Fledglings 2026 - support, discussion and looking after each other

[ComingInByAnsible]

A thread for parents of Year 13 leavers as they go on to universities, apprenticeships and other new adventures.

DS is off to Warwick to study PPE.

Thank you. I was going to get a big pack of persil three in one pod things that hopefully should last a term or two and no messy bottles to carry to the launderette! Just take one in the laundry basket. There are a lot of things not on that list that son will decide on himself - various gadgets and charging cables etc and toiletries. The tin of "essentials" I've been putting together for a while! Spare phone cable, a card with our phone numbers on in case he loses his phone, masking tape, sellotape, command strips (bluetak not allowed apparently), post it notes, other stationery bits, ear plugs and door stop, and various other useful bits and pieces! Safety pins will be in the first aid kit.

@PhotoDad thank you :-) Will check out that other thread

Just found an article about cheap food options on campus and an emergency food cupboard at son's university, so feel more relaxed now!

Mine is going to John Moore’s too and as my third child I second those brushes you fill up with liquid. Also crease release , they are never going to be bothered to iron anything !

Anyone know how it typically works with 'contents' insurance in uni halls? Couldn't see anything in the initial welcome pack. Not that he's got a huge amount of stuff, but things like laptop and fairly valuable musical instrument. It's on my list to investigate this, but if anyone knows how it usually works..?

Lidl own brand are cheaper and wash just as well . There’s a lidl 5 minutes from her accommodation and an Aldi 10 minutes down , I’m encouraging her to get most of her stuff there.

Checking In. DS is reading engineering at UEA, his first choice so he's happy. He's in Britten Hall.

The pile of kit on the dining room floor is growing. All the bedding, cutlery, and crockery are done.

The only outstanding items (I hope) are a saucepan, a tin opener and a kitchen knife. DS cooks things like pasta with tomato/chorizo sauce or frozen pizza & salad so kitchen stuff can be pretty basic. We'll do a food shop when we get there.

He seems really calm. I'm the one who's nervous. Stupid really because I know he's perfectly capable.🙄

I think it might vary with different universities. Son's accommodation includes contents insurance up to £10,000 and covers a set amount for laptops or bikes. Our own home insurance covers valuable items away from the home, but I'm not sure if that would count if he has insurance already at University. Maybe google the university name - contents insurance and see if anything comes up? However that is for halls in first year. I assume if they then live out in second year they would need a contents insurance policy.

The musical instrument might need to be insured separately maybe?

From my older toe they made most of their friends on their courses and societies and it’s who they lived with subsequent years . They’re still close with them years later. Her accomodation mat not be the most ideal but my older two had great accommodations and although they got on well with flatmates had different interests. Sending luck her way .

I decided not to bother with a tin opener. Most tins are ring pull now and he also has a tin opener on his multitool gadget! So thought I'd wait and see if one was actually needed later - or if someone else might have one in his kitchen!

Pans gave me a headache! I just got one basic kitchen knife as they are ok-ish and I don't think it'll be needed much and I'm still paranoid about knives! Even though they are adults now - so it's a rounded end!

Again, it'll do for now and if something different needed he can let us know! Kitchen devils multipurpose knife. Not too expensive either.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B003M32C1W?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title

Although actually this Victorinox tomato knife is similar and cheaper! We have one of those and it's a really good knife - gets used for all sorts.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Victorinox-Tomato-Knife-Classic-Silver/dp/B000WL8DOW/ref=sr_1_7?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.Sggjk9yThy6b395Tfmz57f-KUfZEbDlAUV4t1z_IR7ScogcOMopHVK-ErHEhqBkyYrhnhEaq0FJ5xX2piUpnlrUjUEzXH5gMeT-ZTFLDenabz2pZqKywgmSiQlB2RaEYvTAhxU0RPylAlSn0w1q9lfPmZ7vSKYdaeVSBMVGFlnIjH-vbFuAxs99-30H9IxHBSodzXR2I4SMRywOTrDCwaYRiTvy6qor1FENOSBG3MtMhjGSlnUCb0wlnTNkCZywlZU2hnwoJt4uYYhqqFuLu3OUn4x5rYLOV-Ih7ppzaxb4.Bj1BjSdz1-42QVEs139jMn5UbMEUE_njd-NhFcQQ8MA&dib_tag=se&keywords=victorinox%2Btomato%2Bknife&qid=1787073003&sr=8-7&th=1

Sorry to sound thick but if they already have a bank account eg narionwide is there any point opening up another student one ?

I was thinking about this, too.

Also does DS need crockery and cutlery if he is catered. I think yes, but he thinks he will not have access to kitchen. I find that hard to believe.

DS has nationwide account. Their student account has £100 cash and £120 in Just Eat vouchers (£10pcm) daft not to really

They can just transfer over to a student account at their current bank

DS did this and got a free 3 yr student railcard which he has used a lot and they get free overdraft ie no charges which helps

It’s a 16-25 railcard

My son opened a second current account (student) because it comes with free money and vouchers
He will have his loan paid into it so he can budget more easily, and not eat into money in his usual account.

It also has a large interest free overdraft which I would rather he didn't use but good in case of emergency! E.g. suddenly needing a house deposit when student loan payment hasn't yet arrived.

I wondered that too. I don't think there is any need unless they want an overdraft and I would personally prefer that not to be an option!

Banks can cancel the overdraft facility at any time and although it's 0%, once they finish university, they get charged interest on it and it has to be paid back. It would worry me they could have thousands of pounds of debt to pay back, in addition to the student loan. Son already has a 3 year railcard we bought. And I'd rather give him £100 than risk him running up a huge overdraft. However, if he decides to do it of his own accord at some point, I can't stop that.

My genius child just told me that he might open two student accounts to make the most of the perks. I pointed out that it probably wasn't allowed as everyone would open multiple!

He also told me that he's getting a bit overwhelmed and stressed out. Uni seems to be the only thing that anyone is talking about at the moment and all the group chats are constantly pinging. He's muting the chats and I'm backing right off even talking about uni unless he brings it up.

What hall is he in? Ds in in Roeburn, his first choice which he’s really happy about.
I didn’t go to a Campus Uni so was used to everything being far apart. He can stagger out of bed and into lectures in 5 minutes which I think will suit him!

@Roundaboot same here with my daughter who is saying she ‘doesn’t want to go’ she’s a bit of a home bird and all her pals are back home so she’s enjoying being a social butterfly and working at the moment. Obviously that will change when they all head back to their universities! I am however insisting on an IKEA trip on Friday before she heads off to work as I don’t want to be traipsing across the country getting stuff when I’m back at school teaching. 🤦‍♀️

Joining in - we need to work logistics for getting DC south to north (car hire not an option for us). We are planning to take a train with as much as we can carry and then buy most of it in uni town. I have looked at the uni starter kits but they seem quite expensive and a lot may not be needed. I love a list so will get them underway.

@MamOfTwo I suppose you could see which shops are in that City and pre order items a week before to be sent the store based there. Like Tesco, M&S, Argos and Sainsburys for instance for bedding and kitchenware so you can just collect them once you arrive to save you lugging them on the train.

I think he’s going to a private one right next to campus .my daughter said that if she could have picked up the uni and placed it in Liverpool she would have loved it as she absolutely loved the campus vibe and everything being together . But the city of Liverpool won her heart !

@Lavendersong - thank you, yes, that is what I was thinking.