Uni Freshers parents 2016?

[granarybeck]

hi

I've just been reading recent threads on weekly living costs and what to take to uni and found loads of useful info. I'm certainly finding that there was so much focus on getting the results/not tempting fate that it all feels a bit of a panic now. I have a dd going to warwick and a ds going to bath.

Wondered if there is already a thread for other general tips for those with dd/s starting uni this September?

topper

double size bedding

Mine have both got my old stuff because I am very old and have accumulated tons of tatty old mismatched plates, pans and other kitchen stuff over the years. I've also got mountains of old bedding and towels.
Two big pans was enough when DS1 went to Warwick. Most of it soon becomes communal anyway.
The only kitchen stuff I've bought was some pasta bowls £1 each from Morrisons and a couple of sharp knives actually I'm keeping them and packing my old blunt ones for DS

Morrison's has some nice pans. We got crockery from Range.

DS off to uni paid for him to meng B as was not sure could have it on NHS. It is two immunisations.

ACYW was one injection but meningitis B is two.

Squirrills I've just bought a pasta bowl from Morrisons! Also they seem to do the cheapest simple bath mats. Tesco have a very nice 3 non stick 3 pan set for a tenner in their sale

Dunlurking ha ha.
DS is currently looking at "freshers wristbands" and possible tickets to events. The fresher's stuff can be a big expense in that first term. I think he's more interested in that than setting up direct debits for his rent

Ds is bewildered as to how you know what freshers events to book for in advance. He'd probably want to decide with his new flatmates. Do you hope for a Facebook group emerging somehow before freshers week?

Also, am I right in thinking all our dcs are going to have to buy TV licenses to watch BBC iplayer catch -up, not just live?

Still not sorted out getting a topper yet. I think we may wait and see what the mattresses are like. I do have a quilted single matress cover that will do initially for DD2 but still need something for DD1 who is getting a 4ft bed.
We have got everything out today to see what we have and the girls have made a list for their day trip to Ikea tomorrow with friends.
I think we are going to order double bedding packs for both from the universities and once you have added up the individual costs they do seem good value.

Dunlurking I guess the unis vary a bit. At York there is a general freshers band which costs about £40 I think, this covers a t shirt and some activities.
Then there are gigs which will cost extra, not yet announced. When DS1 went to Warwick they had several really good bands so I'm told I've never heard of them. Unfortunately they don't have a proper freshers week at Warwick and he had 9am lectures every day which somewhat put a damper on the partying.

Once accommodation is allocated some of them might make a FB group, it could be useful to avoid having 8 chopping boards .

Yes there is a change about tv licenses .DS won't be buying a tv license as he never watches it. He can log in on my netflix account if he wants to.

Can I join? Ds has joined some FB groups for freshers and his hall. We had to request the meningitis jab at the surgery.

DS bed will be a 4ft - ordered topper and fitted sheets off ebay.

Have bought a lot of stuff from Dunelm either in the sale or while they had a 20% offer. Has a double duvet and managed to find a duvet and pillow set for £8 in the sale. Has not been easy to find something he likes as an awful lot are quite girly

Trying to change his moving in day as he is due to move in on the Wednesday but wants to go on the Saturday.

He is sorting freshers wristband when he gets there.

meningitus jab? as far as i know DS is up to date on his jabs. or should i be being proactive and getting him one of these?

Dreaming, the meningitis ACWY jab is new and only this last year rolling out. For Y13 it's been available at your GP, not school. Some GP practices have been proactive and have invited DC to come for the jab, others are less so. The jab takes 2-3 weeks to take effect, so I'd book it if your DS hasn't had it.

Am I right in thinking my DD won't need one according to this screenshot?

She starts Uni on Monday so it's a bit now if she does need it.

Ignore me......as I posted my DD replied to my text to say she got vaccinated at school.

Sorry, OhFuds, my info must be for England only.

Most halls have FB groups, so, once they know which flat they are in / floor they are on, they can 'talk' to the other 1/2 dozen they will be sharing with and be a bit more co-ordinated on what they take.

My tips would be:
4 gang extn cable
door stop
airer or over door hooks (for towels, coats even before you think washing)
Extra pillow / v-pillow / snuggly blanket. They will usually only have their bed to sit on, so it's good to have something to put behind back to lean against the wall.
'Emergency box' - things like paracetamol, a few plasters, a needle and some thread - just in an old ice cream tub or something
Tub of homemade cake to start them off.

DD is taking a gap year so I have not right to be here. However I would not worry too much, especially if they are going to city centre Universities. DS is at a University within walking distance of our house. He was disappointed not to be going to his first choice University, so we felt it important that he actually went "away" and lived in catered hall in his first year. He initially went with two suitcases, one a cheap though remarkably sturdy one bought from TKMAXX, housed a desk top computer (for gaming!). He reappeared a week later to drop off his passport, pick up his duvet (the hall supplied one was very thin) and a couple of Amazon deliveries but not much else.

When DD goes I am tempted to avoid the chaos of drop off day, and let her go by train/bus but go down the next weekend, bring whatever she needs and have a nice relaxed lunch. It will proabbly be cheaper than buying stuff she does not need, and the less she has the easier it is for her to bring it home.

I do some holiday lets and often have to replace things. Morrisons are often the cheapest for basics. Robert Dyas is reliable. Otherwise I might go to Homesense, buy nice things for me, and give her our old stuff that we won't mind losing.

DS1 started uni 2 years ago and we just gave him our old stuff which didn't matter if it got lost! He managed to keep hold of most of it but is just about to spend second year in shared house of 9 and as he says "who knows what will be there at the end of third year!"

DS2 starts uni in September and we have no spare/old stuff, so have done a click and collect order with Tesco basics range in his uni town which including 'starter' food shop which we will pick upon route to his halls.

My 'old stuff' is 20 year old Denby, which I use everyday, and it looks as good as new, so buggered if he gets that! My 'old' saucepans are circulon as well. I've just bought cheap new stuff from Argos or The Range instead.

Still puzzling over the TV licence thing. If a student is watching BBC iplayer catch-up on their laptop and it's not plugged into the mains, do they need a licence? www.tvlicensing.co.uk/student-tv-licence is this a silly question?

Sorry, found the answer lower down in check list - it has to be a device that is NEVER plugged into the mains. I do think this is an unfair extra cost for students. Why can't they be allowed to club together as a shared kitchen to buy one - like students in shared houses?