IKEA is your friend. Spent less than £30 on all the kitchen essentials. DS was in a flat of 10 and lost pretty much everything. I would have been p**sed off if he had lost more expensive stuff. Whatever you send kitchen wise, treat it as disposable unless you have a very organised DD.
DS has my Tescos Clubcard on his phone wallet so he can access all the Clubcard members discounts , and I get the points. Encourage DD to sign up for all and every loyalty student discounts. They can save a lot of money.
I am going to buy DS a hand held steamer. He likes an ironed t shirt or shirt and uses our steam iron as a hand held at home so for his second year I think it will be useful.
A lot of uni halls don’t allow clothes horses/airers because it encourages mould. DS was lucky because his flat had an access room for a disabled student, the on sight laundry didn’t have disabled access so their flat had a washer dryer. Unfortunately, students from other flats would call in and use it. Drying clothes can be expensive so make sure they have clothes that are easy to wash and dry and that they know how to do laundry.
DS’s room had loads of power sockets but I bought a tower extension lead with USB &C sockets so he charging everything was easier.
I also packed his stuff in bags for life from supermarkets so he had plenty of shopping bags once he unpacked. They double up as laundry bags too.
DS has his laptop and phone on find my phone. His friends have my number so he can use the ping feature when he misplaces either ( more common than you would expect). He has no issues with it because he relies on me being able to monitor his train journeys home so I’m waiting at the station when he arrives.
He sees it as a convenience rather than intrusion. If he didn’t see it as an advantage he would switch it off. I suspect he tracks me while he’s away. Both DH and I have had serious health issues over the last few years and knowing where we are just gives him reassurance that we are ok. He now rings me just for a chat rather than when he wants something.
I won’t lie, the first few weeks are a bit nail biting, particularly if they are homesick. DS was like a duck to water, he had a gap year so was chomping at the bit to leave, having watched his friends disappear. To be honest I’m looking forward to him going back, my house is full of all his stuff in bags and I want my spare room back😂.