Daughter Starting Uni?

badkitti

In case it hasn't already been suggested:

A map/road atlas for the area.


Thinking back I would have loved:
- bus/rail pass suitable for area
- basic food supplies
- a budget sheet to fill in
- Alarm clock
- bedside/worklamp
-extension cord
- large cuddly blanket
-tv license paid

RugbyLisa

Hi

Some great posts and lots of great ideas, especially with insurance and equipment reminders.

When my sister was packed off to uni I remember her biggest thing was lots of food and money for a few weeks and then NOTHING! We had a laugh at the time that letters were great but she couldn't eat them - so with her in mind how about a bit of a week by week..

i.e. envelopes or boxes, depending on space could also be a don;t open until...

Week 1, food mixes, or jars of pesto, wine etc

Week 2, boots voucher to buy toiletries, recipe and some ingredients

Week 3, stamps so they can write home, money to buy some food!

you get the idea, something to remind them you haven't forgotten them and that they still need a bit of help even if they don;t want to admit it.

Even a magazine subscription?, vouchers to rent DVDs theres lots that can be posted

RL

bluegiraffe_2

I highly recommend "Student Grub" by Jan Arkless. Although I didnt go to Uni, I bought it when I got married, and Im still using it. I bought my sister a copy when she went to Uni. Its great because it doesnt assume you have any previous experience.

Hope that helps!

kittiwoz

snoozer wrote:

I saw mention of a tV somewhere in the thread but no mention of a licence - if you have a tv in hall you must have a licence. I have been told that if you share a house/flat with no locks on bedroom doors than one licence for the house will do.

It's not a question of locks, it is whether you have seperate tenancy agreements or a joint one. But I would advise to have no licence and no telly. There are genarally a lot more interesting things to do at uni then sit in watching TV. I had a TV in my first year at uni but I hardly ever watched so I left it at home after that.

If your daughter is going into accomodation where she will have an oven then how about a roll of home cookie dough for making friends when she gets there? A door wedge will probably be an essential for the same reason since her bedroom door will probably have a self closer and if she wedges it open people will feel more able to come in and chat then if they have to knock on the door.

Jillinoz

Revolting as it may sound, sticky labels marked 'I have spat in this milk' were an absolute esential when I was living in halls of residence many moons ago! A very necessary deterrent against the 'borrowing' of milk (and everything else) stored in the communal fridges. Failing that, a sturdy bag to hang out of her room window to keep milk etc cool - and safe.

ka7e

'I have spat in this milk'

Haha! DD off on Sunday to halls (midwifery/nursing students have early starts) equipped with Sharpie pens to label all her foodstuffs. I told her to write "I spat in this" and "I licked this" to deter food thieves. She says she would be worried in case someone else wrote "So did I!"

Jillinoz

ka7e wrote: »

Haha! DD off on Sunday to halls (midwifery/nursing students have early starts) equipped with Sharpie pens to label all her foodstuffs. I told her to write "I spat in this" and "I licked this" to deter food thieves. She says she would be worried in case someone else wrote "So did I!"

That's where plan b, the bag-out-of-the-window solution, comes in very nicely.

You and I obviously went to a better class of university.

mizzy2

i wouldnt buy a tv or license until you have agreed to share the price with your flatmates. Or just dont have one. Everyone has dvd players on their computers if they are desperate to watch something.
My mum bought me a box of dried and tinned food for my first week, and they also bought me a big food shop and i didnt go shopping for a month!
When they came to visit they also brought me some home made muffins which I shared with my flatmates. They also bought me a box of goodies like an advent calender, big jumpers, chocolate, dvds id forgotten and a big ski jacket for winter!
They didnt pay for anything like travel costs, accomodation or living. I got a job and this helped me make new friends and i also used my loan.
The fact that Im completely independent from them makes these little gifts even more special and it made me happy to get these sorts of things.

RAMBLER

The most important skill that I think students need is to be able to cook - at least basically....

1. They wil be self sufficient and save themselves a bit of money
2 Their food will be nicer and more vaired
3. It's amazing how many friends you get once they know you cook - throw study parties and get the food in - fabulous!!!!!!

Sarahsaver

A tin of andrew's liver salts and a big helping of common sense!