Goody/survival box for DD starting Uni

InaPickle

Babyshoes had some good ideas. Often, students budget pretty well for the food they need but forget that shower gels etc. add up as part of the shopping budget. I would recommend:

Shower gels (lots)
Cleansing wipes (great for removing make-up last thing at night when you've had a few too many)
Student cookbook (how to make easy meals cheap & cheerfully)
Slippers or Tote-type socks (if she hasn't already got some)
Cotton wool pads (always use lots of those. Muslin cloths are good as well.)
Hot water bottle (preferably wrapped in a cute animal teddy!)
Recipies for her home-made favourite dishes.


Nice extras (if you know what brands she likes):

Shampoo/conditioner
Deodorant
Cleanser/toner
Body moisturiser
Hand cream
Cotton buds

You can stock up on all of the above for her during the year when there are special offers on if you like as they don't go off and she can take them back with her whenever she comes home for a visit. Some mums give their daughters any free samples they get as well.

tinksy

having been a student i can think of lots of nice useful things!!

- loo roll, because sometimes there is never any in halls and if you buy all together someone always pinches!
- vaseline! great lip balm and you are always losing pots!
- nail files! again always losing so the more the merrier!
- more knickers/socks/tights. saves washing for just that little bit longer!
- pens. i was constantly losing mine!
- a mini coin/card purse for nights out
- a really warm dressing gown and pjs. my halls were freezing because they didnt put the heating on enough!
- a plastic box to keep your cooking stuff in in your room to prevent thieves!!
- if not going catered a toaster! the que for one toaster between 11 was horrendous in a morning!!
- spare mobile phone charger!
- clear nail varnish, then you always have pretty nails
- a few vouchers that maybe you could post up as a surprise at various intervals. for her fave clothes shops etc

hope that helps x

Humphrey10

I've just remembered something that was really popular when I was in halls, food parcels from home with home-made or farmer's market type stuff. Like cakes, biscuits, snacks like bombay mix, rice crackers etc (home students and also foreign students got these!). These would get shared around the halls, it made a nice change from the food that we got provided (it was catered halls), and wasn't the sort of stuff that we'd have the spare cash to buy ourselves.

SuzySu

Wow - I am so touched by all of you who have replied so far. Thanks for all these fabulous ideas. I will let you all know what I finally choose (and how they are received!!).

Suzy

ajdj

Don't forget if she's taking a tv with her she will need a tv licence...

As a girl myself I would definitely appreciate a big supply of tampons- expensive to buy and a nightmare if you suddenly run out!

Don't overload her with too much stuff straight away though, the rooms are usually tiny and the first term will fly by and it will be christmas before you know it!

A lot of the restaurant vouchers etc mentioned would be a god send come Jan/Feb when they are more likely to be appreciated. As a student I would much rather be drip fed goodies rather than having everything at once (you also have to think about security in halls too).

Once nice thought would be a nice set of new PJ's and a comfy dressing gown, particularly if she has to share a bathroom- better than running down the corridor in a towel!

SuzySu

Thanks ajdj

No, she's not taking a TV because she doesn't feel the licence fee would warrant the amount of time she'll actually be watching it. We'll see how that one works out!!! She's taking her DVD player and a stack of DVDs.

Good idea about hanging back with the restaurant vouchers - I will probably look at that for after Xmas. She recently bought herself some new pjs and a fluffy dressing gown in the sales, so she's sorted there.