How do you get stuff to uni without a car?

[Unmute]

Ds is heading to uni in a couple of weeks. I'm going over on the train with him with a small suitcase each, and he had a friend lined up to drop some boxes off. It sounds like that plan might have fallen through so we're looking for a plan B.

The couriers I've found only take boxes up to 20ish kg, and I think ds's might be heavier (tbc once I replace the battery in my bathroom scales). I also can't quite figure out the logistics of getting boxes collected before we leave home, but not delivered until ds is ready for them.

Aside from the standard MN response (he's an adult, he should sort this out for himself), what other options do we have?

When I took my daughter to uni on the induction day, there was a huge hall set up with a GP stand, Student Union stand as well as various stands offering basic bedding, kitchen equipment and loads of other vital bits and pieces. Don't forget that there are a large number of students with no way of bringing stuff with them including foreign students.

We took our daughter to the local supermarket and it was choc a block full of student hampers and everything that they'd need at low prices.

The local supermarkets know and cater accordingly. Don't fret. We were quite surprised at how the local supermarkets /shops pulled together for new students.

You'll be fine.

IKEA do student boxes that you can get sent to your child's address.

❤️ 🦸‍♀️

@SiouxsieSiouxStiletto your ds sounds great. Mine is similar. Tho he's overjoyed that I found him a handheld vacuum cleaner on Fb marketplace (he has a medical condition that needs discreet clean up).

Otoh I've had to convince him he'll need a shower mat.

We should start a thread of the random stuff they're happy to take!

Camping trolley? We've got to drop DS3 off in Glasgow too and neither of our cars are allowed inside the emissions zone and are wondering how to get all his stuff, including big heavy PC and art materials to his flat. Thinking of borrowing a trolley...or possibly a taxi.

If it’s that close can you just ask a friend or relative to drive, and you pay the fuel?

My DS is at uni about 6 hours drive away. He goes up on the train with suitcase full mainly of clothes and a rucksack with electronics. I send up 3 boxes each weighing about 10kg and cost around £12 each with DPD, and they arrive the next day. He ordered shopping from Tesco's to be delivered the evening of his arrival.

He could join the facebook group for his uni or ask if any potential students are also going the same way and could pay them a small fee to help him out?

Came from abroad so 2 x 23kg suitcases. A click and collect of towels and saucepans. Picked everything else up in the weekend uni started.
They really need a lot lot less than you think!

Quite

My mum didn't have a car. No one to give a lift. I had to take my stuff on a train. Just bags of clothes to start with

I had to go home for the first 2 weekends to collect more belongings. It took me a month to get what I needed.

It wasn't a huge distance so had a do a few trips.

I had a trunk, sent it by parcel force - early 90s.

For couriers Parcel2go have loads that will take up to 30kg and Send My Bag do suitcases.

Take electronics, clothes, shoes, medications, a towel, basic wash kit, mugs, basic food supplies for the first day. Get everything else once you’re there. I went to uni in the good old days by train and coach and bus. It’s much better to get what you need once you’re there. They need less than they think they’ll need.

Very similar situation to@Dove0709 dd gets train with suitcase and rucksack of electrical s and we send up 3 suitcases via a delivery service. It was something we discussed with her when she chose a Uni so far from home that we would be unable to do her drop offs and collection. It was a compromise she was willing to make and tbh its been pretty straightforward so far.

This. Taxi then you get the train back, or an Uber as another poster suggested. Likely to cost around the same as hiring a van anyway.