How much did you spent kitting your DCs out for Uni?

[MintyCedric]

I mean the essentials...and any little extras to make halls a bit cosier for them?

DD won't be going until 2023, all going well but I'm a single parent and currently full time carer for my mum so want to start shuffling a bit away each month ASAP. Unfortunately can't rely on her dad for any meaningful contribution 🙄.

Fortunately she should get full loan and a part-time job she loves who have already said they'd be happy to keep her on remotely, but would like to set her up so she has as few outgoings as possible for the first term at least.

Most halls won’t let them use blu tak or sellotape to put up posters / photos on the walls, as it causes damage. But you can buy this low tack Japanese craft tape from Amazon that doesn’t leave any marks. IIRC it’s very cheap but takes weeks to arrive,

The students still have to take down their posters when an inspection is due, but that’s usually only once a term and they get several days notice.

@Double3xposure

Most halls won’t let them use blu tak or sellotape to put up posters / photos on the walls, as it causes damage. But you can buy this low tack Japanese craft tape from Amazon that doesn’t leave any marks. IIRC it’s very cheap but takes weeks to arrive,

The students still have to take down their posters when an inspection is due, but that’s usually only once a term and they get several days notice.

Ooh that's a great tip!

@Kinko

The vast majority of my stuff was given to me. My Mum used it as an excuse to upgrade and get herself some new kitchen bits - it didn't occur to me to mind.

My older siblings, family friends, relatives - everyone had something to spare. Nothing matched but it all worked. I took all my stuff from my bedroom like desk lamp etc. The odd bits I was bought were from pound shops or B&M.

The first Christmas after starting Uni I asked for a new duvet set, and photo frames - decor stuff etc. Family got me some nice bits then.

Some of the kids I was at uni with were stonking loaded - they still all turned up with a brown box of hand-me-downs filled with chipped plates and novelty mugs.

So honestly don't worry, hit Facebook market place or ask family/friends to remember DD is going to Uni so if they have any old towels, duvets, pots, pans, mugs, cutlery they want to chuck out - throw it your way. Great tip you can dye old towels. Got a faded white one that's otherwise fine? Dye it grey, or navy blue etc same with bedding.

Also don't put her in a position where you buy her stuff all new and then go ape shit when half of it has been lost in the first term. She's not going to have any control over someone using her stuff in a shared kitchen, breaking her plates, scorching the bottom of a new pan etc. Give her hand-me-downs and buy new stuff for yourself, then you won't care and she won't be known as the weird girl who freaks out when you use her mug ;-) haha.

Yes, it's a great way to get rid of stuff.

The state of the towels when my ds washed them at uni

He had floral bed linen from dgm in 2nd year but wasn't bothered

No point spending money for the sake of it imo

Lots of students use command hooks or strips in halls, they very rarely damage walls. I have used them in my house for years for Christmas decorations, inside cupboards to hang stuff up and have removed them all without damage. You just need to follow the instructions to the letter.

Ds has had inspections and has a giant wall hanging on his wall. Nothing has been said to him. This is at Durham.

We saw some students moving in with brand new entire crockery sets! Hopefully it was decided by the flat to share as those kitchen cupboards are small. Some YouTube videos show people bringing 15 pairs of trainers, 10 coats, 12 pairs of jeans. Ds is also minimalist too like us, thank goodness.

We did not go anywhere Ikea, Wilko or Dunelm, we simply gave DC the stuff we already had - old cutlery, mugs, plates, towels etc that we kept when we bought new. My mum passed away a few years back and we kept tin openers, sharp knives, saucepans etc. DC took a spare duvet and a couple of covers out of the airing cupboard. If anything gets ruined, mislaid, nicked... it does not matter. This was sustainable/thrift studenting, Greta would be proud!

• anywhere near

I didnt add it up, but i think it was about £100- £150. Could have done it for less, as not everything we bought was essential. We mostly went to Asda, the Range and Homesense.
She took a spare duvet but needed a new cover, sheet and pillowcase. She raided ours and my mums kitchens for spare cutlery and plates/ mugs.
We got her new pans, coathangers, an airer , oven tray, etc. We also bought her an iron which i dont think she has used yet. She got some cushions and a throw from the Range to put on her bed.
We used the suggested packing list from her uni once we knew which halls she would be in.

Eldest moved into halls in September. She bought some pretty cheap plates and bowls in Sainsburys and found some matching mugs in Matalan. Various glasses were 25p each from a charity shop - glasses are definitely something to look out for there. I spent more on bedding as she has a double in her room so duvet, pillow, mattress topper and towels were ordered online from Mitre linens. Everything else came from IKEA and Wilco.

It is worth getting her to pop into charity shops to see if they have crockery/cutlery/glasses that she likes as it is a cheap way of buying stuff.

Nothing... maybe some towels?

Buy cheap thin towels, expensive thick ones cost a fortune to tumble dry. In DDs experience about £14
Almost cheaper to chuck them and buy new ones.

We have 3 at uni, spent a fortune on child one, learned that half of it wasn't necessary and spent about half on child 3 (which he didn't mind).

Also be Mindful that you don't take over and let them choose what they like.