What are the essentials that freshers need to take to uni halls

[josben]

I’ve seen a few articles advising year 1 students what to take when starting uni and the list of items is vast !

What are the real essentials to take when staring uni ,,,? TIA

A mattress topper, especially if the beds are still covered in plastic.
I had a really big cushion so I could sit up comfortably on my bed.
A good fleece blanket.
One of those big washing bags to cart washing about.

When my DD first went to uni, she just took her clothes. I dropped her off at the station with one suitcase. Everything that needed to be bought, she got them as the need arose.

CraftyGin the queues at places like Ikea and The Range were bad enough during the summer. They will be much worse when the students go to university. Pre covid most universities ran bus trips to the local Ikea (which is usually out of town). I'm not sure this will be happening this year.

Of course there are other places to get kitchen stuff etc, but they will be equally as busy. I think the best soluton would be to organise a click and collect order at one of these places.

Charity shops!

Argos is pretty good too.

Sainsburys

Wilko do click and collect, as well and are usually in town centre locations.

Not that mattresses in halls tend to be very thick, but if you don't know how thick an added mattress topper will make it, I can reccomend Wilko 'flex-fit' sheets. Nice quality poly cotton with a sort of extension arrangement built in

@MarchingFrogs

Wilko do click and collect, as well and are usually in town centre locations.

Not that mattresses in halls tend to be very thick, but if you don't know how thick an added mattress topper will make it, I can reccomend Wilko 'flex-fit' sheets. Nice quality poly cotton with a sort of extension arrangement built in

Wilko is not in Scotland, but otherwise great for students as you can get lots of shiny things cheaply and can buy single plates/bowls/glasses.

Definitely consider a luxury mattress topper, but not until you know how bad the mattress is.

My DS went off with 'the MN list'. He has just graduated, and brought a lot of it back unused and unopened.

I went off to university with an alarm clock, a transistor radio and a kettle, and a suitcase of clothes. Possibly some Yorkshire gravel.

Definately hangers, one year we accidentlyleft them at home, trudged everywhere around the uni city to buy some on our arrival and every shop was sold out.
Hooks, as there are never any to hang coats up etc.
A doorstop to hold their door open.
A multi charger, bought ours on amazon and both mine found them invaluable.
Extension leads, mattress protectors.

I extrapolated from this list. Printed out and ticked off stuff...
www.mumsnet.com/teenagers/university-essentials-checklist

re extension leads space was so tight we went for the upright one which he said has been great for him it included usb charging ports.

www.amazon.co.uk/Tower-Extension-Lead-Way-Protection-Gray/dp/B089GDFV6S/ref=sr_1_14?dchild=1&rnid=419152031&crid=2X530Q13IK7B2&keywords=extension+tower+with+usb+slots&sprefix=extension+tow%2Caps%2C180&tag=mumsnetforu03-21&qid=1598881583&refinements=p_72%3A419153031&sr=8-14

My final DD, about to go off for her first year, has her heart set on a “Noah box” - £175 for quite a decent set of essentials. But I am thinking this would be under £100 from Tesco.

She’s thinking that we won’t drive her (3 hrs compared to her sister’s 7+ hours) and she will have to get the train, so wants to have this box delivered to her halls. We are not awful parents so would drive her but COVID check-in slots may not be compatible with our work schedules.

@crimsonlake

Definately hangers, one year we accidentlyleft them at home, trudged everywhere around the uni city to buy some on our arrival and every shop was sold out. Hooks, as there are never any to hang coats up etc. A doorstop to hold their door open. A multi charger, bought ours on amazon and both mine found them invaluable. Extension leads, mattress protectors.

DD’s wardens removed all doorstops. She got a branded one from her church but it was soon confiscated.

basic first aid kit with things like plasters paracetamol etc

When it comes to the kitchen, you only mainly have a couple of cupboards and freezer shelf and fridge shelf.
So 1/2 pans,
1 frying pan
collander
tin opener
peeler
scissors
knives
cutlery set
couple mugs
couple of glasses
couple of plates
couple of bowls
tea towels
baking tray for over chips and that.
oven mitts.
For oven mitts and collander normally students would chat in a group chat and arrange whose buying what and will share, but covid times and all of that so best to buy for themselves.

As I read on mumsnet before, a cup to put toothbrush in.
I don't think dc used any of the cleaning stuff....
And yes to a fan, one of the first things he bought

DD is going to see her digs in 2 weeks to scope what the room has & others have found useful or recommend. I don't think she has a kitchen at all.

I don't think she has a kitchen at all.

Breakfast, lunch and dinner included, or are they expected to eat out all the time?

One complete non-essential I do for all my DC (got the idea off MN) is a shoe box full of small random wrapped gifts - a sort of lucky dip. Miniature of booze, £10, bar of chocolate, pair of socks, pack of playing cards, bar of soap, a nice pen, and so on.

Then when they feel low and homesick, they can pick out something to open.

Dd moves in today.

Our list is

Mattress Topper
Duvet & Pillows
Fitted Sheets
Saucepans
Plates, bowls, mugs & glasses x 2
3 plastic storage baskets (kitchen, bathroom & desk)
Fabric storage tubs
Cling Film
Tin Opener
Wooden Spoon, spatula & slotted spoon
Baking tray
Kettle
Clothes airer
Toilet roll
Herbs & spices
Extension lead
Fluffy Rug (luxury item)
Laundry bag

Hope the move goes smoothly Comefromaway.

I forgot cutlery and glasses on that list.

MarchingFrogs - catered halls and it reads like only breakfast & evening meal are supplied, not lunches. I suspect the residents have communal kettle/boiler tap & a toaster or microwave. But no fridge, hob, oven or kitchen equipment like cheese shredder, mixing bowl or sauce pan. DD is going to see the digs and facilities in 11 days first day they will let her in.

I will be grateful if anyone has time to contribute to my thread about living cost allowances in London. :)

1 item that DS1 found really useful was a rice cooker, his is home for the summer and it’s been well used.

MedSchoolRat everything I read on here and from what DD has said makes catered halls sound like a bad idea. DD is vegetarian, and one of the things that put her off Nottingham was that most of the first year halls are catered. She likes to eat when she is hungry, and not at prescribed times. On days when she didn't have a 9 am start she would have missed breakfast. On days with late lectures one of her friends used to have to dash off to get back in time for the evening meal.

Also, DD loves cooking and is an adventurous and excellent cook. She ofetn cooks with her friends and has found it quite a bonding experience.

Reading with interest as about to get DS sorted. I’ve kind of just realised he is going! Not that I’m in denial but we are in midst of trying to sell our house and I’ve been more focussed on that.

We are doing an Ikea trip I think. At least that’s what he said he’d prefer.

Going to read through thread again and make list of things I hadn’t thought of.

Doesn’t seem like that long since I was getting him sorted for his first day at nursery. The tip about the cup to put his toothbrush in reminded me as he had to have one in nursery too. I’d give him that but we now use it to measure the dog’s food!