Ideas for a student survival box!

AuldYin

My son was the coolest kid of all in his first week at university as he was the only boy in Durham who owned a cheese grater and a colander. :T

Gloomendoom

A big alarm clock so that they don't miss morning/early afternoon lectures.

lr1277

Martin's money saving book.

nyg123

I second the ideas on here. I use wash balls to do my laundry. They are great and would take up no room and be no weight for them to take with them. Has anyone said tin opener? I had a collapsible clothes airer when I was a student. Great for when we had a washing machine and no tumble dryer and when I was in halls great for handwash items like bras and to hang used towels on. That is a bit big for a box though! Slippers or slipper socks to help them keep warm. Kitchen scales can be useful. I had a pan with 3 little baskets inside so I could cook potatoes and veggies in small pan adding ones that needed less cooking time really easily. Great when 9 people are sharing one cooker. My mum got it and I've no idea where she got it though. Have they got clothes hangers? I know several people have mentioned it but my student cookbook was great. Plasters and lavender oil for any burns or scalds and relaxing. Large bag for taking dirty laundry to laundrette if that's what they will be doing.
This is making me all nostalgic. I loved uni.

slimmer1

Hi. I did this for many friends & relatives over the years and all gave positive feedback. Don't think of this as just practical, students tend to open these with others so it can be the start of a social group. I also included (on a few occasions) little 'humorous' notes attached to items and on one occasion numbered them for sequence of opening. This can also be used to reduce the separation emotions when you show you've been thinking of them. Doesn't have to cost a fortune, just be imaginative. Good Luck!

Wellyboots6

A huge block of cheese
A pack of balloons
Bottle opener keyring
Corkscrew (we had one in a flat of 23, whoever held it was king!)
Those party heels shoe insert things
Paracetamol
A large coffee mugs with their name on

happyinflorida

Sewing kit - that is a real essential but make sure you have taught them how to sew on buttons, repair holes, sew a seam back together etc first!

jdvhsully

We sent my daughter with an extra blanket as she got cold so could wrap up in it as well as on the bed. An airer for over the radiator as there was not enough drying room, plus vacuum bags that take the air out and squash down as it helps storage. She also had one of the underbed boxes to store but could put the blanket on the top to make a extra seat.
A bean bag which meant she could use it anywhere in the shared house.
We also sent her with a notebook that included all her bank account details (numbers of who to contact to stop cards etc), car insurance details and family emergency contact details (more for me than her).

KayTM

A few people have suggested a simple recipe book. I'd recommend Ben Ebbrell and his "Sorted" series. I received "A rookie's guide to crackin' cooking" several years ago. Despite not being a rookie, I found it to be a very worthwhile and useful book.

He has newer ones in the series, including some specifically for students. These are probably worth a look.

Depending on the subject your son will be studying, it might also be worth looking at buying some subscriptions for him. For example: Lynda.com for loads of online tutorials in creative, technical, and business subjects. Amazon's Kindle Unlimited scheme which would let him borrow loads of books for free (after the subs payment). Scribd.com might also be worth a look. It costs £5 per month for unlimited borrowing of thousands of eBooks on loads of different subjects.

Cuidadosa

Stain removal bar.
Let's accept it, they won't do laundry as often as they should... At least they can use some lightly stained clothes more than once!