setting up a first time student

rozmister

rageagainstessays wrote: »

When shopping with my mum for uni, I thought we'd be going to John Lewis for the sheets (as normal).
Then my mum informed me that she'd be going to tesco's for most of it, and getting it as the shop went on
There is a very comprehensive list on TSR- linked below.
http://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/wiki/What_To_Take_To_University

I must warn against the mini-fridge a poster above mentioned, such items are banned at my accomodation.

I'm also starting uni in september, hopefully.

Your John Lewis sheets would probably only get ruined one way or another, Tesco are probably the best ones for you to have now. When you've gone into your second or third year and aren't in halls and things have calmed down that's the time to start buying nice things.

rageagainstessays

rozmister wrote: »

Your John Lewis sheets would probably only get ruined one way or another, Tesco are probably the best ones for you to have now. When you've gone into your second or third year and aren't in halls and things have calmed down that's the time to start buying nice things.

That's what she said about the pans I wanted- before reaching for three tesco value sauce pans. haha

rozmister

rageagainstessays wrote: »

That's what she said about the pans I wanted- before reaching for three tesco value sauce pans. haha

In my first year I had the following accidents

Pans - burnt the bottoms really badly
Sheets - fell asleep pulling all nighters and got highlighter/sharpie on all three sets I owned
Crockery - broke assorted mugs, glasses, plates and bowls so I only had 1 - 2 of each item having started with at least 4 of each.
Cutlery - left with none, no idea how it all disappeared but it did
Favourite Whittards mug - 'borrowed' (read stolen) by a darling housemate who took it to another flat and it got lost in halls forever
Bra - lent one of the boys a bra to cross dress on a night out, never saw it again (that's creepy)
Kettle - so much limescale and general mankiness we binned it
Assorted clothes - small holes torn in them by the either the washing machine or the dryer in our halls laundrette which destroyed nearly all my clothes

I took to pre drinking out of plastic asda smartprice measuring jugs as they were so cheap you didn't care if you lost them in someone's flat or left them on the kerb when the taxi came. They are a godsend.

My ex when he was at uni unashamedly threw away all his kitchen stuff at the end of each year and just bought a complete new cheap set next year.

Save your money for second year. What you need most for first year is cereal, tinned food, a clothes airer, a washing up bowl/bucket, a terms supply of nice washing powder and about 7 plastic measuring jugs (about 30p each when I was studying). Plastic straws are pretty useful too.

Callie22

rozmister wrote: »

A clothes airer is a pretty useful item. I remember buying one of those from Wilkinsons in my first year and using it lots.

This - the dryers in my halls were awful and stupidly expensive, it was much easier to put stuff on an airer and let it dry (especially when you're in halls and you're not paying for the heating!)

A cheap mattress protector was also useful, as some of the mattresses in halls can be 'colourful'.

Also, if your room has a sink take a bottle of value disinfectant and pour it down there as soon as you move in. Sinks in student rooms = horrible things in them.

Noonar

If Ikea is nearby they do sets of cutlery for £1.50 for 4 knives, forks, spoons, t spoons - basic but perfectly adequate. They do good value plates, bowls etc as well. Although probably not worth it if you have to travel too far.

Noonar

Oh just remembered I got 440 Typhoo tea bags for my daughter today in Home Bargains for £3.99 - hopefully last a term or so!

Dunroamin

rozmister wrote: »

Your John Lewis sheets would probably only get ruined one way or another, Tesco are probably the best ones for you to have now. When you've gone into your second or third year and aren't in halls and things have calmed down that's the time to start buying nice things.

After you graduate and are earning your own money is the time to be buying nice things.;)

Maitane

When I went to uni the first time round, I was packed off from Ikea with 'essentials'. I truly needed that turbotière and the dinner service for eight 'in case friends came round'
Once I got there, I realised that I really needed the following:

Bedroom:

Mattress protector
Cheap fleece (for if it's cold)
Duvet, pillows and two sets of bedding (all from Ikea - some cracking little duvet sets I still have now which were £4 all those years ago)
Extension lead
Lamp for studying and spare bulb
Posters, pins and blue-tac (We had painted brick and a huge pin board in each room because Bangor Uni was great)
Cheap storage boxes (to throw make up and pens etc in)
Polish and cloths

Bathroom:

Toilet brush
Shower curtain
Cleaning products

Kitchen:

Two plates
Two bowls
A decent sharp knife (kept in my room)
A pack of the Ikea cutlery which is about £1 for 16 pieces
2 chopping boards (1 kept in my room as a reserve)
Four cheap mugs (like 25p at Ikea - 2 kept spare in my room)
Frying pan (quite if to substitute a wok)
Small saucepan for beans
Large saucepan for making soup
Tupperware for taking packed lunch
Flask for winter (Snowdonia is bitterly cold)
Cling film, foil, sandwich bags
Tea etc, tinned goods.

Ms_Chocaholic

What I did when my son went to Uni was give him an old, but perfectly usable, setting of pans and I got myself a new set. Same with bedding etc, he took his old and I bought new for his room at home.

Bennifred

Several passport sized photos for the various membership/ID cards etc - saves having to go away and queue (and pay) for the one photobooth.

Although some places probably have instant digital photo cameras these days........:o