Share with Endsleigh Insurance your tips, experiences and thoughts about sending DCs off to uni - £300 voucher to be won! NOW CLOSED

[EmmaMumsnet]

Going to university from home is a rite of passage that many young people go through. However, the practicality and emotion attached to DCs ‘leaving the nest’ can create scary and unexpected experiences for both parents and children; from the difficulty of fitting everything into the car (yes, bean bags and fairy light are essential!), to ‘empty nest syndrome’, and keeping in touch (whether that’s through occasional texts from DC to inform you they are still alive or via skype).

It can also be a very liberating experience for both parents and young people, especially after the stress of A Levels and concerns about getting a place.

Here’s what Endsleigh have to say: “We’re proud to remain the only insurance provider recommended by the NUS. Our range of policies insures what's important to students, from gadgets and contents to bikes and musical instruments, starting at university and into your professional life - hopefully taking away that particular concern. We'd love to hear how parents help their young people make this significant step"

Endsleigh Insurance, who specialise in insurance for students, want to hear your stories of dropping your DCs off at uni and your tips for how to not only survive but make the best of it. Whether your DC is already at university or is set to leave the nest this September, share your thoughts, concerns and top tips. Did your DCs ask you any amusing questions about living independently? What unexpected perks have you found from your DC moving out? How well do they or do you think they deal with cooking and washing for themselves? What was on the essential packing list? How did you deal with the emotion and how long did it take for you to stop laying the extra plate at the dinner table?

Please tell us about your experiences and tips you have for others below and you will be entered into a prize draw where one MNer will win a £300 voucher from a store of their choice (from a list).

Thanks & good luck!

MNHQ

Standard T&Cs apply

[TheWizardOfOs]

Start saving when you conceive.

[OhYouBadBadKitten]

This thread and another thread made me lament in the middle of the night that we hadn't saved more.

Can't turn back time.

[UpOnDown]

Put some treats in with their packing.

[bojo7]

Make them promise to send a weekly email saying "I'm alive."

[goldenretriever1978]

Definitely save, save, save from birth!

[KittyKat88]

My DCs aren't at this stage yet, but I know when they are ready to go I will ensure they have the necessary skills (e.g. cooking and cleaning) to look after themselves, and also to be mindful of others! If they haven't got an understanding of how to be respectful towards other family members in their shared living space at home then they'll really struggle at uni!

[HitsAndMrs]

My Dsis is applying for units at the moment.
I am encouraging her to stay at home and travel in. I moved out into halls and ten years later I still carry that debt.

[cazzzie987]

Open a savings account and put loads of money in it!

[renas]

Make sure you buy stuff ie like kitchen
Knives, forks pans etc from somewhere cheap like Wilkinsons as your never see anything again. My first son came back when he graduated with just a saucepan lid and my second just a sieve. What happened to all the stuff I bought!

[tabbaz123]

It is a big decision but one that has to be lead by the young person!!! I gave opinions and thoughts when asked and made suggestions. I took them to view universities and gave Open Advice but I felt that the ultimate decisions should be theirs.
I helped to prepare them in domestic knowledge and shopping and meal planning techniques.
I was also able to help support them financially too.
The experience really changed my daughter and her appreciation of cost and domestic effort soon increased ha ha ..... I can recall at home how she would complain about some food and have a dislike for some 'cheaper alternatives' then strangely changed her mind when buying her own food!

[ThemisA]

Make sure they can shop, cook, keep to a budget, work a washing machine/launderette and iron. I made a small folder of easy, cheap and nutritious recipes. If they haven't travelled much independently encourage them to go to some open days alone. My eldest took a train to most of his open days and stayed in a cheap hotel or on campus.

Let them know you are still there and that the first weeks can be very intense and they may get over tired and home sick. Some universities offer accommodation over the summer for holidays so if your child is anxious book a small mini break over the summer so that they can get familiar with the area and get to know their college or campus.

[barbsbarbs]

well basically my older two are both at university and the important thing is to be prepared practically, buy things throughout the year, such a cutlery, duvets, utensils so that when they are ready to go they have everything, its an expensive business so doing it gradually really helps. finally when you take them down, make sure you book a nice hotel, B& B so you can settle them in and have a night away as well.

[MAT12]

Shop the sales throughout the year for all the items they will need, bedding, stationery, kitchenware etc, it will save you a lot of money to be organised.

[maryandbuzz1]

This was the hardest thing I have had to do.! I cried and cried and cried so had to make sure You keep busy!
Send your oldest towels...don't bother with tea towels!!! The washing up gets left!
Get your child to join a bank which gives a free rail card.
Arrange to Skype so at least you can see they are alive every week!
Set a realistic budget. My son has learned so much about money these last 2 years.

[glenka]

Encouraging them to save up money is a good tip because we won't be there all the time to help them out.

[devito92]

We've talked about him going to Uni from a very yong age. He's very independent and has been on lots of school trips, which has taught him how to look after himself.

[castleton]

Don't go overboard. Send them with simpl food that you have shown them how to cook. Provide the basics and let them build up from there

[lizd31]

Send them off with a box full of basics, food, cleaning stuff, toiletries etc.

[cluckyhen]

For us as a Forces family our home address is actually Scotland - which if my dd would like to go to Uni I would rather she head that way as then she would have family close at hand.

Saying that though. Uni is expensive and I worry that our youngsters are now starting life off in debt, especially with everything increasing in price. If a child doesn't know the basics (as many don't) then they will struggle and I really think that not only parents but schools should teach children how to budget etc. After all - we didn't have the net to find the best bargains but relied on word of mouth and friendly bank managers.

[Ganne1]

Hire a van (and drive it yourself - great fun!). Help with packing. Remind them about the important things like insurance (easily forgotten). But, above all, make sure they get connected to you with Skype. It's so important to be able to talk to them when things aren't working out well ... as they will at some point.

[ILostItInTheEarlyNineties]

Educate them all you can about money matters, budgeting, the pros and cons of loans, overdrafts, credit cards, what an APR is etc. University is extremely damaging to your wealth and without some money sense, students can easily get into debts they will be repaying years after qualifying.

[KAKADU2001]

There adults so why do we need to molly coddle them. They are off to Uni not to Outer Mongolia.

[goose1964]

I've sent two son's to uni & my only advice t them was not to be stupid & spend all their money the first few weeks

[happysouls]

Make sure you've taught them all about budgeting and being so careful with money! Try to keep your worrys under control and help to build confidence, its going to be an amazing experience and really exciting. Be ready with emergency funds for bail outs!

[cuppawithbiccies]

DS hopefully off to uni this september and the worry has already started just at the pressure of getting the grades required in his a levels. Will be reading this thread for helpful hints as he's the first to go to uni