What stuff do we need?

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So DC have got their first choices (WOOP WOOP) and off in a few weeks.

I'd not thought much beyond offer day but now that is over need to make sure they've got the equipment and info they need.

Facts:
Staying in self catering accommodation with a shared kitchen.
Not massively experienced at cooking. They can do it but generally don't.

Both going to big cities so lots of access to food shops.

What do they need?
Cooking book? (Any recommendations?)
Pots, pans and plates?
We're not rolling in cash and have x2 to send to and finance at uni so any top thrifty tips welcome.

Thanks 😊

You dont need a cooking book, it is unlikely to get used when they can google recipes if they need them.

If they get put in touch with the people they are sharing with they might be able to check who has what, just so you don't end up with 6 cheese graters or something. And check what is already in their accommodation, some come with kettles and microwaves etc.

As they are new to it, I'd bring one sheet pan, one frying pan and a saucepan. You can do most basic stuff in that. Like pasta and frozen stuff.
Bring their own cutlery and a plate and a bowl.

Really less is probably better, they are likely to just buy ready to eat food/takeaways at the beginning and can work out what they need along the way.
You don't need to be that worried about them being fully stocked up for move in day.
They can always go by an extra pan or a big bowl from the supermarket when they realise they need one.

Thanks @Slicedpeaches that's really helpful. I'll try to find out a bit more about finding who they are sharing with and take it from there.

If you've got charity shops near you, you may be able to pick up a lot of stuff there (cutlery/china, bedlinen - even pans). We actually live near a student area in a large university city and there's a terrible few days when all student rentals come to an end and they chuck literally everything out of their flats because the landlords want them cler for the next tenants. It used to be all over the roads for days - now marginally better as the council provide skips and student union and various charities have organised drop-offs for stuff (some of which ends up in charity shops!).

It's really not worth spending a lot of money on things that will be lost or abandoned at the end of the year.

After the first term both my sons rapidly discovered how much cheaper it was to buy a multi pack of crisps and a sliced loaf etc for quick lunches rather than a packet of sandwiches each day.

Things I had on the list last year for DS (who was catered, so didnt need much cooking stuff) were extension cables,extra lamp, rugs for the floor, bathmat (if shared bathroom),mugs and glasses so you can 'host' friends, extra blanket, hot water bottle, extra coat hangers. He isn't allowed to put anything on the walls, but he does have a 'corkboard' so drawing pins. (Dd start her first year somewhere else this year and they have been told they can put stuff on the walls with specified fixings....)

Bedding, mattress protector and nice fluffy towels were also essentials obviously!!

Some halls won't allow electric kettles, lamps etc in individual bedrooms.

If you can give your DC a few quick lessons in how to cook with left overs, that can be really useful (especially at the end of term when everyone's run out of money. My son's flatmates were amazed that he could make a vaguely edible pasta sauce with some manky vegetables and a bit of tomato puree.

I've just bought:
jogging bottoms (he's lived in shorts all summer, been in school uniform up to yr 13)
pjs (doesn't wear them at home, I've discussed the regularity of a 3am fire alarm due to some wag)
airer for back of door
drawing pins
posters as dictated by DS (also printed photos)

BBC Good FoodGuide has a lot of very student friendly recipes.

Ds' student accommodation in first year had only one double plug socket in the room (by the desk) so we had to go out and buy a long extension lead. Ditto coat hangers and one of those door hanger things to hang on top of the door for coats/dressing gown. Also bought him a clothes airer after discovering there wasn't one in the flat he shared.

Extension lead is definitely something they'll need and I hadn't thought about. Thanks so much everybody

The lead up to this all has been so intense I didn't start to think about the next steps and now I'm panicking a little. Need to remind myself that at 18 they are (technically) adults and can sort themselves out if they need.

If in doubt don't buy much as others will come with far more pans than needed and they can always buy things once there. Eg mine took the sheets and duvets off their beds rather than a whole new set, a towel from home, old extension lead I had. I think some parents adore buying brand new stuff as a rite of passage but not all families are the same and I am too stingy to do that.

We've gone a bit overboard on kitchen stuff here, but ds had ages to plan (in Scotland, unconditional offer) so he got almost everything in charity shops (including a huge cast iron casserole dish that I might have to steal).

Things we did buy new...

A decent sharp knife and a nice deep frying pan with a lid.

Non-fluffy towels - I figured they'd be quicker to dry and less disgusting if ds doesn't wash them regularly.

A good sized washbag for carrying everything back and forth to the shared bathroom.

What do they need?

Some cookery lessons?

You should be realistic about what they might need then get them to order any extras off Amazon later.

My dd is a good cook but only uses a frying pan and pot and pretty much lives off pesto pasta during term time. If your kids are likely to stick to oven based meals or sandwiches then send them with an oven tray, chopping board and knives which will go a long way to make super quick meals.

If you have spares then send those. My dd was more than happy with taking stuff like towels from home.

The Student Cookbook by Hamlyn, 2.78 including delivery on Amazon is quite a good basic cookbook for those not used to cooking, also available on Kindle.

Check what kitchen facilities are available. Many will just have hob, microwave and fridge. Consider giving them a gift card they can spend as required. Check size of bed.

A drying rack if there's space
Bunting if they like that sort of thing
Pot plants
Chopping board, garlic press, grater if likely to cook.
Some cushions
Small mending kit
Small first aid kit.
If they use soap, a soap box if the bathroom is shared.

Coffee! Teabags, mugs, spoons, longlife or dried milk to start them off. Packet of biscuits.
When DS started at college on the arrival day his roommate brought along a crate of beer and used it to prop the door open so their neighbours would see it and drop by for a drop. This was extremely successful, I believe.
I couldn't possibly recommend it.....

IKEA is good for cheap gadgets, if there's one convenient to you.

Loving the beer idea 🍺

Instead of a cookbook introduce him to mob kitchen - videos of easy delicious meals done in quite a cool student friendly way.

https://www.mob.co.uk/

Bbc Good food online usually does a student budget friendly recipe page.

I think I'm going to visit the local charity shops and see what they've got.

Thanks for all the tips.

If they've got a shared bathroom then some sort of slippers/flip flops and a towelling robe are useful.

The supermarkets and discount stores know it's that time of year and will have useful bits and bobs on display. Eg a pair of cheap but decent bladed kitchen devil knives and scissors.

Little first aid kit of paracetamol, brufen and rehydration salts?!
Hangers?

Basic cleaning products, loo roll and dust pan and brush, cheap bin. Not very hopeful that it will be used as she’s not a clean freak but does like a clean bathroom and has her own in her flat.

Bedding, basic kitchen bits, plus metal water bottle, food flask and travel mug. She realises her budget won’t stretch to takeaway drinks. A cheap soup mug that can be used to microwave baked beans etc as well as soup.

We also have a Pyrex dish that is ideal for pasta dishes and is lidded so the leftovers can be saved.