Things to set them up in Uni

Pink.

We have just left our son at uni. As he's in Scotland they start earlier than the rest of the Uk so I thought I'd post up my lists in case they are useful for any other parents who are running around like a mad thing trying to organise their offspring.


My advice would be....

-Find out what size of bed (we assumed single and it was a double)
-Try to find out who your flat mates will be and get in touch with them via social networking before you arrive (My son's flat now has five toasters, five kettles, five sets of pots and pans, five fish slices, five potato peelers...you get my drift. All of the parents could have saved a small fortune if the kids had organised this amongst themselves. Yes unlikely I know! Either that or wait until you get there to see what they actually need.
-Take biscuits, tea, coffee and alcohol if they are that way inclined. These things will help them to socialise and invite others in.
-My son likes to cook so he made a meal for all of them last night...more socialising and getting to know one another before they all headed out to the student union.

This is going to be long but we took with us:
Bedding, towels, toaster, kettle, iron, mini George foreman, saucepan set, frying pan, four mugs, six glasses, two dinner plates, two side plates, two bowls, two sets of cutlery, pyrex bowl, pyrex dish, measuring jug, chopping board, stick blender, fish slice, slotted spoon, serving spoon, potato peeler, tin opener, bottle opener, pizza cutter, potato masher, scissors, sharp knives, wooden spoon, lock and lock containers, flask, colander, cheese grater, large plastic storage boxes and clothes horse....buy the cheapest of everything because the chances are it will never come home or if it does it will only be fit for the bin!

For the food we waited until we got there and a lot will depend on the facilities and whether or not they are in catered halls.

For the freezer
Mince...large pack divided into portion sizes
Chicken legs and thighs divided as above
Kidneys...one of his favourites, but not everyone's!
Bacon
Bagels
Bread...they will never eat a loaf in a week so best frozen
Frozen veg +++
pancakes, can be whipped out and toasted when he needs to eat in a hurry.
Frozen veg which can be thrown into anything
Chillies...he's an addict!

For the fridge
Milk
Cheese
Bacon
pure juice
eggs
butter and spread
tomatoes, mushrooms and salad stuff

Storecupboard
salt and pepper (lidl are quite reasonable and do grindy ones so no need to buy salt and pepper set)
Mixed herbs
Garlic
Chilli
Curry powder
soy sauce & sesame oil
vegetable oil
Corn flour
mustard
ketchup
mayo
stock cubes
pasta, spaghetti, noodles and rice
tea/coffee/instant drinking chocolate
tinned soups, tuna, beans, tomatoes etc and some instant pasta thingies for when he needs to eat in a hurry.
cereals, biscuits, nuts nibbles, fruit and chocolate

Incidentals
Stationary, hole punch, stapler, files, polypockets etc, tea towels, washing up cloths and sponges, washing up liquid, bleach, all purpose cleaner, dishwasher tablets, washing powder, cling film, tin foil, freezer bags,soap, loo rolls, coat hangers, first aid kit and personal care stuff. A door stop is handy too, other students are more likely to stick their head around a door if it's open.

I know that I'm generalising here but girls tend to like to pretty up their room, matching towels, cushions etc...well at least my daughter did. My son doesn't give a stuff if nothing matches!

I'm sure that there was more and I'll add to this list if I remember it, or perhaps others could help out too with what was and wasn't useful?

I hope that everyone who is heading off for the first time enjoys their first semester.

Pink

Florasaurus

My kitchen in my first house was bl**dy awful, so I got a kettle and a microwave. They were very very useful

Also another side note - be careful where you keep your biscuits etc cos I ended up with a mouse house in my room, which was kinda annoying at 2am when I was trying to sleep + they were scratching about haha

Parents may not want to hear this, but it's probably easier to make sure that contraceptives are sorted out before freshers week as well - better safe than sorry!!

NervousHomeowner

With the pure fruit juice - Make sure he knows the importance of brushing his teeth! I know that sounds daft & obvious but my OH, being 18 and not very conscious of his cleanliness at the time, drank a tonne of fruit juice & sugary drinks while at uni but became very lax about brushing his teeth at the same time. He now has a lot of permenant damage to his teeth which he is really self conscious about and short of some seriously expensive dental work, he is stuck with the damage forever. His dentist has actually told him he can't drink fruit juice again now so at 23 he's on a low sugar diet with no fruit juice or sugary drinks!

I know it's really daft & seems obvious but knowing students, this is something I'd really warn them about! It's so easy for them to wake up late for a lecture and forget to brush their teeth, go to bed super late and not be bothered to do it or simply run out of toothpaste and forget to buy some more and without parents around to nag and make them stick to a routine, it can be so easy for (especially male) students to forget to brush regularly. Then combine that with the amount of alcohol, energy drinks and sugary snacks that students are wont to eat, you have a recipe for some potentially serious, permenant tooth damage.

Toothsmith

Excessive fruit juices and sugary drinks will damage teeth regardless of toothbrushing skills.

Toothbrushing keeps gums healthy. Good dietary habits prevent decay and erosion.

(Sorry to butt in)

anarchied

Thank you for this list!

Pink.

He knows about pure juice/sugary drinks and is far too vain to go out without brushing his teeth. He's got to 19 and never had a filling, lets hope it stays that way! Contraceptives have been sorted. Even though he has contacted me each evening to catch up and ask for cooking advice, I'm still missing him like hell.

Pink