First year tips - what to take and more please?

[Graphista]

Looked through but can't see a thread for this sure there was one before

Dd is starting at new uni in autumn, she was staying with relatives before and now she'll be moving into halls. Don't know if it'll be en suite yet (she might know she hasn't told me I need to check with her)

What does she definitely need and what does she NOT need to take but might think she does?

Also general tips for 1st year away at uni?

It's been a while for me! And I didn't live in so I'm wanting to make sure she has all she needs but also isn't loaded up with stuff she doesn't need.

There is a website and Facebook group called what I wished I knew about university that has tons of info re this.

Any idea which student bank account yours is going for?

@Skatingpark97 thanks

No I don't know what bank account she is probably thinking she'll stay with current one but I'll have a chat with her about this

Mone opened a new student account as it meant she got a rail card. Might be worth looking into.

If she is on halls she won't need much. But it depends if self catering or fully catered.

I reckon self catering

I asked my daughter the other day what would be a good present for someone starting university (she’s just finished 1st year) and she said a deck of cards, a bottle opener and some alcohol!
She didn’t use the fancy pants smoothie maker or half the cleaning products she brought.
Very useful was a clothes drying rack and her wok

Apart from the usual stuff, the things my four found most useful were:

-Cheap sandwich toaster (can get one under a tenner at Tescos)
-Mattress topper. Uni beds usually have thin lumpy mattresses. A mattress topper makes all the difference.
-Battery operated fairy lights, they sell amazing LED coloured ones on Amazon.
-Posters
-Cacti
-Photo collage of family and friends

The better their room looks then the less homesick they are and it makes a welcoming place for their friends to visit.

Less is more. The rooms tend to be tiny and any uni town will have large supermarkets / Wilkos etc which stock a big range of household stuff. So take the minimum and buy more, if you need to, when you get there.

Don't university students organise this stuff themselves any more? I know we all did this ourselves 20 years ago

If sharing a kitchen don't take anything that you especially value as other people, (especially when drunk!) have no respect for your possessions. Favourite mugs and expensive knives will only disappear.
You can pick up perfectly adequate crockery & cutlery at any charity shop for a matter of pence, maybe add one saucepan, one frying pan, a small baking tray, a chopping board and a decent knife and leave it at that for now. Let other people take the gadgets, the toastie makers, coffee machines and the nutribullets!

Take a tape measure and a door wedge!

Then if they find they need extra storage or have an unconventional size bed or need to work out what size airer will fit, they can measure up. The door wedge will make it easier to unload and meet their neighbours as they arrive.

Things mine liked were:

Extra pillows or cushions to turn the bed into a "sofa" or prop themselves up in bed, also handy for any overnight guests.

A mattress topper or spare duvet to use as a mattress topper but they will need deep fitted sheets in that case.

Storage - mine already had the Ikea Skubb/Drona pop up storage boxes/drawer organisers and those stackable acrylic shoe boxes that cost pennies. They used them to pack/transport things then used them as extra storage (under the bed, in the bottom/on top of the wardrobe) and drawer organisers. Anything that wasn't needed just folded down. It also made unpacking super speedy as many things just stayed in the box. Plastic storage crates with lids are good too - whatever you have at home.

Radiator airers and those Ikea sock octopus things take up less space than a big airer but wait and see what fits best in their room. They can order online.

A pop up laundry bin with handles that can be used to carry washing to the laundry room or plastic storage box or one of those big laundry bags.

A ceramic non-stick frying pan that can't be scratched when someone uses a metal spoon.

Distinctive crockery gets "lost" less often eg mugs with names or any colour except white. One of mine has a Bristol stool chart mug that no one ever wants to borrow

The SU guide recommended bringing an air freshener Mine have oil diffusers but anything that smells nice that doesn't involve naked flames is good.

Cards and alcohol (or cake) to share are good ideas. Mine got multiple packs of free cards from banks etc, so something a bit different like Exploding Kittens or Obama Llama are good, if they have them.

Deck of cards a good call, already got the rest you said on a note on phone

Mattress topper - noted

@Freshapples yea I'm thinking similarly but thinking plan to make sure she has what she needs

@thinkfast yes and mine is more independent than most but we all forget stuff don't we? And she hasn't lived in halls before so I was thinking tips specific to that would be useful

Tape measure is an excellent idea which I hadn't thought of! And I don't think dd would have either

Also door wedge for moving in makes sense

I've started an Amazon wish list for this kinda thing for her too, already on it various over/under/on bed storage, radiator airer, laundry bag...

All great ideas pps many thanks

I filled a Tupperware box for both of mine with stuff like painkillers, cold remedies, small screwdriver set, plasters etc. Think they quite liked that. Didn’t go as far as putting condoms in but I know some people do!

Do remember that most students have very little kitchen space.
Bedroom sizes vary but a lot of students (or their parents?) completely overestimate the amount of stuff they need.

Remember too that Amazon will deliver them stuff the next day (or you can buy stuff for them to collect from their nearest Argos) so if there is something they want, they can usually manage overnight.

Re mattress toppers - I always see them mentioned on these lists, but, between them, my dc have so far had 9 beds, and only one of them wanted a mattress topper. I'd put that in the category of wait and see.

Same with toastie maker. I agree - very popular, but generally you only want one in a shared kitchen, not one each.

I also agree about charity shops for buying plates, colanders, utensils etc. Aim for anything but plain white, for easy finding in a shared kitchen.

My dc recommend

• a door stop - essential for meeting people in the first instance. It says "Hi, please stick your head round my door and say hi"
• a four or 6 gang extn lead.
• print out some photos - at least for a collage frame, but all of mine have gone for enough for a cork board. Really personalises a room.
• a support pillow or big cushion - remember they are unlikely to have arm chairs and spend all their 'down time' whilst in halls sitting on the bed, so something to make them comfy
• a bucket (doubles up for sick but also for soaking clothes with stains on them)
• an 'emergency kit' - paracetamol / cold remedy / plasters / few safety pins / needle and thread / scissors / small screwdriver / etc.

Snuggly blanket or one of the oversized hoodies or both. Heating can be temperamental depending on the place and always good for curling up in.

Mattress topper 100% unless you are lucky to be an expensive hall with new modern beds.
If your DC only has a pantry with a microwave and no hob then a single electric plate. They are barred at most unis but they are small enough to hide in a drawer! This was invaluable on the days when they either don’t have a meal (because they got up too late for brunch) or just don’t want to go to dinner as they can always cook pesto pasta or warm up a tin of soup.
And if they don’t have a washbasin in the room then a one cup rather than a kettle which they fill up with water each day and then it dispenses hot water for one cup of tea or instant coffee each time.

Mattress topper 100% unless you are lucky to be an expensive hall with new modern beds

We bought one but arrived to find another, brand new still packaged one waiting on the bed - a "welcome" gift, along with a mug and two facemasks.

Comprehensive list here that you can use as a checklist ( I’m sure they won’t need all of it!)
www.thestudentroom.co.uk/university/freshers/what-to-take-to-university-checklist

Also.. Dd has researched bank accounts and tells me she is opening one with Santander soon ( needs confirmation of uni acceptance).
It gives a 4 yr railcard and an decent overdraft (if needed)

Echo everything above and would add: a mirror and dd was short of shelf space so one of those hanging compartment things to go in the wardrobe. DD also found a small wallet for her uni pass with a keyring attached for her room key really useful.

A bathmat.

Mattress Topper
Duvet
Duvet set
Towels
lamp
pop up laundry bin
Sliders
dressing gown (when those 3am fire alarms go off)
reed diffuser to make it smell nice,
decorations like plastic plants , fairy lights etc.

3 drawer plastic unit (can get from poundland/wilko) and in there stored all my DD socks, underwear, chargers, hairdryer, batteries, lamp bulb, brushes, make up etc.
Smaller 3 drawer unit we got from b&m, and this had sanitary, medicines, sewing kit, shampoo, shower gel etc.
Plastic Box which had stationery in such as exercise books, folders tippex, pens etc.
2 x Plastic boxes for kitchenware - 2 pans, 2 plates, 2 bowls, 2 mugs, cutlery, frying pan, sandwich maker, oven gloves and tea towels, collander, scissors, baking tray, ladle, spatula etc.

The 3 drawer unit and the plastic boxes for kitchenwear: This plus duvet, lamp ended up in a small 3ft squared storage facility thats local, so we didnt have to bring it home at the end of the year. And they also kept things neat when packing into the car.
When loading up the car: The 3 drawer unit just sat in the back seat in the middle seat, with a seat belt round it. The plastic boxes also went on 1 back seat /and its footwell, which left one back seat left for my DD. Suitcases of clothes and shoes and duvet, lamp etc all went in the boot.

Useful tips for uni - cards, a white board and wipe pens, went down a storm with her flat mates, plus wine and beer. box of choccies. keeping the flat door open with a door stopper so everyone knows they are welcome to say hi.

oh also forgot to mention there was 2 folding pop up canvas boxes from ikea. they looked nice as they matched with the bedroom, but she used them to store snacks and extra tins and pop, as the cupboard space in the kitchen was limited.

I wouldn't buy a mattress topper until I knew what size bed was provided. One DD had a single bed, the other a 4' wide one in their University accommodation in their 1st year.

As far as bank accounts go, I seem to remember my DDs needed proof that they were going to university before they could convert their accounts to student ones, so it couldn't be done before results day.

The best things we bought were things like a decent knife for slicing vegetables, different sizes of Tupperware (food storage & packed lunches), mugs and glasses.

At DD2's uni, she was given a sheet to complete and stick on her door with her name, her course, her favourite food, how she liked her tea/coffee. her favourite alcohol, her favourite band, sports etc. It was a brilliant ice-breaker.

DC brought his PS4 with him. Never short of company. At times people were queueing up in his corridor...
Unfortunately DC2 is not really into gaming

My friends DC took a recommended student cook book with them and they loved it, it had all sorts of budget friendly recipes in.

DS was reminiscing about a children's cook book we use to use a lot, and said he'd love to take it with him. I managed to find it, its lost it front cover (blessing really as now there is no reference to children )

I gave it to him and he had massive smile on his face and still loves the recipes, and was laughing at some of the instructions,
"perfect to make for friends after school or after playing out" and "get a grown up to open the tin of Tomatoes" 😂

TBF it really does have some great recipes in it though.