Ain't Nobody Here Posted August 19, 2011 Share Posted August 19, 2011 Extra little things I sent with ES: an old clothes airer (handy for drying large towels amongst other things) a bag of pound coins for washing machines etc washing powder & some sort of bag for taking washing to washing machine & back an extra pillow (he only got one) flipflops for getting to communal showers/toilets (wouldn't want to walk barefoot ) extension lead (depending on number of sockets in the room) old airbed & sleeping bag for when pals come to visit (not that pals are allowed to sleep in their rooms but ho hum!) coathangers - pitiful supply in his room blutack (not allowed but how else are you supposed to stick posters to breezeblocks ) my oldest, tattiest tea towels! I bought a panini press for him but he thought it would get wrecked so left it at home. I wouldn't buy any electricals until you see what everyone else has brought. There were about 3 brand new microwaves in the kitchen the day he moved in! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted August 19, 2011 Author Share Posted August 19, 2011 I don't think electricals will be needed,as there is a kettle,toaster and microwave provided. They don't do bedding though,so I have that already. She is ensuite,and I have a bath mat for her floor,and no worries about communal showers! Extension lead is a good point. Sandwich toaster maybe too.....she lives off those here. Got the tea towels....she has a wall sized pin board for posters,so I had better get some pins! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goosey Lucy Posted August 19, 2011 Share Posted August 19, 2011 Rather than a sandwich toaster, why not get her some toaster pockets? I've been really pleased with ours and there's much less mess! ones from Lakeland but other brands are available Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrisP Posted August 19, 2011 Share Posted August 19, 2011 Things I found to be essential, and still do (!!) are: -Several passport sized photographs (incredibly useful in the first couple of weeks, and saves lots of time if you already have them) -Clothes airer -Lots of change for washing/drying -Printer -A simple cook book (I am a good cook but found it hard to cook for one) -A parent to help you unpack on that first day -Lots of pens and highlighters! -A blanket -Good books! -Washing tablets Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sadietoo Posted August 19, 2011 Share Posted August 19, 2011 My DS is about to embark on her fourth year...she couldn't live without her Wok...she uses to cook almost anything, and it saves having loads of different pans..(still need a couple of small saucepans to go with it though) Grater - how else to make cheese toasties, cheese spaghetti, cheesy baked potatoes ..you get the idea! Microfibre turban for her hair...looks ridiculous dries hair better than bath towels, saves on washing and having wet towels hanging around in the room...even those en-suite rooms have teeny tiny towel rails usually Clothes airer ( compact one --She couldn't actually get in and out of her room with the first one we bought her in place ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted August 19, 2011 Author Share Posted August 19, 2011 I like the turban idea & the compact clothes airer Passport photos we have - I renewed the passports earlier this year & they rejected one photo,so I have heaps! Change - will start saving (although I think I remember something about buying a washer & dryer pass,like a credit card,& topping it up online You can also book your slot to use the machines this way ) I am already down for unpacking duty Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted August 19, 2011 Share Posted August 19, 2011 I've just bought ES one of those cheese graters with a box and a lid. Ideal for a boy whose late night snack of choice always involves grated cheese, which he manages to spread from here to kingdom come . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ClaireG Posted August 19, 2011 Share Posted August 19, 2011 I know both my cousins, who have left uni now and my ES who is still there, found the knives in the halls kitchens to be useless so a good multi purpose kitchen knife might be a good idea, if she intends on doing more than toasties and pot noodles etc! Also a decent pair of kitchen scissors and a microwavable plastic jug. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sadietoo Posted August 19, 2011 Share Posted August 19, 2011 I've just bought ES one of those cheese graters with a box and a lid. Ideal for a boy whose late night snack of choice always involves grated cheese, which he manages to spread from here to kingdom come . I have one of those ...(spreaders...not boxed cheese grater! ) although having witnessed Student Kitchens (on moving out days...loads and loads of elbow grease required) it seems that most things stuck to student worktops originally had some sort of tomato sauce base Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted August 20, 2011 Share Posted August 20, 2011 I would send her with old crockery and cutlery from home. My older two were given new stuff, and both times it vanished within the first week. The replacement stuff , which was old but serviceable stayed put ... plus, I think they quite like that little touch of home. Household wipes are useful, especially for shared bathrooms, although not particularly 'green'. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LolaLayla Posted August 20, 2011 Share Posted August 20, 2011 We got a rail that hangs on a radiator for towels which was good as it needed less space. Our emergency buy when we got there was a printer and paper! Also tupperwares are useful as they were needed for inspection time as everything had to be in sealed containers. In our experiece among the flatmates there were enough appliances, pans and food to stock a small shop. One mum arrived with a huge chill box full of food! Good luck with getting it all in the car.....and I hope you don't have too many stairs to climb Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pipichick Posted August 20, 2011 Share Posted August 20, 2011 I would say a laundry basket for carrying BIG loads of dirty washing up and down from the uni laundry room. But probably to save space one of those nice big blue Ikea bags would work just as well. Also washing powder & conditioner Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted August 20, 2011 Share Posted August 20, 2011 I got some great crockery from Oxfam . TKMaxx is also good for cheap kitchen paraphernalia. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LolaLayla Posted August 20, 2011 Share Posted August 20, 2011 one of those nice big blue Ikea bags Ideal. Particularly if you have to go outside to get to the laundry....you don't want your dry clothes getting rained on Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted August 20, 2011 Author Share Posted August 20, 2011 I have got one already - it has her groceries packed into it,so can be used again afterwards...thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted August 20, 2011 Share Posted August 20, 2011 Bottle opener/corkscrew? Essential . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted August 20, 2011 Author Share Posted August 20, 2011 Got one in Aldi yesterday - bright turquoise,like the rest of her kitchen stuff,so easily identifiable,& only £1.49 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted August 20, 2011 Share Posted August 20, 2011 Sharpie permanent markers for naming her stuff? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
westie mum Posted August 20, 2011 Share Posted August 20, 2011 YD has been told to make sure that all the electrical equipment that she takes is PAT tested. This is a stupid question but does that mean brand new things, for example. a printer needs testing or not? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted August 20, 2011 Share Posted August 20, 2011 At ES's uni new items didn't need testing. They also had the option to get items tested by Uni staff once they arrived (I think you'd have to pay if you got it done yourself?) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
squiffs Posted August 20, 2011 Share Posted August 20, 2011 At ES's uni new items didn't need testing. They also had the option to get items tested by Uni staff once they arrived (I think you'd have to pay if you got it done yourself?) Yup, depending how many items someone wants testing we can either charge £6 an item or the hourly rate (whichever is more) or we reduce the fee to around £2 an item for bulk testing of say... 50 items. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geoid Posted August 22, 2011 Share Posted August 22, 2011 Somewhere to live is also good, but I don't have a place in halls yet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
squiffs Posted August 22, 2011 Share Posted August 22, 2011 Somewhere to live is also good, but I don't have a place in halls yet. My OH has (unusually in my mind) never lived in halls - he went straight into private rented accommodation from the beginning of his first year. Not sure which is better, as I certainly preferred renting (cheaper) but perhaps he missed out on some of the experience? it's all down to personal preference, obviously! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bellekatz Posted August 22, 2011 Share Posted August 22, 2011 We just got DD's accomodation sorted today, not in Uni accom but in partner accom about 10 minutes away but they do run a shuttle bus Cost me a fortune though........ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted August 22, 2011 Share Posted August 22, 2011 Gosh, this takes me back! I remember getting loads of use out of a radiator airer. Make sure that any expensive items ARE covered by household insurance. Lewis, I have just bought a Kodak printer/scanner/copier; ESPC310 and brilliant. Their cartridges must be the cheapest around too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
