'Bottom Drawer' for Uni

[Deleted User]

When both the girls went off to Uni we got them each a Costa Coffee Card which we put £25 on for those days when homesickness bit hard and they wanted a treat. I think they still do them and you can top up the cash on them when they run low, it made them happier!!!

The other thing I did for mine was to get a hard backed notebook and write down the easier of the home cooked recipes they liked best, for the same reason, if they got homesick they could make a 'mummy' meal which was something they liked too!

Loanranger

Is the Hall fully catered, ie three meals a day? If so, he won't be needing much in the way of pans etc. Also, check if he needs bed linen. That may slso be provided.
Bottles of water are always useful to have. THe water in taps may not be so nice tasting and water staves off dehydration hangovers.

Lilys-Games

I would definitely second the suggestion to top up his laundry card if you can! In my halls an eco wash and dry was around £4 so it can get really expensive especially if he's got his part time job and has to keep a uniform clean. For the same reason a maiden to dry clothes on is also a really good suggestion, and most student houses don't come with dryers so he will get his use out of it throughout the whole time he's at uni.

Don't over-buy kitchen stuff as there's limited space, and some of it may not even be used- I had one flatmate who had baking equipment and fancy chopping knives but she lived off pasta and oven food so it was a waste really. I found that one or two of each basic (plates, bowls, glass, mug, oven tray, cutlery, saucepans, tea towels etc) was sufficient and then it can be added to cheaply enough if and when the need for anything else comes up.

Also you could fill out a HC1 form to help with prescription costs if he gets poorly. I'm not 100% certain, but I think they would work it out off his income, not yours, so most students will be able to get one.

Railcard for coming home? They can save quite a lot, over what they cost, quite quickly.

Islandmaid

Wow - fantastic replies, thank you all so much, I tend to over worry, so would buy waaaay to much 'just in case'.

As some of you have said, it will be clearer when we know which halls he has got, some are very swish, ensuite etc some where, errrm, less swish

I,ve been reading your suggestions out to DS and he says thank you too x

theoretica

You really do need to know where he is going before you buy - some places provide bedding, and even crockery, others you need to bring your own kettle...
Storage space was short enough that I prefered to have just the one set of bedding, as it was going into the washer and then dryer so was always done the same day.

Can opener hasn't been mentioned.

PasturesNew

theoretica wrote: »

I prefered to have just the one set of bedding, as it was going into the washer and then dryer so was always done the same day.

And he'll be home every 10 weeks or so, so it can wait until then

GwylimT

PasturesNew wrote: »

And he'll be home every 10 weeks or so, so it can wait until then

Please forgive me if I'm wrong, but are you suggesting that bedding only needs changing every ten weeks?

duchy

I don't agree with one mug ......Most students aren't hermits and I'd rather there was the availability of mugs for tea and coffee than going down the can of cola/red bull/beer route. Plus useful for soup.

Definitely cheap plates ,preferably patterned so when pinched they can be identified and retrieved (communal kitchens always easier to use someone else's clean plate than wash up your own).

Some halls ban electric airers/maidens but the non electric ones are a good idea.

PasturesNew wrote: »

What I did once when I moved in somewhere I didn't expect to stay too long, for plates, was to pick up 2 Ikea 19p plates - on the basis they were cheap enough for me to leave behind when I left, rather than it being something else to pack/cart home. I also bought a 4-pack of melamine plates. Ikea plates are no longer 19p, but they do have cheap ones. Of course, you might not be near one, most people aren't. But 2 plates is enough .... he won't need a full set. Also ONE mug. That way you have to wash it up every time you want to use it. No glasses - not needed. I drink from my mug, or one of a cheap set of plastic cheery coloured beakers I got from Ikea. I also got one pasta bowl to eat from, good for soup, salads, curries .... and even actual meals.

Examples:
Plates, 50p: http://www.ikea.com/gb/en/catalog/products/30258913/
Bowl, 50p: http://www.ikea.com/gb/en/catalog/products/80258915/
Mugs, 35p: http://www.ikea.com/gb/en/catalog/products/60252293/
Beakers, 90p for 6: http://www.ikea.com/gb/en/catalog/products/10192956/

Melamine plates are great if you're "eating something that's not mucky", like toast or a sandwich ... they don't break and they're easier to wash up. I eat a lot of food from plastic picnic plates, cheaper, unbreakable.

duchy

GwylimT wrote: »

Please forgive me if I'm wrong, but are you suggesting that bedding only needs changing every ten weeks?

Ewwwwwwwwwwwwwwww

PasturesNew

GwylimT wrote: »

Please forgive me if I'm wrong, but are you suggesting that bedding only needs changing every ten weeks?

It does if you're a boy student!