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If daughter is away, one of those peg circular hangers are useful for tights and undies.
A large washed out plastic milk container can be used for decanting washing powder from home....Waterproof and spillproof if they replace the lid. Remember to tape amounts needed on outside of container.
An easy-to-put-on fleece / jacket/ warm dressing gown will be useful for all those times that they stand outside after the fire alarm, when someone has come home late and made toast ( or whatever) Daughter said this was a frequent occurance in the 1st month or so she was in hall.
Gwyn
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Make a list of what they need to take and need to do
Make sure their room contents is insured
Buy the minium they need, unless they are going literally the middle of no-where there's always an argos/asda/tesco/sainburys near by they can get extra essentials from.
As for clothes (and quiet a few other things), unless its a bargin their NUS card (normally costs a fiver) will give them a discount in a lot of stores (10% min), so it might be worth them holding off on the clothes shopping spree till they get that, also they might decide they fancy a different look once they've settled in.
If its their first year they will probably have a single bed, the matteresses are rarely decent, so when you get there either be happy to get a spare duvet to pad it or buy a cheap matteress, it maybe £50 but it could be the best £50 you spend. (Or maybe thats just Hull uni who think its okay to provide a wedge of foam (and not memory foam, big standard foam) as a matteress. Also its may seem a bit to pay out but if they are their 150 nights thats 30p a night, which is worth it as a good nights sleep mean they will learn better and no doubt you are probably contirbution at least £1000 (probably a lot more) to their tution fees.
Edit: realised a memory foam or any other type of matteress topper might be more practicle as they can bring it home with them and use it the following year.
See if there's any major supermarket that will deliver to them, then if you are worried they are running low on food you can pay for and have food delivered, also I wish this service had been avilaible when I was at uni then when my parents did visit we wouldn't have wasted hours in a supermarket.
A warm but light blanket, they can put over their bed or wrap themselves up in, I don't know why but halls and student houses never seem warm enough espically in winter. I say light, should add washable, and of a size it will go in a normal washing machine.
Vaccum bags, the ones you store clothes in, get a big one for their duvet and pillow, will shrink it so it takes up less room in the car, and if you have the cash, buy a few more if they put their clothes in here again it will mean they take up a lot less space.
A lamp, to stop eye strain when they are on their computer or reading, also to provide an alternative light source if the light in their room blows and they have to report it then wait for it to be replaced (normally doesn't take long, but even one night in a room with no illumination is no fun).
Memory stick, and tell them always to back up courseworks, espically if they have used the univesities computers, although their own may also throw a wobbler at excatly the wrong moment.
Cash, the student loan normally filters through a few weeks after you start so they need some money to live off till then.
Try and get them there so they don't miss the freshers fair, lots of freebbies to be had, I arrived too late to go to mine, so unlike my housemate I didn't have the free samples or discount vouchers my housemates had picked up.
Pan's no need for fancy ones, non-stick makes the washing up easier but don't spend a fortune, as they might treat them well but will their hall or housemates, as there's normally at least one who thinks they can use other people stuff without asking. Same goes for plates etc, don't give them anything expensive or sentimental to use.
Edit: Cleaning products if they are in halls or university housing are not essentials to take, as they normally have a cleaner, so most they will have to do is run the provided hoover around their room, bit of dusting and their own washing up. So washing up liquid, a multipurpose surface cleaner and a few microfibre clothes should be enough to get started. I reccomend cheap sponges for doing the dishes as they are unlikely to boil wash dishclothes and reuse them, and don't forget the tea towels.
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i find the local supermarkets have a wide range of very cheap food and housewhole products
defo start getting stuff in now lol
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Day to day living tips will depend on whether they are in Halls or a let or at home, but if they are away from home I'd say don't send lots of equipment.
For one thing, there won't be much space, if house share / accomodation block folk take loads too. Our daughter found multi-use items useful.
eg. a Pyrex bowl can be used for mixing, serving salad or pasta etc. and can go in oven or microwave.
Give them lessons now on shopping for food and looking for bargains or ways of stretching the budget. A bulk-buy of pasta might be an idea if several students want to share. Eating together, if possible, can benefit the budget and nutrition.
Teach laundry skills. What we see as routine, they might need yet to learn.
Accept that there might be a few washing mishaps, so don't send them off with super-expensive gear, eg bedding.
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If you have a Wilkinsons in your area do look for the 'specials' for Students.
I found some real bargains in there last year.....
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First tip
Start buying NOW
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Right here we go again .....this thread is for all of you to add to in a way of helpping all those parents who are about to let their off spring go to uni in september
What we need is ALL your tips and hints on how to make it easy to do ALL this prep and get them there on time .....
I found this type of thread helpful and my sons about to go a placement this year about 20mins from home .....I,m so happy as hes been 100miles up teh road .....
So EVERYONE help please the whole lot cheap food ,clothes discounts for students The awful TV licence situation ....come on the WHOLE lot
Thanks and Good Luck
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