Is it too early for a Uni move out thread?

[weegiemum]

Hi everyone. Been a couple of years since I was on the exam threads! My ds is now 20 and after toying with art school (like his sister who is at GSA) he's used his experience as a home care worker to apply for Nursing. He's got a place at Caley in Glasgow (we live in Glasgow) and has just heard he's got a place in halls.

I've already been through dd1 moving out to live with her boyfriend but never had a kid move into halls from home and I'm not sure what I need to prepare. He's been offered a "bedding pack" and a "kitchen pack" so I'm assuming he'll be off with his bedclothes and a trip to ikea will be in the offing.

He's only going to be 20 mins away which seems nuts, but he's SO excited about this. 3 years ago he was running away, cutting himself and generally being a massive worry to us. But he's put the work in with initially camhs and since he turned 18 with his cpn and I couldn't be more delighted that he feels able to move in. He's very close to me (thus I have a huge knowledge on the Champions League and formula 1) and I'm going to miss him, but it's time.

Anyone else at this point? I know a good few will be waiting for exams results!

I just wanted to say major congrats to you and your boy for all your hard work in getting to this point . I can’t imagine the stress you must have been under, you must be so relieved and proud of him.

And yes the answer to your questions is IKEA but go early, it’s mobbed by September. My top tips are

mattress topper
plastic storage boxes with lids to go under bed ( don’t buy until you can measure)
Japanese craft tape used to stick photos to walls without making a mark. Costs peanuts from Amazon but takes weeks to arrive.

It'll depend if his halls are catered / self catering / a mix of both as to how much kitchen stuff he needs. I stayed in fully catered halls but we had a kitchenette on each landing with a fridge and toaster and we were allowed a kettle in our room.
Extension cables are always useful as there's never enough plugs and I seem to recall taking a desk lamp.
Definitely take a good mattress topper / protector.
If it's single beds then check what the bedding pack includes. I find a single duvet is too small for a grown adult so I'd take a double one.
If you're buying crockery and cutlery then pick something distinctive e.g. with coloured plastic handles so he can tell it's his!

My DC1 is in 1st yr. She linked up with her flat mates through the HOR Facebook last summer. They all took own crockery/cutlery but divided up other kitchen equipment between them as there's not space for 6 frying pans etc.
We didn't get the bedding and kitchen packs. Went to Ikea and Dunelm and she chose her own.

Your boy has done so well to get to this stage @weegiemum. Exciting times!

Don’t Dunelm do a cheap week aimed at students ?

The thing I bought my DD which was the biggest hit for her whole time at a student was a heated clothes airer. It stayed in the living room in her flat in halls in first year and everyone used it. It would just about have fitted in her own bedroom but not left much space to move around it. It cost about £30 in Lidl or Aldi about 5 years ago.

There were washing machines and tumble driers in the laundry room in the basement of her halls so I’m not entirely sure why it was always in use but it was. Don’t know if boys would be the same - she has always chosen to be in all female shared accommodation ( halls then flats ).

Thanks everyone. Yes, I am very proud of him, he's put the work in and is now generally happy, has a nice girlfriend and I'm going to miss him popping to the shops for me or giving me lifts places - I'm disabled and not allowed to drive, so he's been my wheels these last couple of years.

He's going to be fully self catering which I'm not too worried about as he's a reasonable cook, though has the usual student tendency to over rely on noodles! I hadn't thought about getting in touch with flatmates on SM ahead of time, long time 1989 since I moved into halls!

Thanks for all the tips. The one thing he's requested is his own air fryer, he uses it at home all the time. I'm sure that will make him popular!

Hi, we are at this point too. DS (18) exams are finished and he has pretty much decided upon Aberdeen Uni from his offers. We went to the open day last month and had a look around the accommodation. He'll likely be at Hillhead in a flat with 3 others.
It's only an hour up the road from us but seems far at the moment!
We'll be hitting IKEA for him soon too. A mattress topper is a fab idea.
DH and I both went to Aberdeen too but 30 years ago - it's all the same but different!

DD is excited and on her way September.

I have cobbled together a ‘crap draw’ tin - it has

Plasters, sewing kit, spare batteries, spare cash and change, (different currency) headache tablets, safety pins, spare inhaler, and such like.

So things they are unlikely to generally own but use.