Proud Mum

LesleyE

Molanole wrote:

I was in self catered halls (10 year ago now :eek:) and definitely the best things to have with you on day one were tea bags, sugar, milk, mugs, a bottle of wine and a corkscrew. But the tea making stuff is a MUST mainly because you'll need a cuppa by the time you've helped her unpack all her stuff but also because offering to make your new flat mates (and the accompanying parents) a cup of tea is the easiest way to strike up a conversation without looking like you're trying too hard!

...and for Mum a large gin and a small tonic...Dad can drive home!!
Thanks Molanole

msArcher

I made the mistake of turning up to uni with the one of everything approach - it certainly makes it a lot harder to invite people over for food. I think the best advise I got (after I got there of course) was: "Make sure you have a kettle, several mugs and hot chocolate - tea is for mornings, coffee for the afternoons, but for those late night chats hot chocolate beats everything else" - and there will be plenty of late night chats...

For the stationery stuff, wait till you are at uni, you can get discounts with student cards from most places, and you don't have to transport it all there

And no-one has mentioned that other student essential - the tin-openner!

Imelda

anyone else get a wave of jealousy and nostalga reading this thread?

I too had the basics set from argos, 4 of everything, one saucepan, one frying pan, tea towels, 4 plastic cups (awww, mum I am 18 now!!), tin & bottle opener and was taken shopping for the essentials, tea, coffee, biscuits, sugar, salt pepper etc. My parents also gave me an "emergency box" inside was a bottle of gin, a phone card (it was a few years ago, do they even still do these?), my favourite mug from home, a blanket from home, letters from friends and family, photos, stamps, a huge bar of chocolate and tons of socks and knickers (so I didn't have to do my washing too often!).
I really wish it was me going off to uni again, fresh faced and full of enthusiasm!

LesleyE

Imelda wrote:

anyone else get a wave of jealousy and nostalga reading this thread?

I too had the basics set from argos, 4 of everything, one saucepan, one frying pan, tea towels, 4 plastic cups (awww, mum I am 18 now!!), tin & bottle opener and was taken shopping for the essentials, tea, coffee, biscuits, sugar, salt pepper etc. My parents also gave me an "emergency box" inside was a bottle of gin, a phone card (it was a few years ago, do they even still do these?), my favourite mug from home, a blanket from home, letters from friends and family, photos, stamps, a huge bar of chocolate and tons of socks and knickers (so I didn't have to do my washing too often!).
I really wish it was me going off to uni again, fresh faced and full of enthusiasm!

Imelda
What a brilliant idea the emergency box is I suppose a top-up card for her PAYG phone could replace the phone card.
We shopped this morning and broke the back of her list for £35 including a 16 piece crockery set, cutlery and a wok!!
You're right about being jealous. I went to uni as an adult with family responsibilities and so missed out on the social side...I had to go home each night. When we visited the campus I found myself wishing that I could give up the day job and become a student again, don't want to cramp her style though!:o

Willsnarf1983

cmorlife wrote:

Hiya,

When i went to uni, me & mum went to carboots, brought
1 Dinner Plate
1 Desert Bowl
1 Side Plate
2 Mugs


We then went to woolys for
1 pan
1 saucepan
1 cutlery set
1 pyrex bowl
set of 4 cheap glasses
The more stuff you buy the more washing up you do!

thats not true! i had 4 of everything...used it all and then i left it for weeks on end before being forced to wash it up lol

*its the only chore i detest doing!!!*
Will

scottishspendaholic

Definitely feeling very nostalgic and I only left uni 4 years ago!

My halls were catered but like piglet, the food was boggin'!

I would second the ideas of a top-up card, tea, coffee, hot chocolate, her own bedlinen, towel, photo collage, lots of plates, mugs and cutlery; a corkscrew and tin opener; a bottle or two of wine; a set of pans and a sharp knife and a packet of biscuits.

This just shows you how much I've changed - when I turned up to uni I had bought the best of everything from The Pier no less - cutlery, salt and pepper set, plates etc. I also had 2 x 200 pack of Malboro Lights (which were the cool fags to smoke) which I ended up handing out in a pathetic attempt to make friends. In those days I spent money like water.

One thing my mum did for me which I will never forget - is to send me a food parcel - always so welcome and I will definitely keep up this tradition with my own children. My dad also left me some cash under my new pillow as he knew I wouldn't want to accept it. Bless him. Sometimes I now try and pay him back by leaving cash in his coat pockets!

However - I didn't appreciate my parents at the time but your daughter sounds much nicer and much more switched on than me!

scottishspendaholic x

lil'H

Her favourite teddy, she'll be soo embaressed byt he suggestions, but belieive me she'll be hugging it non stop those first few nights! My parents broguht me a book called student recipies, which was great, had really really cheap recipies and even told you how to do everything from boiling an egg to making a jacket potato!

Take one small notebook, a diary and pad of A4 paper, as these will be essential first week or so, leave all other stationary shopping till later. Also agree with one of the other posters, most friendships are made in the first few weekends so try to encourage her to stay there for those.

lil'H

lil'H

Oh other thing I forgot to mention is make sure she gets every freebie and discount card possible at freshers week events, a really good one to look out for is SNAPFAX it is a CCard sized magnetic booklet with loads of really good discounts in, adn often you can't get hold of it after freshers week. These free discount things often run out quickly but are well worth having. Not really something for her to take with her, but Money saving anyway!