Daughter Going Into Halls - What to Bring/Buy?

dogstarheaven · 9 September 2009 at 7:50AM

Daughter is going on the 26th this month, and we're now buying stuff for what she may needs. I know that bedding is essential, but we're not sure what else. Apparently, she'll have a wardrobe, chest of drawers, desk, lamp and chair in her single room but we don't know how big her room will be. She feels that she won't have enough storage space for all her girly things (clothes, makeup, accessories.. oh, books too!). She's also self-catering so i'm thinking of buying her a wok, steamer and utensils. Recently, she bought some bits from Ikea ie., orchid, cutlery and bedding from Homebase (w/out me, so i couldn't oversee whether the orchid was that essential!)

can anyone tell me what other things she ought to bring too?

Oldernotwiser · 9 September 2009 at 9:22AM

Unless she's a keen cook, I doubt she'll get much use out of a wok or a steamer.

Have you checked whether basic cooking utensils/cutlery/china are provided? What about buying her an Argos voucher so that she can get what she needs when she's there?

sarah_elton · 9 September 2009 at 9:46AM

Voucher idea is a good one, when I went to uni and was in halls the main household stuff I took was:

Bedding
Small TV, set-top aerial and stand (no laughing - made me friends with the people who hadn't brought one lol)
Desk lamp
Crockery
Cutlery
Few saucepans
Iron

You aren't usually allowed a kettle in your room; there should be one supplied in the kitchen but check.

Once there I bought a rug as the carpet was a bit gross! But then I'm a nester and like wherever I am to feel homely.

Re clothes, make-up, books, she should have plenty of space, unless she has a really big wardrobe at the moment. My advice would be to pack clothes in two bags; essential and non-essential. Once there, evaluate the wardrobe space and you can always bring the non-essential bag home if need be (I'm assuming you're taking her).

I used to come home in the holidays so was only going for a term at a time. I didn't have my car at uni, so I stocked up on heavy supermarket items to last me the term and took that with me (pasta, cooking sauces, washing powder/conditioner etc). But my halls were a good 20 minute walk from the nearest supermarket - we only had an expensive Co-Op nearby.

First term is a massive learning curve - I took way too much stuff and had it down by loads by the time we got to the last term (at my uni I was in halls for all three years).

Heath84 · 9 September 2009 at 9:55AM

What uni is she going too? (I'm nosey lol!) My halls were catered so I didnt need to take as much as your daughter may need to, although I knew some people who lived in self catering flats and there was already a kettle/toaster/pans etc in the kitchen. I dont know the layout etc of the halls she is going to, but if she has a shared kitchen - which I assume will be for at least 5 other people - you have to remember the other people sharing may not be that respectful of your stuff. I know I was glad I only cooked at weekends the state our tiny kitchen was left in, and I certainly tried not to leave my pans in the kitchen as people burnt things to the bottom and didnt clean the ones that were already there!

brians_daughter · 9 September 2009 at 10:12AM

see what kind of halls she is in and what is actually provided and find out what supermarkets are close by. Then buy her vouchers for the likes of argos,and some shopping gift cards for asda or wherever.

Also, when you get there assess what she may need and take her on a little shopping spree (if you are taking her there)

she will also things like iron, and ironing board if she wants one (you can buy little travel ironing boards if space is an issue) bedding, desk lamp, tv. radio, then the rest will depend if she plans on cooking lol

Lokolo · 9 September 2009 at 10:35AM

I think I have ironed twice in my 2 years at uni.....

I have 2 unopened irons in my house.....

Mother insists on buying one every year even though I don't use them. Only time I do is to iron a shirt on a night out, but even that has its limits.

boredandconfused · 9 September 2009 at 10:51AM

I remember I had one of those pop-up laundry baskets that can probably be got from a Pound Shop, Storage boxes are always handy, and she'll end up needing files for paperwork etc.

Heath84 · 9 September 2009 at 11:38AM

yeah she'll definately need I few files for work I would think, tesco had some good offers on back to school stuff last time i was there, not sure exactly what as I didnt need any but would be worth having a look.
I used my school pe bag as my wash bag at uni. Definitely take something to put dirty washing in!

If she will use these items for cooking then definitely take: Bulky food - tinned toms, beans, spagetti, pasta, rice, tinned tuna, cereal, cooking oil,
also wine/beer/vodka
and also washing powder and conditioner and cleaning stuff if she needs it - some halls have a cleaner that comes in, but it totally depends on which one you are in.
Asda have a cleaning event on at the minute e.g. fairy liquid 2 for a quid - pretty sure she will need some of that too if she is self catering.
If she has to get a bus or has a long walk to and from the supermarket she will be grateful she doesnt have to carry these things on top of everything else she'll be buying. Perhaps when you get there take her shopping to buy fresh stuff like milk, bread, eggs, potatoes, apples etc Guess it depends on how much of a cook she is I suppose, or whether she has the money to be buying take away instead! Wait til you see the size of the fridge before you buy the fresh stuff though, she may not have much space for her things!

and take some biscuits/cake/beer/wine for her first few days - as she can share the cake and it'll be a good ice breaker for getting to know other people

dogstarheaven · 9 September 2009 at 12:38PM

thanks v much to all your suggestions.. she's gonna be at UCL studying Maths (3mins from Euston St, but her halls is on Camden St, apparently 30mins walk away).

she's quite a basic cook with knowledge on cooking pasta with different sauces from fresh ingredients (garlic, passata, herbs and whatever meat/or veg she uses - bacon, courgette, brocolli, peas etc.,). she likes instant Ramen Noodles from Tesco as a lazy way to eat (39p). she can follow recipes for shepards pie, cassaroles, stir frys etc so she's not that bad in the kitchen. i think i will buy her a decent knife tho' she's asked about taking my fave veg knife! the wok i'm getting her is a Tefal one (£22, but i've seen them cheaper) and it's one of my most-used equip in my kitchen. the steamer she'll be able to make pasta in the main pan,and steam any veg she wants. and then drain the pasta in one of the steamers and then combine pasta with a bit of pesto or whatever..
i think she's got a laundry bag from Ikea apparently, so that'll come in handy. at UCL the laundry there is 50p a load, so that was a surprise...
yes, i know about her need to get lots of files, but she has expensive girly cutey taste and no doubt be buying hers from the likes of Paperchase.
thanks for the tip on getting heavy grocery items such as pasta, clothes wash/cond. oil etc.. that'll be useful. also an iron wouldn't go amiss, but i know she won't be using this for daytime wear, only for her dresses when she'll go out at night..
she's not asked about getting a tv, but with a laptop she'll be able to watch it on there. with a normal tv, she'll have to purchase a license won't she?

i'm not entirely sure how much she'll bring in terms of her clothes. presumably she'll take most of them with her, but i know it might be too much for her small room. i know she'll want storage boxes as she feels she won't have the space to fit everything in..

btw, she'll be getting the full loans/grants etc for her to survive on, so money will be budgeted v tightly she says.. allegedly, only going out 2x a month and minimal clothes shopping.. we shall wait and see...

she's not really into clubbing and drinking (only cocktails occasionally!!) so she's quite sensible in a way. tho' she tells me that she's looking forward to Fresher's Week and is expected to go out every night.. (is that normal??):eek:

a rug will be useful too, that ll make it more homely for her...

UKroseblue · 9 September 2009 at 1:27PM

dogstarheaven wrote: »

she's not asked about getting a tv, but with a laptop she'll be able to watch it on there. with a normal tv, she'll have to purchase a license won't she?

...

Hi

I'm pretty sure I read somewhere that even watching TV via a laptop will require a TV licence. Worth double checking...

Edit: Just checked the TV licence website and it says:

It makes no difference how you watch telly - whether it's on your laptop, PC or mobile phone or through a digital box, DVD recorder or good old-fashioned TV set - if you use any device to receive television programmes as they're being shown on TV, the law requires you to be covered by a licence.

In exceptional circumstances you may be covered by your parents' TV Licence, but this is very rare.

tsabo · 9 September 2009 at 1:29PM

I've stocked up on boring things i know i wont want to buy when i get there. Eg cleaning cloths, handwash, cleaning sprays etc.

Even though pans and things may be provided i imagine in a shared kitchen they wont be kept in the nicest of states. I wouldn't buy any expensive ones, I think Tesco do sets for around £10.

Tesco also do storage crates that fold flat when not in use so if she finds she has more room than she thought they can be folded flat and put away for moving in/out times.

Just trying to think what hasn't been said.. Ikea do blankets/throws and matching cushions for £2/£3 so maybe a couple of these for making it more homely.

Daughter Going Into Halls - What to Bring/Buy?

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