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 :(

In the days of grotty student accommodation they came in very handy when we had ant infestations in the kitchen. We used spoons and stood in a line smashing them as they trailed across the work surface. It was noisy but effective.
They also double a s a hammer when hanging posters. Being a student teaches you so many life skills.
Also good for big spiders.

Extension lead is a must.
Lamp so you don’t have to use the harsh ‘big light’.
First aid kit and a good stock of medicines (painkillers, cough syrup, Lemsip, anti nausea, burn cream, Dioralyte for hangovers, blister plasters, Difflam spray). He will get sick the first few months and I always hated having to go out into the cold and buy stuff whenever I was already ill. I would also suggest to him he keeps his little stash a secret or it will be depleted by the time he needs it!
Warm slippers and warm house clothes for the evening.
A duster he can run over the room a few times a week, vacuums in halls are always crap.
Eye mask and ear plugs.
I bought window netting off Amazon or similar so I could leave my room/bathroom windows open to air the place and keep mold away. Stopped flies etc coming in.

flip flops or something else he can wear in the shower.

Don't go the Ikea the week before, it is rammed with sulky teenagers and parents buying what they think the student needs.

Get crockery and cutlery from charity shops, everyone else will have Ikea or plain white.

A tin opener.

A spare toilet roll.

Small first aid kit including paracetamol.

Make sure they know how to use a laundry washing machine.

You can get electric candles if that's something he'd like.

If he is a keen cook tell him to keep his good knives in his room.

YY to extension lead and spare charging cables that are as long as possible.

Modern halls tend to have plugs in sane places, but if it’s an older one they can be heaven knows where

With respect for netting over the window, in DS's hall they had a mesh built in for the window that opened, so they couldn't get out of the window but could have fresh air, he was on the sixth floor of a block of flats. They also provided good black out blinds on the windows (which he kept closed for the entire time he was there!)

If your child is into cooking we decanted some herbs and spices into small plastic bags, so don't take up so much room as spice jars in their limited space in the kitchen

Another win for DS was a small toolbox - something like this: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Hi-Spec-39-Piece-Essential-Household-Maintenance/dp/B0BZVVWZZB/ref=sxin_15_pa_sp_search_thematic_sspa?content-id=amzn1.sym.6906c541-6eee-4c10-bc19-17299b9d5015%3Aamzn1.sym.6906c541-6eee-4c10-bc19-17299b9d5015&crid=1MIIEY2OY1QIU&cv_ct_cx=basic%2BTool%2BBox&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.hjSSCUxQ7eAdCqeEqpbDUycEq6TivJJXC5I82a6H3bqvbsxD60danFnGnZa_DTlo2W5ITMpOMJctdaB28CKgOA.0OyXpwQ4nUPH0-BS6OxxNd-k6Uv3SJUBN9Fm7tL-0Gc&dib_tag=se&keywords=basic%2BTool%2BBox&pd_rd_i=B0BZVVWZZB&pd_rd_r=707eba78-a4d5-4160-af98-bd85630a9967&pd_rd_w=aWjCs&pd_rd_wg=wR1Ut&pf_rd_p=6906c541-6eee-4c10-bc19-17299b9d5015&pf_rd_r=ZBAM1CB5C6G30MAS8Y7W&qid=1722936674&sbo=RZvfv%2F%2FHxDF%2BO5021pAnSA%3D%3D&sprefix=basic%2Btool%2Bbox%2Caps%2C80&sr=1-1-ad3222ed-9545-4dc8-8dd8-6b2cb5278509-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9zZWFyY2hfdGhlbWF0aWM&th=1

There are always things that need fixing/ tightening/ measuring etc and this covers off most of the tools you'd ever need. It got used in the first 15 mins when another family arrived with a new boxed pan set only to find they had nothing to screw the handles on with!

DS claims he rapidly became 'the Dad' of his student flat with people asking if he had a tool to fix things!😂

First aid kit and a good stock of medicines (painkillers, cough syrup, Lemsip, anti nausea, burn cream, Dioralyte for hangovers, blister plasters, Difflam spray).

That is an excellent suggestion. I work at a uni and every October all the local supermarkets are completely wiped out of cold & flu medication due to fresher's flu. Stocks of paracetomol and the like also get very low. It'd be well worth keeping those on-hand.

I did an overdoor hanger and filled it for them with cleaning stuff, toiletries etc, best use of space if you have a tiny en-suite! I'm doing one for a friend who's going in September, enough stuff to last a few months so helps save them money.

I've attached the list I did for my own boys when they went but they didn't use all of it.

Essentials:
16-25 rail card
Frying pan and spatula
A mug
A pasta bowl
Sliders
Spirit of choice (for 'pre's')
Bedding
Laptop
Extension lead
Wash bag and towel

Nice to have:
Everything else <sideeyes dining room full of 3 students' belongings>

If the room is small you can get a clothes drying rack which hangs over the door.

dd was in a group chat with her housemates and they agreed who would bring certain items so that they didn’t tend up with 4 kettles etc

That's a great list @nokidshere

I have joined a X University Parents Facebook group which has been really useful. There might be one for where others dcs are going. Mine was a random suggestion, or maybe not so random due to Google stalking my every move.

How’s everyone got on?
We’ve tried to keep things minimal but it’s still so much stuff! Bedding and kitchen stuff accounts for most of it so once it’s unpacked it should look a lot less but it’s a little bit overwhelming at the moment!

@Similars , vacuum pack the bedding with the pillow cases / duvet cover on, it saves so much space in the car.