1st year uni/halls. What to take?

[Practically Perfect]

My youngest is also off - i am counting the days. The other two were girls and just got on with it, this one is a boy and it is totally my fault that he can do NOTHING for himself, and by nothing i mean that he cant even butter toast - i swear he cannot spread!

Am mortified that he is uttererly useless and take 100% responibility for it. He was a boy and my baby - guilty as charged. So I am hoping he will 'man up'.

Luckily his eldest sister lives in the same city so i can always send her round if disaster strikes. He knows how to make a pot noodle so as long as he has a kettle he will be fine. His sisters gave him a list and rules: (between them they have completed 8 years of Uni life, i was a mature student with 2 kids when i did my degree so had no useful info)

1. Do not shag anyone in the same halls building as you as they will have a key and stalk you
2. Beer
3. Beer
4. Beer
5. Beer
6. Beer
7. Condoms.

I feel a bit sick now.

 

[skintsocks]

What to take to university | Prospects.ac.uk

Prepare for student life by getting the lowdown on what to take to university in our guide to the packing essentials.

www.prospects.ac.uk

Hi - hope that link works for you. My eldest is off too...when I went, we had a shared kitchen but things got pinched late at night, so I kept my toaster in my room and took it to kitchen when wanted. Pans tend to get used and left unwashed so he could keep those in his room with his crockery. There's usually a shared fridge but everything needs a name on, and late night guests and some flatmates will inevitably borrow some and neglect to replace it. I kept my food tins in my room simply because I couldn't afford to be replacing things the whole time if someone else ate them. With regard to clothes, he will need more underwear and socks than you can imagine as they'll end up under the bed and he'll run out. Having said that, he's going to have the time of his life!

 

[motherofdonkeys]

My biggest tip, is if it's not included in the cost of halls, insurance. Make sure his belongings are insured.

 

[Oohthedrama]

These are random but throw some Spices in with his food haul - can’t make a curry without the basics
I’d be lost without black pepper, probably drop out and head home
I lived at home during my uni days so it wasn’t an issue.

Grab one of those spare charger cables or charging bank in the pound shop nothing worse than a broken charging cable.
Don’t last long but for a quid in an emergency it’s handy.

 

[AmberSpyglass]

learning to cook is one of those rights of passage at uni. They don’t have a choice so they will work it out! Might not be the most desirable food to ever grace the earth but it will be edible and they won’t starve!!

I know and as far as I’m aware none of my others suffered food poisoning so they coped .

This one’s more upset at leaving the cats , he loves them more than he loves me.

 

[Youtubegossip]

Bottle/corkscrew opener. Bottle of booze ( best way to make friends on the first night)

The cheapest pans/ baking trays and utensils as they’ll get ruined by other people anyway

Laundry bag so it’s easy to carry clothes to the communal wash rooms

A little medicine kit with aspirin, immodium ( dodgy student cooking) plasters etc would probably be useful

 

[Hatshepsut]

God, this takes me back.
Both of mine did there first years in self-catered halls and thoroughly enjoyed it. The large communal kitchen was usually a good socialising point as people muddled along, learning and teaching each other as they went.
Don’t send him with anything that you’re not prepared to be lost, stolen or broken. We ended up buying our son one of those small fridges for his room and a little cupboard unit for him to keep in anything that he deemed too precious to be left in the kitchen. This was mainly his protein powders and tins of M&S chilli.

I’m sure that after he’s been there for a couple of weeks there will be a few texts with lists of stuff that he MUST have, or maybe that was just mine.

 

[Yel]

Yes they'll be a big fridge or two and people will just divide it up amongst themselves so everyone will get a shelf or half shelf. Will be plenty with a bit of stacking, although often one or two get one for their room.

I think your list covers everything I can think of, although would add an umbrella and cleaning supplies if the room it has a shower. Anything extra he can just buy.

 

[AmberSpyglass]

Some kids have their shit together these days! Pretty sure I lived on dry cereal and yellow shortcake snack bars for most on my uni years
But if there was steam coming off my food it needs pepper or cayenne pepper at the very least.
I will fight anyone of ANY age on that one

I don’t think I’d have it in me to give my child condoms going off to uni.
He would either need to buy them himself or pay maintenance on a child for the next 18 years.

My youngest is off this year <big massive sob> and despite me showing him basic cooking skills , he doesn’t enjoy cooking although he can do pasta and happily make a bacon sarnie.

It’s a steep learning curve and we’ll buy his groceries because he’s got just enough loan to pay the rent <another big massive sob>.

Anyway moan over , I’ll send one decent big frying pan, one saucepan, a George Foreman grill , a couple of dinner plates and a bowl for cereal .

Bed linen , towel and toilet roll x 10.

 

[bexgreen1983]

We each had a cupboard which I locked when i went.. then we each had a cage which went in fridge and freezer which again you could lock.

 

[Dannie]

The two things we forgot when we went was a chopping board. I literally bought & packed everything. Thought there is nothing I had forgotten. However when we got there I forgot a chopping board. Plus the kitchen they have is south facing and it was boiling in there so hubby got in the car while I was chatting with her and her flat mates and he went and got them a floor standing fan. Also once you get there maybe some bottles of water. My daughter tap literally does not go cold enough. So hubby also went and got them bottles of water. When I go up next I am taking a brita water jug for them. She shares with three other girls who now I have taken under my wing

 

[Onthehop]

Loads of washing powder tablets, cleaning supplies and toiletries ! Because when you are shopping on a budget those things come last

My two have been through uni. I found the best idea was to do a big shop with them at the beginning of every term. All the laundry and cleaning supplies were bought then.

 

[BettyCrocker]

Condoms. Alka Seltzer. An alarm clock. Insurance to cover all his gadgets (phone/iPad/laptop etc) printer & ink, stationery, knowledge of how to budget his money - information on how credit cards and loans work and how an overdraft isn’t free money! I know that sounds silly but the banks bloody love to throw credit cards and overdrafts at naive young students who gladly sign up for anything without understanding it so try to save him from plunging into debt by arming him with the information!!!)

 

[Oohthedrama]

Well if someone isn't up to buttering toast, I don't think a jar of sumac will ever be used

Some kids have their shit together these days! Pretty sure I lived on dry cereal and yellow shortcake snack bars for most on my uni years
But if there was steam coming off my food it needs pepper or cayenne pepper at the very least.
I will fight anyone of ANY age on that one

I don’t think I’d have it in me to give my child condoms going off to uni.
He would either need to buy them himself or pay maintenance on a child for the next 18 years.

 

[Youtubegossip]

You get condoms free by the bag full at freshers fairS did at my uni anyway haha

Some kids have their shit together these days! Pretty sure I lived on dry cereal and yellow shortcake snack bars for most on my uni years
But if there was steam coming off my food it needs pepper or cayenne pepper at the very least.
I will fight anyone of ANY age on that one

I don’t think I’d have it in me to give my child condoms going off to uni.
He would either need to buy them himself or pay maintenance on a child for the next 18 years.

t

 

[dr duncan]

Check if the kitchen comes with toaster, kettle, microwave and do not buy otherwise.
Set of pint glasses.
Padlock - my uni halls we all had our own cupboard with facility to lock with a padlock.

 

[Yel]

These are random but throw some Spices in with his food haul - can’t make a curry without the basics

Well if someone isn't up to buttering toast, I don't think a jar of sumac will ever be used

I'd leave a note about budgeting and how long the student loan needs to last and no coming running if you spend it early. But I'm mean. The people I knew that got bailed out never learnt, the ones that had to live off smart price 4p noodles for a month did

 

[Mealsinheels]

My youngest is off in September . Learning how to budget is a must as we are paying for most of his accommodation and living costs. We made him sign up for a Monzo debit card which we can top up weekly ( don’t trust paying him monthly!) Fantastic idea and the card is accepted everywhere.
Also if they are sharing a bathroom then flip flops/ sliders are a MUST ......

 

[Oohthedrama]

You get condoms free by the bag full at freshers fairS did at my uni anyway haha

t

That is true. I was referring to the replies saying to pack them

 

[Oohthedrama]

My biggest tip, is if it's not included in the cost of halls, insurance. Make sure his belongings are insured.

Not limited to but including the black pepper.