Moving into university halls, often leaving home for the first time, can seem a daunting experience to many students. With freshers' week fast approaching, you may be starting to think about what you need to pack.
It often brings whirlwind of emotions, felt by both students and their family alike, with goodbyes to school friends, and apprehension about meeting new people. So it's important to make sure you know what to pack when it comes to the big move, to help ease some of that stress.
Nick Drewe, discounts expert at WeThrift has made things a little easier. Nick has compiling a shopping list of the essential items that freshers should be taking with them as they move into their new student halls of residence.
Kitchen utensils
One of the most important things to take with you when you move into student halls is your kitchen utensils, as the majority of student halls don’t provide these. For many budding new students who are moving out of the family home for the first time, it’s likely you won’t own too many of your own kitchen appliances.
Buy a set of plates and bowls as well as at least one set of cutlery and drinking glasses - a set of these products is always a good idea for student halls. You will also need a frying pan and at least one saucepan, alongside the essential cooking items you might not have considered such as chopping boards, baking trays, mixing bowls, sharp knives, scissors, egg whisk and more.
It’s always worthwhile looking into planning what you’ll be cooking at university to avoid buying excess kitchenware. If your culinary skills aren’t quite up to scratch yet and you think you’ll likely be living off takeaways and ready meals during your first term, avoid going overboard on an excessive amount of kitchenware.
If you are already in touch with your new flatmates via the university or social media groups, it’s always worthwhile discussing what you’re bringing and what you’re planning on buying, to save doubling up on larger items that you or your flatmates may be happy to use communally, such as an air fryer, large cooking pots etc. This will also help you to save on kitchen storage space, which can be quite limited.
Storage boxes
A common aspect of student halls is that your bedroom itself may be slightly lacking in storage space, particularly if you’re bringing a large quantity of clothes, as student halls typically offer fairly small wardrobes and a lack of drawer space. This is why it’s always worthwhile to assess what exactly you’ll need to bring with you to university, rather than bringing an excessive amount of items that will not be used.
However, if you are planning on bringing a lot with you to your new home, purchasing some plastic storage boxes is always a great way to make use of the limited space. Storage boxes can be purchased in sets and are great for storing clothes, shoes and other possessions either under your bed, desk space, or stacked up at the bottom of your wardrobe to really make the most of the space.
Clothes hangers
Speaking of storing clothes, many students are often caught out by the fact that student halls don’t typically provide clothes hangers already in the wardrobe for you. Be sure to either bring some with you from home, or if you can’t bring any with you, multipacks of clothes hangers can be purchased for a fairly reasonable price at most retailers.
Bedding
A second thing to be mindful of that will not be provided by your student halls is bedding. Individual rooms will likely contain a bed frame and mattress, but the majority of student accommodation does not provide any bedding. You will need to take a duvet, pillows, bedding sets, and maybe a mattress topper for extra comfort to really secure a good night's sleep. Blankets and cushions are always a perfect addition as well for making your halls feel more cosy and homely.
If you are planning on purchasing new bedding items for your move, be sure to double check the size of the bed that you will be provided with - you don’t want to spend money on a double bedding set to get there and realise you actually have been allocated a single bed.
Non-perishable food
One of the first things that you’ll likely do after moving into your new halls is a big food shop to get the fridge and cupboards stocked up. Before you make the move to university, it’s worthwhile stocking up on non-perishable food items such as canned beans, vegetables, and fruit. Look out for any bulk buy offers on these products when stocking up in your local supermarket.
Rice and pasta are also a great food item to stock up on, due to their long shelf life without the need for keeping them refrigerated, plus they are a staple ingredient when it comes to student cooking and can be used in a wide variety of meals. Small food storage tubs are also a great idea to help your food last longer, not only reducing food wastage, but also saving your pennies when it comes to your weekly shopping budget.
Notice board
This may seem a fairly old school addition in an ever digital world, but a notice or bulletin board can make a great addition to your room, and is also a great way to ensure you keep up to date with any key dates and to do lists, both academically and socially. It’s also a great place to pin any photos of your friends and family from home, without causing any damage to the wall itself.
House plants
You may feel like your student halls, particularly your bedroom may be looking a little sparse and bare, and may be in need of a little sprucing up to make it look more homely. Pinning or sticking decorations to the walls may not be allowed and may even result in you being charged; therefore, plants make the perfect way to decorate your room and make it look more vibrant.
A few small plants can make all the difference to your room, you just have to remember to keep them well nourished and hydrated! This may be one to purchase after you’ve made the move, as transporting plants via the car can get messy and you really want to avoid having to sweep and vacuum soil out of the car.
Full-length mirror
In many halls, it’s likely that your bedroom may not come with a mirror. If you don’t have the luxury of an en-suite, and are staying in halls with a shared bathroom, a full length bedroom mirror is always a perfect addition for when you are getting ready in your bedroom. Again, you should check with your halls first to be sure of what’s provided and save yourself from wasting money on any unnecessary purchases for your new home.
Plastic or paper cups
If you’re living in a very sociable flat and are planning on hosting drinks, a few sets of plastic cups are always a worthwhile purchase. Or if like many, you are feeling more environmentally conscious, why not opt for paper cups instead? They are a great addition to the flat, particularly when it comes to hosting pre-drinks, playing drinks games, or if the washing up is piling a little too high ahead of a big night on the town.
Playing cards
A pack of playing cards makes for an ideal purchase and is a great way for you to get to know your new flatmates and help to break the ice. They also make the perfect addition for freshers’ pre-drinks, just as long as you don’t find yourself getting too competitive.
