setting up a first time student

rosalie-lavender

Chris25 wrote: »

just remembered - might be worthwhile holding off buying any bedding until you know which accommodation they'll have. We assumed all beds would be single & discovered some were a small double.

That is a very good point. One university we looked at said the majority of it's accommodation had double beds. A lot of the unis let out the rooms in the summer so presumably they can let to couples if it is a double bed.

Poppy9

Will DD need a printer for her laptop or do they use uni ones and pay?

Chris25

Poppy9 wrote: »

Will DD need a printer for her laptop or do they use uni ones and pay?

It depends on the Uni - my daughter bought an all-in-one printer, scanner & photocopier because she could never get to use the Uni ones, esp near exam time (even tried at 1.00 am), plus, it was so expensive. She wishes she'd paid the extra for ability to use WiFi though.

My eldest never bothered in the first year because he was allowed a certain amount of printing 'free' & it was easy to use the machines in the library. When he moved into a house, he bought a printer only for convenience.

Poppy9

Pack of 2 microfibre supersoft pillows in Wilkinsons for £4.50 plus I have a local loyalty card that gives 10% discount so that's another thing off list.

I also got around to buying a bulb for a discarded desk lamp so she can take that with her.

bouncydog1

Haven't read all the thread but would definately suggest a cheap single 4.5 tog duvet to put under the mattress cover and fitted sheet. Gives an extra layer of comfort as some of the mattresses are dire!

We also used the months before Uni to use the bogof offers in the supermarkets for toiletries, food bags for divvying up multipacks in the freeze, ketchup, coffee, tea, pasta, wahing powder etc.

When DD went she had enough toiletries etc for the first year which meant she didn't have to buy out of her budget.

Also got her some plastic storage underbed boxes for her room as there was a lot of borrowing of food went on - ketchup etc. so she was able to keep everything in there apart from stuff for the fridge.

Strong word of advice - do not assume all "students" around on moving in day are actually going to study at the Uni. Make sure you never leave your child's room unattended and if you have to, lock the door and check it is locked. There have been thefts on moving in day by individuals who see it as easy pickings - one lad and his dad went down to the car to get the rest of his stuff and came back to his unlocked room a few minutes later to find his laptop gone - and that was from a Uni where there is card access to the block, card access to the flat and card access to the room!! The thieves obviously mingled with others going to and from the block and got in that way.

A couple of individual plates, mugs, cereal bowls, glasses and cutlery from the local supermarket will be fine. DD actually had a dinner set from the next sale, and took just a couple of plates etc from it, topping up the broken items from the set.

Grandparents send the occasional M & S gift card so that can be used for either food shopping or other items as required.

Discounts for some stuff will be available through the Uni or local suppliers e.g. bus passes.

Very exciting times!!!

bouncydog1

Poppy9 wrote: »

Pack of 2 microfibre supersoft pillows in Wilkinsons for £4.50 plus I have a local loyalty card that gives 10% discount so that's another thing off list.

I also got around to buying a bulb for a discarded desk lamp so she can take that with her.

Some of the unis provide desk lamps, as we found after we lugged the new one we had bought all the way from overseas on the ferry!!

Would also suggest a B & Q rug for the floor as much of the accommodation will have easy clean lino type floors which are very cold underfoot, particularly in Winter!

rozmister

bouncydog1 wrote: »

Some of the unis provide desk lamps, as we found after we lugged the new one we had bought all the way from overseas on the ferry!!

Would also suggest a B & Q rug for the floor as much of the accommodation will have easy clean lino type floors which are very cold underfoot, particularly in Winter!

I just got some nice slipper boots from Sainsbury's when in halls because my floor was scratchy horrible carpet (the kind you get in hallways at big buildings not the kind you want to touch with your feet). I got them when there was 25% off so it was only about £5 for them.

I second what bouncydog1 says about being careful to always lock your rooms and people piggy backing into the building on a person who swipes. Explain to your kids that it may be lame and seem rude not to hold the door for people they don't know but that it's the safest thing to do. At my halls we had swipe pads but people used to hold the doors for anyone and we were next to a homeless shelter - cue homeless people coming in all year who settled themselves into the lift and rode it up and down all day and night until the police came to kick them out, drinking alcohol, shouting and sometimes weeing in it. They were all harmless enough and obviously just desperate but someone with bad intentions could have just as easily piggy backed in and done something horrible.

Noonar

Hi all - how is the shopping going? I got a couple of baking trays in Poundland yesterday - should be ok and if they get lost or ruined it won't matter!
Noo

Poppy9

Primark today - pair of PJs £4. Pair of pillow protectors £2.90

Also picked up packed of Bic pens in Sainsbury's £1.50 for 10 and some lined A4 booklets in Homebargains 99p

Ariel washing tablets on offer in Homebargains so 28 bio for £3.49 and 20 colour for £3.99. I think she worked out she is away for 28 weeks so that should be enough. Also picked up a couple of packets of anti bac cleaning wipes - I love home bargains.

Bought some toiletries as well today.

As she is moving to England and I am in Wales I will expect her to return home with carrier bags for Mummy!!:D

Ooh and she might have a job too. She currrently works for a major retailer and she rang the store in main centre to ask about a transfer and they have invited her down for a tester day. This would hopefully mean that she could work in her current store over Xmas and next Summer.

Noonar

I love Homebargains too! Great news on the job, my DD only works for a local supermarket so cannot be transferred, she will really need a job though!