping board, saucepans (2), few plates, mugs, bowls etc, grater, oven tray, oven gloves, jug should do her in terms of kitchen equipment - no need for toasters or kettles!
Things like perfume, plenty of toiletries to save her buying them, air freshener, I found those air wick stick things/plug ins really useful. Dettol wipes, plain cloths and kitchen cleaner, floor cleaner for mopping the floor after parties
In terms of more personal stuff - calender, diary, pictures of family/dog to pin on pinboards, my boards were ugly and some pretty wrapping paper really livened it up, perhaps some decorative stuff - I had a 'relax' sign on the top of my bookshelf, some teddies, good luck cards, and a sparkly small christmas tree (acquired my 1st christmas at uni) on my bookshelf

I took 3 sets of towels and 4 sets of bedding (sheets, covers) and I changed my bed every week - every fortnight at the most

I would recommend that you send your freshers off to uni with
A minimum of crockery / cutlery as most of it sits around waiting to be cleaned. One set is enough.
definitely NO candles or night lights, a huge fire risk.
Loo roll.
packet noodles. Tins of beans.
Washing machine liquid in sachets as the powder gets everywhere when knocked over.
before they go show them how to:
Keep a room clean
How to use a vacuum cleaner
How to empty the vacuum
Cook some basics, boiled egg / baked potato / Not how to fry everything.
Explain the process of recycling and waste collection. It is different in different cities.

Don't laugh, but ds likes baking cakes at times, to unwind. Would it be stupid unusual to send him with a basic hand mixer, scales, cake tins, wire rack, mixing bowl as a little present? I know there is a Tesco nearby so alternatively we could do an order and he could collect, or I could give him a Tesco voucher and he can chose and order......thoughts?

Soz Meowli I think he just likes fresh bedding...

DS2 would probably quite happily sleep in his own muck for months on end. Good job he isn't going to Uni

I've bought a mattress topper already! Have been told it comes in useful if they have friends overnight as much as anything.

Do the big launderette type machines take washing capsules/tablets? In my day you had to use powder and sprinkle it on last.

Sorry, I haven't read the whole thread so I do apologise if someone else has said this already.

Buy a door wedge. Doors in halls are fire doors so they automatically close. In Freshers' Week, it's nice to have your door open, so you can meet the others who live on your corridor and have people poke their head into your room and say they're going to x, y, z, do you want to join in?

At our school, it's one of the items on our list of things you need to take to uni. When students come back, they tell us how useful it was.

Try to help them portion control by giving them a cup measure. You can make one. I've put some instructions here. Whilst you make it teach them how to cook the pasta and rice too!
mintcustard.wordpress.com/2016/08/21/homemade-handy-portion-measure-for-rice-and-pasta/

I have put two DC through uni and I absolutely agree that you should under buy rather than over buy. The first time I bought everything under the sun from can openers to pencil pots, set of pans, dinner set, 4 mugs, full cutlery sets, eat towels, spatulas, measuring jugs blah blah blah

DO NOT DO THIS

Half way through the first term DS had taken to keeping all his stuff in his room and only using one plate, knife and fork at once as many of the students don't wash up and just help themselves to the nearest clean plate leaving it for the owner to wash.

For DD, I bought 2 plates, 2 mugs, 1 bowl, 1 large non-stick pan that could be used for boiling, stir frying, casseroles, curries etc 2 glasses - you get the idea.

At no point during her first year did she say she didn't have sufficient equipment and everyone in the flat just used whatever was to hand again, rather than their own things.

If anything really was needed and missing then those that wanted it threw a pound in each and bought it - think a fiver toaster from Wilkos.

I agree though that the door wedge, also from Wilkos was worth the buy though

Some good tips.

DS uni details mention that a mattress protector as opposed to a topper is recommended. Otherwise students can be billed for a new mattress!!

The washing machines at uni don't look anything like the washing machines you would have at home so should I take dd to the local launderette and show her what to do?

DS's washing machine was just a normal machine.

They will all figure it out together.