Surviving University: How Much Stuff Can I Fit In My Dad's Car?

Two weeks after returning from university for the summer, I have finally unpacked. At least, I've unpacked my clothes. And my books. I'm just trying not to think about the rest....

During your time at university, you will accumulate a lot of stuff, enough to fill two bedrooms - your university room and your room at home - with more stuff on the side. Living in halls is a step between living at home and complete independence, and it brings a lot of baggage with it - literally! 

For me, buying/acquiring my university clobber was liberating. I felt emotionally ready to move away and try out independent life, so the long afternoon we spent in the IKEA market area, searching for teaspoons and kitchen knives, was surprisingly exiting. Nothing tells you that you've become a grown-up quite like the moment when you realise you're excited about buying a colander. 

In my last year of sixth form, I thought that I'd become relatively independent, and wouldn't have any problems adjusting to living away from my family. I knew how to boil pasta, and could, hypothetically, use the washing-machine - I was sorted! Unfortunately, living alone isn't quite as simple as that. Washing-up doesn't do itself. Clothes become unwearable if you forget to hang them up after tumble-drying them; dust accumulates into thick carpets of grey fluff; a week of 'don't feel like cooking' can easily become a month. It sucks, but part of being independent is making yourself get up before midday on a Saturday to deal with the mountain of washing you've left yourself, or doing a Tesco run for toothpaste and washing-up liquid. (Tesco's own is cheaper than Fairy, by the way.)

I'm not writing this to scare you, if you're about to leave home for the first time. What I really want to tell you is that all this domestic stuff is manageable, and learning to do these things is an achievement. When I was younger my aspirations for the future usually involved becoming some kind of superwoman. I'd be a key person in the fight against poverty, become a missionary or an MP, publish books of poetry which would put me on the shelves in Waterstones (next to Gerald Manley Hopkins), maybe act in a West End show or two, with a few kids and a husband thrown in for good measure... One year into university, I haven't done anything unusual or world changing, but you know what? That doesn't matter. I got stranded in France a few weeks ago when the French Air Control Strikes meant my plane was cancelled. My friends and I managed to get to Toulouse, catch the only plane still flying, a domestic flight to Paris which had been delayed, navigate our way across Paris via the french Metro, catch a eurostar to London, and find a bus service which would take us over a hundred miles across the country in time to move out of our university accommodation for the summer. So whilst I might not have saved the world yet, I'm slowly, slowly becoming a competent adult. And that's something to be proud of. 

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If you're not sure what to buy/take with you, here are some suggestions!

Kitchen Stuff

• 2 Saucepans, with lid
• 1 frying pan
• airtight container 
• freezer/sandwich bags and plastic clips for sealing packets
• colander
• cutlery, including a tablespoon (often required in recipes)
• vegetable knife
• small chopping board (look in IKEA. Optional though, you can do this on a plate)
• Bowls & plates - go for 2, maybe more if you have space.
• A small selection of mugs/glasses. Theoretically you only need 1 of each, so don't go crazy, especially if you are a natural mug hoarder like me. I have 8 mugs and a porcelain travel mug at uni, and I love them dearly but they take up a huge chunk of my desk... Okay. Back to the list. 
• Oven tray/dish. These can also be used in grills, but not microwaves. Make sure your bowls/plates are microwavable. 
• Wooden spoon
• 'Fish slice' - this is a big, flat metal spoon type thing. You can get right-angled ones for mashing potato, and the normal one is great for cooking meat, chips, or flipping pancakes. 
• Tin foil & clingfilm
• Kitchen roll, washing-up liquid, washing up cloths
• 2 tea-towels

Practical Stuff

• Check whether your accommodation provides irons, a kettle, or a toaster. If not, you may want to purchase them, but here I recommend waiting until you get to uni, as someone in your flat may have brought something. Most accommodation types do not allow kettles in rooms. 
• Lamp/fairy lights: Essential for making strip-lit uni digs bearable. 
• Books and DVDs: Try to pack light, and keep it to the essentials. I wanted to take the entirety of my 200+ book collection to university, but my parents (knowing me!) restricted me to just 12. Arriving home 7 months later with around 50 books, I understood why...
• A ringbinder, and a hole-punch to go with it. 
• A see-through pencil case for exams. Try the supermarket or WHSmiths. 
• A couple of canvas bags or bags-for-life; these will come in handy for shopping, or packing up your excess stuff to go home!
• If you own a bike, it's worth dropping by Halfords and picking up a few basics. My bike repair kit contains a bike pump, spare inner tube, screwdrivers, and a high-vis jacket. Check your pump works with the type of valve on your bike. I also recommend a D-Lock, as they significantly reduce the risk of your bike being stolen. It is also illegal to cycle on the road without bike lights. I bought my lights and D-lock for £15 from the university, so it's not expensive - and far less expensive then replacing your bike.
• Insurance. Some accommodation offers insurance, with conditions; some offer it as an extra. Some household insurance deals will partially cover your property. I hate dealing with insurance, and am dreading sorting it out for next year, but as I learnt after getting stuck in France with no travel insurance, it's a must. Endsleigh advertise themselves as 'the student insurance company', but their quotes are quite high, so shop around. 
• Set of small screwdrivers. Strangely useful .
• Blu-tack, envelopes, sellotape, push-pins (the type that go into noticeboards). Easy to forget, but all things I used on a weekly basis. Paperchase do some really cute animal pins, if you're that kind of person.
• A diary. I recommend this for two reasons. Firstly, you're going to be properly organising your own life, and life at university is busy. There are no regular hours, like at school, and if you miss a seminar or a society meeting nobody calls you and asks why you weren't there. Secondly, you're going to have a fabulous year, doing all sorts of weird and interesting things; no two weeks are the same! Keeping a diary with a note of where you've been will be a great keepsake in the future. 
• Towels and bed linen. Also, check whether your accommodation provides pillows and a duvet; my poor Dad had to drive around Norwich, looking for somewhere to buy bedding, as I'd assumed it would be provided...
• A couple of 'luxury items'. Whilst you should try and keep your packing minimal, and make reductions where you can (for example, only take clothes appropriate to the season etc), university has to feel like home! A few of small photographs or ornaments will really help make your room feel homely. I had a couple of framed photos, a squishy TARDIS, and some lovely bunting, handmade by a friend for me. I also took a rug and a small cushion from home, but again, check the rules. Rugs were technically banned in our residences, but no-one ever told me off for it...
• An alarm-clock or radio alarm. There's nothing worse than missing a lecture because your phone died in the night. 
• A laundry bag - IKEA bags are just the right size! Some friends of mine gave me a tub of small change for the washing machines, which I occasionally added to myself. 
• Washing up liquid or powder. I recommend liquid tabs, because they're effective and easy to use. And they smell nice. 
• Coathangers!

It sounds like a lot of stuff, so try and be minimalist where you can, and pack efficiently. I got all of my clothes into a camping rucksack by rolling them up tightly. 

Where to get your stuff

Supermarkets often do 'starting university' sales in late August, or early September, and this can be quiet a cheap way to pick up a few things, like bed linen and kitchen equipment. If you know someone with a Costco card, you could bulk buy a few food staples, but don't go mad - and keep it to non-perishable goods! IKEA, of course, is the king of cheap student living, but before you risk the temptations of the 'Market Area', it's worth asking around family for second hand kitchenware, or other bits and bobs. My kettle, plates, some of my cutlery, and pans where all second-hand or unwanted gifts from my kind family! Don't be embarrassed to ask - they'll be pleased to help you out. 

For books, try www.bookbrain.co.uk - they compare prices on all the big online book retailers to help you find the cheapest way of purchasing your course books. Amazon do a good student discount with the NUS Extra card, which is worth the £12 purchase if you're a regular Amazon shopper. It includes discounts in various restaurants and shops, but many shops will accept your university card for student discounts, so don't feel the NUS card is necessary. 

If you're using public transport to get to university, look into student discounts with bus and travel companies. The 16-25 railcard, which I have , takes 1/3rd off all rail travel, if bought in advance, and comes with free YHA membership. I bought a 3 year railcard for £65, which I think was a good deal for me. National Express coaches also do a student deal, but before committing yourself to it, find out if Megabus run the same route, as they tend to be drastically cheaper. At present I don't have a National Express membership, but it's something I'm considering. Travelling off-peak and buying tickets in advance will help you save money, and is a more pleasant way to travel. 

Food shopping at university can also be very expensive. It's easy to fall into a pattern of regular 'top-up' shopping, picking up oddments from the nearest Tesco Metro, but this is actually the most expensive (and unhealthy!) way to shop. If you can, try and keep this kind of shopping to the bare minimum. My suggestion is that once every month or two you go out to a big store and buy frozen food and non-perishable goods, like dried pasta and rice. It can be hard to buy for one person, so try and buy things that can be frozen or divided; for instance, I buy sliced bread and defrost it as I need it. Buying frozen veg is also a lot cheaper than buying fresh vegetables, although you should try to do this too! 

Meat is also very expensive, and being vegetarian has saved me a lot of money this year. Cheap meat is a false-economy; if you're going to buy meat, buy good quality but not too often, and don't let it go off. Meat can't be refrozen or reheated, so if you're buying something large, divide it up before you freeze it. 

If I think of anything else, I'll add it on - any suggestions welcome :)

J.R.