Ain't Nobody Here Posted May 15, 2010 Share Posted May 15, 2010 ES is (hopefully) off to university in September. I'm trying to think of things I can give him when he goes to make life easier/nicer for him. Does anyone have any suggestions either as a parent or a uni student ? (Kitchen things should probably wait till we see who he's sharing with and what everyone has brought with them.) So far I'm thinking: electric toothbrush (he uses one at home) box file for all his important paperwork (rather than the floor, as at present ) some photos of the family and pets first aid/medicinal bits and pieces (I'm assuming there will be hangovers ) Ordnance Survey map of the area (he's a keen cyclist and fell runner) laptop (his PC's a bit big for the size of room he'll have) a big calendar ('cos he won't have me reminding him of important dates) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lewis Posted May 15, 2010 Share Posted May 15, 2010 I can't think of anything to add - have been talking about this stuff with mother earlier Laptop/netbook is a good one, mine died last week so went in the other day to be fixed so should be ok in Sept One thing that might be helpful - a mobile contract? I think I'll get one so I never run out of credit or have to faff ... oh, and mother will pay I've always used a big academic wall planner + write all over it + its really easy to keep track and see how far away deadlines are etc - then I have the Omlet calendar too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted May 15, 2010 Share Posted May 15, 2010 I have ben thinking about this too,even though my eldest won't go until next year (fingers crossed) She has already asked me to make her a book with lovely easy & cheap recipes in of my own devising,which I will do,plus add a few household tips in there for her too. She has also made me promise,under pain of death,to send her care packages in the mail at least once a term. How about..... A lovely fleecy comforting throw/bed cover A terramundi pot,to bung all his lose change in - you smash it open when its full,or a nice dish for him to chuck his change,keys & so forth in when he goes back to his digs for the evening A Lock & Lock or 2,for storing leftovers His favourite shower gel A laundry bag A special mug of his own,to kep in the communal kitchen A Sharpie so he can write his name on his food A digital photo frame as a special gift maybe??? Get him a 16-25 rail card for cheaper trips home I would also make sure there is a radio alarm clock or something,knowing how hard my girl finds it to get up and a HUGE bag of Pasta!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jules. Posted May 15, 2010 Share Posted May 15, 2010 Contents insurance Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted May 15, 2010 Share Posted May 15, 2010 Well it's umptytumpty years since I was at university, laptop? I'd never even used a computer! However things I recall having were: mugs - nice to have some with appropriate slogans on, or maybe even get some done by Photobox, you could have pictures of Riley and that delightful hamster on them! A basic tin tray is always useful, and maybe some lock-and-lock or jars for coffee/sugar, things like that - it depends what sort of accommodation he's in, of course. Er - washing powder and some pegs? No, stupid idea, he'll be bringing it all home of course! How about a photomontage, again Photobox do them or you could put one together - photos of the family, him with his friends, last year's holiday etc - it will be a talking point for new friends. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sadietoo Posted May 15, 2010 Share Posted May 15, 2010 When my DD went to uni, I did her a shoebox of stuff, I put in things like, a couple of memory sticks (ok I was optimistic about the amount of work she would do!) some of her favourite chocolate from Montezumas, gift cards from Costa and Pizza Express, post it notes, blutack , a disc of photos of things she wouldn't miss about home/ and of things she might, some shower gel she wouldn't have otherwise bought, some tippex, a pack of highlighters, a pack of index cards for making revision notes on, some stuff to make her wardrobe smell nice, like the one at home, and not like whoever had just vacated the room, some pencils and a sharpener, a stapler, and hole punch... you get the idea... I have to say the best ever kitchen thing we bought and sent off with her was a wok (on the recommendation of my god-daughter who found a wok the most useful thing ever when she was at uni....) but i'm not sure DS would see the need for one but I will be supplying one..it's a great bit of kit that has a multitude of uses..... It is very scary when your first child goes off to Uni, and you hope you have given them sufficient information to deal with the world/ cook for themselves, and generally look after themselves without you being there to deal with it all for them . Worry not, he will be absolutely fine....and so will you be, once you have a chance to get used to the ideaxxxx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seagazer Posted May 16, 2010 Share Posted May 16, 2010 I take it he'll be going straight into a house share and not into halls then? Our DD went into halls first so we only had to supply her with bedding (think we bought her a duvet too as she didn't want to use the uni one). We bought box files and plastic storage boxes etc for her room. We also bought a lamp, laptop and all the usual bathroom things. When she shared a house in the 2nd and now in the 4th year we did a trip to Ikea to get all the kitchen stuff that she wanted - a wok is a very good idea. She also had a few throw/blanket things for brightening up the room and also for keeping warm - often the houses are not the best heated houses in the world. She's also got a couple of plants as she misses the pets and its something to look after She made herself a really big frame of photos of us, her friends from home, our pets etc to put up on the wall. Also your son will need lots of blue tac to stick up all the posters that they seem to collect from parties and things that go on at uni. I'd like to add a really big bin as well as the last time I used the bathroom at DD's house there must have been about 40 empty toilet rolls scattered about the floor - they've obviously never heard of throwing them away Containers for food that he can write his name on would be a good idea too although it won't stop other people from using his food. We've also just had to buy DD a fan heater as her room gets so cold (also a dehumidifier as its so blooming damp as well) He'll have a brilliant time, DD has, well up until now when she's doing her finals anyway Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted May 16, 2010 Share Posted May 16, 2010 A TV licence if he is taking one. Check the situation regarding this if he is going into halls. OS's friend didn't bother and got caught. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrisP Posted May 16, 2010 Share Posted May 16, 2010 When I left for uni in September there were a few things I took which have proven to be so useful! -Laptop and printer (never knew how useful it would be to have my own printer!!!) -Alarm clock -Cookbook -Envelopes/stamps/paper/pens/pencils etc -A stack of passport photos (which was good cos the machines are expensive, but mum bought them for me when she came with me -Stackloads of underwear (means less washing ) -Bluetack and posters (the rooms are depressingly bare otherwise!) -Folders for work, and USB sticks, blank CDs/DVDs etc -A good first aid kit (my room looks like a pharmacy! I have numerous amounts of paracetamol, ibuprofen, allergy tablets, throat sweets, travel sick tablets, throat spray for bad throats. The amount of boxes of tablets I have in my room would worry some people if they didn't know me, I'm sure ) And a massive amoutn of plasters, savlon, painkiller gel... -Apple juice - the world's best hangover cure! -Definately works out cheaper to have a phone contract rather than PAYG -Some basics that we never think of = washing tablets/powder, washing up liquid, hang wash etc Me and mum sat down and made a massive list of what I would need to take, and split it up into kitchen stuff, bathroom stuff, bedroom stuff, electricals, other. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kerryegg Posted May 16, 2010 Share Posted May 16, 2010 Only thing to add apart from as much money as possible is a load of 20p coins or whatever the meters take, electric, washer,drier etc and £1 coins for the same reason. I know it's a difficult time for us parents but they usually cope well. Just be prepared for the half term washing! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poachedegg Posted May 16, 2010 Share Posted May 16, 2010 DS is coming to the end of his first year and I think the things that he appreciated most were a decent frying pan, a first aid kit and a box of all the boring (but expensive) essentials - toilets rolls, deodorant, washing tablets, cling film, foil, washing up liquid, shower gels, tea towels. He also found a sleeping bag useful for sleepovers.............oh and money of course!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted May 16, 2010 Share Posted May 16, 2010 .....................and a really good map of whichever town or city he is living in Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tutti Frutti Posted May 16, 2010 Share Posted May 16, 2010 And a washing basket and/or some of those giant zippy bags for trips to the laundry room, clothes pegs and one of those multi-peg clothes hanging thingies (for hanging up slightly damp smalls after running out of coins for the dryer ). And hangers too! I even used an iron Oh and if there's a radiator, a clothes airer for the towel after the daily shower Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted May 16, 2010 Share Posted May 16, 2010 How about a big cork board rather than the blue tac,for the posters,photos & all the other bits & pieces her will acquire? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tutti Frutti Posted May 16, 2010 Share Posted May 16, 2010 coffee Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Looney Posted May 16, 2010 Share Posted May 16, 2010 All good ideas so far My mum always used to send me with a big bag of pasta and rice ( a friend's nan used to send her with a big sack of spuds!) and a big pack of loo rolls! Oh and my dad gave me a pen knife in my first year It is worth checking whether blu tack can be used or only the white stuff as this is really useful too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted May 16, 2010 Author Share Posted May 16, 2010 These are all fantastic ideas - thanks so much everyone . I've started a list which I'll add all these great tips to . He's going into halls with a shared kitchen so we won't know what kitchen stuff he'll need till he gets there. I think they have to provide their own pots and pans. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Helly Welly Posted May 16, 2010 Share Posted May 16, 2010 He'll probably want his own pots and pans anyway, any stuff in the kitchen already isn't likely to be in a good condition. I'd add some pot noodles to the list, just to tide him over the first few days and some beers. It's much easer to make friends with a few tinnies!! Basic cleaning stuff is a must, i remember having to do so much shopping in the first week because i forgot basic items. A clothes horse is a good idea, our stuff used to go missing from the driers if we weren't there to watch it all the time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greyhoundgirl Posted May 17, 2010 Share Posted May 17, 2010 I got through my Uni days on beer and a cheese toastie maker. Always a winner and cheap to make too. Oh and my mum wrote all her easy family recipies in a little note book too. which I still have and use to this day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daphne Posted May 17, 2010 Share Posted May 17, 2010 I was given my own set of new towels including large fluffy bath sheets (I remember quite a lot of walking round in corridors in towels after showers for some reason), plus my own bedlinen. I still have the large towels many many years later My parents would bring me a large box of apples from an orchard in the Autumn, and regularly pack me off with food parcels through the year. In my first year in Halls I remember being hungry most of the time. I realise now I could have managed better, but I ate Uni meals and they weren't very good, cheap but not nourishing or filling, perhaps its better now. My parents also gave me my own kettle, and nice coffee; something I wouldn't buy myself on my grant. People were always dropping in so tea/coffee was an essential. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted May 17, 2010 Share Posted May 17, 2010 A friend regularly goes online and does an Ocado order to be delivered to her son's digs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seagazer Posted May 17, 2010 Share Posted May 17, 2010 My DD ate in the uni canteen, they had one in each halls of residence, I think but she said that it wasn't very nice food. She really looked forward to going into a shared house so that she could cook her own food. They did have a small kitchen on each floor but it was very basic and there wasn't really enough fridge/freezer space for each student. It was ok for heating up a pot noodle though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yvonne Posted May 17, 2010 Share Posted May 17, 2010 Again from experience of MANY years ago, I found it handy to have my own kettle, mugs, tea & coffee & biscuit jars and these days maybe one of those tiny fridges to get a quick cuppa at night without heading to a communal kitchen. Also a washing-up kit, but then I am a girlie ! I assume he has a way of playing music already. Maybe a good rucksack to carry laptop, books etc. Oh, happy days, I loved uni. hope he has a great time ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chucky Mama Posted May 17, 2010 Share Posted May 17, 2010 A friend regularly goes online and does an Ocado order to be delivered to her son's digs. Great idea Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrisP Posted May 17, 2010 Share Posted May 17, 2010 Teabags! When I moved in this year, I dumped my stuff in my room, went straight to the kitchen, and when my new flat mates came in with their stuff to unpack, I offered them tea! Friends for life now Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
