How much crockery etc?

[Sophist]

DS is going to uni in September and I’m trying to think ahead so we can budget.

The halls he wants to go to say you need to bring crockery, cutlery etc. I just wondered how much of everything you usually take? Was thinking of a set for 4 but is that too much/little?

Thank you.

@Sophist this is a comprehensive list.

https://www.savethestudent.org/accommodation/what-to-take-to-university.html

Buy a set of four but send them with only two of each thing, and hold back the others for spares when the originals get lost or broken.

Some students finish the first year with everything intact, a lot don't.

Don't but from Ikea. Everyone else does so things go missing.

Go to a charity shop, yes your DS will not like that, but at the end of the year his crockery will still be in the cupboard.

What is DS like? Does he cook? Does he cook for others? A sociable, "I'll cook for all of us tonight" well need more than someone who does beans on toast for himself.

remember that they will have limited space in the shared kitchen.

Also came on to advocate charity shop purchases. The lack of care one of two of DD's first year flatmates had for other people's possessions was utterly astonishing: far better to have stuff you couldn't care less about - and even if you end up with more respectful flatmates then it's nice to have something unique and easily identifiable as yours.

i accept that items you'll want to buy new (chopping board, maybe a pan?) but for china, glass & cutlery a charity shop is ideal. If he keeps an eye out from now onwards, he'll be able to find plain or something more quirky - whatever is his taste. I wouldn't say he'd need more than a couple of each; storage space is usually very limited.

Just one of each so they have to clean up after themselves lol

Based on the students I teach they seem to just eat straight from the deliveroo box

I have an elderly Tesco set in a box in the garage, that DS can take. Basic and fairly cheerful. Doesn't matter if it gets lost. They have limited space so I'd send two of everything. More cutlery though. I remember teaspoons disappearing at a rate of knots.

A large saucepan, a cheap non-stick frying pan (ds likes omelettes), a glass bowl to use in the microwave. Tin opener, bottle opener, one decent knife, one wooden spoon. A few cheap tumblers.

That covers pasta & sauce, chilli & rice, stir fries, beans on toast, omelettes etc. Hopefully the halls will provide a toaster and a kettle.

Dc had two of each. Do check what cooking facilities the halls have, some may have a microwave , hob and fridge only.

Go to a charity shop and just take two of each item. They will have limited cupboard space.

Hopefully they won’t get a flatmate who shits in the bath, yes true story and one of my students was very displeased, it made the stale pasta in the sink seem fine.

Came to say this.

Many university halls seem to have induction hobs so probably best to check before buying any saucepans or just buy ones that are suitable for induction jobs just in case.

As seems to be the current fashion air fryers are very common in the kitchens. Mainly brought in by students but assume they will become things provided by halls in the same way microwaves and kettles are now

Really useful thread, thank you!

DS got his from a charity shop when he was doing some volunteer work during Sixth Form.

It's actually very nice and like others have said already, it's very easy to distinguish from his flatmates' IKEA stuff.

Also agree with having 2 plates, bowls, cups and glasses but DS is a sociable diet and often has friends stay over.

This tip above about induction hobs is a good one too.

Not nearly as much of anything as you think because of the space.

It can make that first meeting in the kitchen really awkward- when I moved DD in, each room had one kitchen cupboard a freezer drawer and half a fridge shelf. They were all labelled with the room number. There was a poor lad left without a cupboard because someone had taken his sticker off and filled his cupboard with pots and pans and loads of tins. He was on his own and all flummoxed and didn't know what to say so I stepped in and made the other person take their stuff out. 😂

Regarding hobs etc, remember different uni residences at the same uni might have different ones so until you know the actual building, best not to buy too much of anything. Most unis send specific lists out or have them on their website.

Well done Blindur for stepping in. Some people are cheeky sods aren't they.

DS likes to bake and would have happily taken everything he wanted with him but had to remind him that he might want to wait and see how much space he has first. As suspected there's barely room for the essentials.

If they want more stuff, they could keep plastic storage boxes under the bed. Saves it getting nicked, too.

@BlindurErBóklausMaður well done for stepping in. That poor flummoxed boy.
How utterly nasty of that other DC who did what they did. I bet they end up friendless in that set of halls and never to be trusted.

That's quite bizarre behaviour if you're moving in with a bunch of new people.

Ds has 1 dinner plate, 1 side plate, 1 cereal bowl and for 2 reasons. One, he washes up immediately, dries it and puts it away because it will be used by someone else otherwise. And 2 he also had very limited storage space in the kitchen. First year halls he had 1 x 50cm base unit and 1 x 50cm wall unit. The base unit held the crockery, 1 glass, 1 mug, a frying pan, saucepan with draining lid, chopping board, knife, cutlery, a large spoon, spatula, baking tray, tin foil, cling film, kitchen roll, oven gloves, tea towel. All food items were in the wall cupboard. You would be amazed how quickly it fills up with the most basic of items especially the pans.

Ds kept a lot of extra stuff under his bed ie tupperware plus store cupboard essentials like soup. Fridge space he had 1 shelf in a 50cm fridge, 1 freezer drawer.

Plenty of mugs/ cups and a big teapot !!He’ll be popular!

I know it’s not crockery but a door wedge is useful so he can say hi as people pass his room!

I know I sound mad but it really is the little things….

It was a girl and she'd moved out by Christmas.
True colours are shown pretty early on!

True colours are shown pretty early on

They really are. Luckily DD is in either an absolutely lovely bunch who get in well.

Mine have 2 dinner plates, 2 bowls, 2 side plates, 2 mugs, 2 glasses. Cutlery they have 3 knives/forks/spoons/teaspoons.

As others have said, don't buy plain white from IKEA as they will get mixed up.

What the accommodation provides can vary. DS1 had kettle, toaster etc plus an induction hob. DS2 had no kettle or toaster and a normal hob.

I just gave DS some old chipped stuff I had! Mismatched - two of each of plate, side plate, bowl and knife, fork, spoon. A couple of teaspoons, a wooden spoon (again an old one of mine), a mini spatula that he uses for scrambled eggs, a few pans and a mixing bowl plus measuring jug and mini scales.
2 pint glasses and a mug.

DSs flatmates had an air fryer and they clubbed together for a kettle and toaster. He has a George Foreman he uses for toasties etc. Check what’s included first. It’s easy enough to get appliances on Amazon once they are there and see what others have or the halls provide.

He also had a few tea towels and washing up brush that you pour liquid into the handle - these v popular.