Take to Uni halls list and space saving tips

[SpaceHogger]

Eldest off to higher ed mid Sept. They have a place at halls. They have given him a list, but it’s pretty general e.g. bed linen, kitchen items.

I’m looking for a bit of a more comprehensive list and tips.

They will be sharing a kitchen, bathroom with 4 others in a flat type situation. The rooms are small, and they aren’t allowed to put anything on the walls, no blue tack or anything for posters (shame).

They suggest bringing a clothes dryer and bean bag, but there isn’t a lot of room, hence the ask for space saving tips.

I’ve seen a video of the rooms. They are small, but have a desk, shelves, bed (no storage underneath, but space underneath), wardrobe and sink. They aren’t modern at all and look pretty basic and bland in comparison to his own very lively room.

Obviously he can do all this himself, but he’s working, and I’m happy to get this together as it takes my mind off being sad at him going away :(

I was just sat here creating a list for DD1 from some of these great ideas... I asked DD2 what she'd recommend her sister should take, she replied "a funky personality and a big smile" 😂😂

There will be shops nearby to buy what's required

A collapsible canvas bag style laundry basket to make yomping to the laundry easier and colour catchers so they can save time and money doing large mixed loads.

@RampantIvy

Oh yes he's very aware bedding and kitchen items are required as a minimum

He'll take bedding and I'm hoping to persuade him him to take at least bare minimum crockery cutlery, pot and pan

He's an awkward child

If he doesn't he'll have to buy it himself

He'll be going to London so no idea re parking there for his halls. Hence him just wanting to take the train
No idea what his halls offer. I'm presuming nothing other than furniture and kitchen appliances.

Bags wise he'll have backpack, duffle bag and large laundry type bag or a combination of

Or is he planning on ordering bedding and pans to be delivered to his halls?

We did it that way one year when my car conked out last minute.

He likes to cook to I'm hoping to send him off with the ability to do that

I've never in my 35yrs needed a meat tenderiser, especially not as a student. I doubt he'll need kitchen scales either. And what is a bathroom bowl?

Tupperware is an excellent suggestion.

Keep it basic, a couple of sets of bedding, clothes, toiletries and some basic kitchen items. Maybe Amazon credit for anything he realises he needs later?

"a funky personality and a big smile" 😂😂

Second that.

Clothes airer.... Both of them wanted one off Amazon when they realised the cost of the halls laundromat

Things that came back unused... Mattress topper, any cooking things for one child( old halls with only a microwave, kettle and a fridge)

Things that mysteriously vanished when they visited... Aldi shopping bags (useful for shopping, carting washing to & back from the laundry, keeping things dry in shared bathrooms), bathmats, sliders, knife sharpener (for the one who had a kitchen), tupperware

Go with the minimum and Amazon things as they are required.

I'm pretty sure you can order basic sets for students that include things like duvet, pillows pillow cases, duvet covers etc, and have them delivered to halls.

Some of those hangers that just slot over the tops of doors were useful when I went to uni. And, one for the radiator too, if it's the right type.

It means there's somewhere to put your coat when it's been pouring down / your dressing gown / wet towel from the shower

my son is taking

a bright / cool duvet cover to brighten up the room
several strings of coloured lights and a controller thingy
a lamp that projects colors and shapes onto the ceiling
command strip hooks to hang up light strings
brightly coloured washi tape put up posters/ pictures on walls
masking tape to put up more picture on the side of the wardrobe, wall shelves, chest of drawers and other laminate surfaces
storage boxes with lids for under the bed
set of plastic storage boxes for the bathroom
over door hooks

He Really likes colour 🙂

I wouldn’t get a kit, as there’s bound to be things you don’t want/like in it

Setting off, they need:

• bedding (check what’s provided first)
• basic kitchen equipment (pans, good knife, cheese grater, wooden spoon, silicon fish slice, tea towel, anything else they use to make favourite dishes - add to this once they,ve been there a while) Teapot or cafetière if they need tea/coffee to function
• mugs, plates, pasta bowl, cereal bowl, glasses, knife/fork/spoon
• towels, tea towels, washing up liquid & sponge, all purpose cleaning spray, kitchen roll, loo cleaner if en-suite and loo roll whether it is or isn’t.
• things they need for their course, basic stationery, drawing pins (as they’ll probably have a board if they,re not allowed to put up posters)
• basic food parcel (or take them round a supermarket on drop-off day) and toiletries
• condoms (embarrassing to get these from your parents, but better that than an early oops without them)
• supply of any regularly used OTC meds, if prescription meds needed try to get a stock before they go, and impress on them the need to register promptly with the medical centre and keep an eye on when they need repeats)
• sports gear, other hobby stuff
• clothes, washing power etc

(I’m sure more will occur to me 2 secs after I press “post”)

Most kitchens in new halls have induction hobs, so will need suitable pans.

A small fan was the most popular buy for DS. He didn’t think he would need it but used it almost continually. It folded up so didn’t take up much space. Laundry pods not used so much! We did get a small extending laundry airer

We packed DS off with spare cutlery/crockery rather than buying new sets. Did mean he could tell them apart from all the IKEA/Dunelm sets everyone else had.

I’ve started putting bits aside for dd and have realised that packing to go to uni is a lot like packing for camping. You try to take the minimum and still end up with a massive pile of stuff 🤣

bedding (check what’s provided first)

I think most places don't provide bedding these days.

We learned from taking oldest to university halls. We warned second child in advance to expect the room to look like a prison cell! Get a colourful duvet cover on and a cheerful poster up before you do anything else.

A friend of mine took her own curtains.

I've seen stuff recently which suggests a shoe rack (abt £20 on Amazon) is useful for the entrance to their room area, frees up space

Sorry if anyone has said this but doorstop.

I think the kitchen stuff is going to be the biggest nightmare. My son is a really good cook. He cooks everything from scratch, makes bread, his own ice cream and bakes cakes.

I told him to offer to cook, if they buy the stuff 😜

I’m going to buy him a travel coffee cup so he doesn’t have to drop £3.60 on a Starbucks. He said no, but I might buy him a milk frother as he’s going to miss my Nespresso machine.

Agree about
Sliders
Mattress topper
Caddy for bathroom stuff.

Like another poster, we bought DD a fan because she found her room overly hot.

Distinctive cutlery, or it just goes missing.
A small (mushroom?) knife plus a bigger knife.
A chopping board and a baking tray

Condoms!

We also got her big quantities of loo roll and washing tablets (heavy/bulky/expensive)

After she'd been there a few weeks, she was struggling with the choice of standing/lying in bed/sitting on formal (dining) chairs.
So we sent her a camping chair with integrated footrest. She appreciated this a LOT. It didn't compensate for a lack of a sofa, but it helped.

Some great ideas here - following with interest as ds is also off in September and apart from a few kitchen bits we haven't got anything yet - it feels a bit like buying too much baby stuff too early; I think we're all a bit too superstitious to do much until after results day.
I find WIWIKAU far too stressful to engage with...people on there are a bit over-invested for me.
He hasn't heard anything back from his firm offer uni about accommodation though, apart from an acknowledgment that they've received his application. Sheffield (his insurance) lets you go online and book your actual room, whereas all he could do for bath was day which accommodation block he wanted. Trying not to think too much about it for the time being.

Meat tenderiser is the most bonkers suggestion for a packing list for a uni student. I have been cooking for my family for 20 years and never used one!

The biggest hassle is electrical items which require PAT testing if they are not brand new.
I am buying an extension socket with USB sockets to minimise cable and plug overload. But will wait until September so they don’t need PAT testing. The uni offer PAT testing but knowing DS he will forget then end up having stuff confiscated. Although if he takes his game station he may be more inclined to remember.
A friend gave me an essentials list and probably the most useful item was a folder to keep documents in such as ID, offer letters , birth certificate, passport. Receipts for new electrical equipment, instruction manuals, emergency numbers (doctor, dentist etc). Then when they ring you in a panic you can do remote mum-finding.
A bag of essential supplies including washing up liquid, shower cleaner, clothes, kitchen roll, surface wipes, paracetamol, a bottle of their favourite alcohol, tea,coffee, sugar, condoms and the most important item, a door wedge for their room door, it’s a great way of socialising when you first arrive. I will probably add a few welcome surprises such as a Nando’s card and maybe a Tescos card for emergencies. No doubt it will be spent on beer.
DS is on a gap year so it’s all been very laid back. I have just bought a heavily discounted bus pass for him so he’s got bus travel sorted for the year. He’s on a campus that is a good 40min walk from the town centre. He has a lot of friends at various unis in the city so it will enable him to go visiting. His cousin is also staying on to do an MSc in the city so will no doubt team up with her at some point.
DS is third generation uni so for him it’s just what our family do. There is a big IKEA in the city he is going to so has reassured me that he’ll be fine. Apparently Dominos deliver until 5am!