Student Survival Kit - what would you put in yours?

[ArtyFartyQueen]

I'm pulling together a guide and also a box full of (hopefully) useful items for DS and looking for some ideas....

What would/have you put in yours?

Condoms
Shot glasses
Paracetamol
Bottle opener/corkscrew
Pack of baby wipes (environmentally unfriendly but Quite Useful)
Bottle of preferred tipple
More condoms

Plus (wrapped and separately)
load of sweeties for Hallowe'en
Advent calendar

(edited to correct typo)

Dioralyte and a tide pen

Extension lead
Fold up laundry drying rack
Basic toolkit
Gaffer tape
First aid kit

Or

Cash plus none of the above

I was looking at gift cards for local supermarkets. Are there any shops that give you a discount for buying these? I know Costco sells £40 for £34.99 (but it’s only for Pizza Express, Nando, Odean etc and not Tesco!)

I'd check what the accommodation rules say about a few of the things on these lists.

Most places won't allow blu-tack on painted surfaces as it can damage the paint ( if it doesn't pull the paint off you still need to stain block before painting over marks). Usually fine on furniture and mirrors though. Most rooms have a pinboard, so drawing pins are always useful.

Over door hangers can interfere with the proper functioning of fire doors, but they might be able to use on the bathroom door if they have an en-suite.

Candles etc aren't allowed either, so battery powered fairy lights or candles are popular for making rooms feel cosy.

Other than that, loads of excellent suggestions already. Being the only one if your flat with a tool kit is a sure way to make friends when belongings inevitably break.

Scouring pads and cloths, a basin, a torch, candles, matches (I’m so boring!)

Earplugs

Write out a list of important contact numbers so that if/when he loses his phone he can still call you to ask for money for a new one!

My lovely mum used to deep clean my room before we unpacked!! She also bought me a mattress protector for the disgusting (very stained) uni mattress. I think she took our hoover as she definitely hoovered that mattress too 😂

Other things I loved were toilet bleach, anti bac wipes, a couple of cheap ikea plants, a rug, picture frames, laundry bag to store and carry washing to laundry room, fluffy blanket, teddy bear sheets, a contraband plug in heater (to hide in the wardrobe when not in use), desk lamp, drawing pins, white colour blu tack, pot/pan, x2 plates/bowls/mugs/glasses, cutlery x2, stirring spoon/ladle, new toiletries, tissue box, toilet rolls, small sewing kit, medicine bag. Plus cuddly pyjamas, hoodie, slippers (we had a lot of fire drills in the middle of the night!).

My friend took her toastie maker and we all loved it.

And 2 tea towels and bath towels!!

Mine has survived one year at uni.. has friends and as far as I know has not been bullied..

I sent him with vitamin C, probiotics, milk thistle to take before a big night out and a homeopathy kit. (No need to derail the discussion.. I know the general opinion of homeopathy on MN)

Are you me?

Tide pen, vitamin C tablets, cold remedies

I think it’s nice. Things that they might need or like but not necessarily buy as a bit pricey when on a budget.

Spare long phone charger
Phone battery pack - Anker ( handy if out and about all day in new area using maps and camera)
Nice brand tea/ chocolate/ favourites you know they like

Door stoppers are always mentioned but are the one thing (along with the over door hangers which are shite) that DD never used.

I had 12 bottles of wine delivered which went down well. Cards Against Humanity and that kind of thing are useful for the end of Freshers when things dip a little.

Otherwise, the biggest hit with my DD was a dishomatic scrubbing brush. 😂

@HappiDaze it's not a literal survival kit and nobody takes the piss unless they've been brought up to sneer at others. My daughter's flat all enjoyed looking through each other's survival kits.

WIWIKAU has lots of ideas for things to include.

I can't imagine any of my friends taking the piss of this at uni. I could more imagine us being really bloody happy someone had a coke screw or screwdriver.

I was asking DS what he needs. He said the uni recommended a doorstop.

Noise cancelling headphones/ear plugs.
Mesh laundbags (less chance of leaving small items in a shared machine)

DD and I tent to use a shared Google folder for when she wants a recipe for a family favourite meal or anything like that.

Also a food shop with all the things that are pricey once a term.
Maple syrup, honey, marmite, coffee, nice Cordial syrup, spices, snacks, that kind of thing.

Sewing kit
Travel mug (preferably airtight / leakproof)
Cook book
Paracetamol
Distinctive keychain
Alarm clock

This...

I fear you are outdated.

cookbook -> phone
alarm clock -> also phone

A hard copy cookbook is still useful I think. It's a pain trying to follow a recipe on a phone screen when you have your hands full cooking.

Ds requested an indexed notebook and has been copying down the recipes he uses regularly. I'm not sure how much use it will actually get at uni, but he's pleased with it.

Sure, phone can also be used for these things. But an alarm clock is a nice item and an actual book might be easier to use than a phone.

But obviously it's personal to what each individual would use. They were just ideas. We can reduce most of our lives down to "phone" these days, doesn't mean everyone wants to 🙂

@ArtyFartyQueen I'd also recommend asking in the SN Teens Section to see if any of the MNers in there have specific tips for ASD teens. Is he staying in a quiet flat?

Dd asked for a housekeeping advice sheet. She could, obviously do all the cooking, laundry, cleaning tasks, but felt overwhelmed about taking responsibility for all of them. And she didn't want to keep phoning me to ask advice. So I made up a little pamphlet for her.

That pamphlet lived on her pinboard for the full year, and her new friends asked for copies.

My dc's emergency boxes were rice, tuna and pesto (easy-cook foods in case they run out of cash), plasters, cough sweets and a packet of paracetamol. Ds just graduated, and proudly returned his box unopened. Apparently it's a po int of pride for all of them that they can cope without opening the emergency box.