What to Take to University – The Vital Necessities You Might Not Think Of

Moving away to university is an exciting time for new students. Still, it can also be quite daunting and a big job to remember to pack all of the vital necessities, especially if you’re moving where it’s not easy to ‘pop back’ for anything you’ve forgotten. The obvious things are always remembered, such as clothes, toiletries and the obligatory bottle of booze, but there are some things you might not have thought of bringing with you. We asked some former university students what items were the most important things to take to university (aside from the obvious), with exciting results.

Storage Boxes

When you’ve arrived in your university halls or student house for the first time, you might be tempted to unpack all of your belongings and get rid of the boxes they are packed in, but these boxes can prove highly useful, especially if you find you’ve overpacked. Storage boxes can also help you neatly store possessions under your bed or at the bottom of the wardrobe, as some halls and houses may not have enough cupboards and drawers. They can even be made into makeshift tables or chairs when not in use if you find your room is the primary hangout spot.

Extension Lead

Are you planning on packing a computer? Printer? Lamp? Phone charger? Hairdryer? Speakers? Standard university rooms often come with about four electricity sockets which is ok if you don’t use many electrical gadgets. Still, for those days when everything needs charging and your hair needs drying, an extension lead will be your best friend. You might also find that your power sockets aren’t in the most convenient locations, behind a wardrobe or under the bed, so an extension lead can make it more convenient to plug in your electrical items when needed.

Homely Items

If moving away to university is your first time being away from home for a long time, it can be a big transition. To help you feel more at home in your halls, former students advise new students to take some homely items such as photos of your family and friends, posters, or cushions. The walls of student rooms can often be a bit devoid of character, so that’s the best way to spruce it up and make it your own.

First Aid Kit

As you’re adjusting to your new life away from home, you may end up having an odd accident or two. Whether that’s needing a plaster after chopping vegetables or a couple of paracetamol after a heavy night out, a small first aid kit is a helpful addition to your packing list.

Sewing Kit

So you’ve reached the last few weeks before the next instalment of your loan is due to arrive. Money is tight, and you’ve just ripped a hole in your favourite item of clothing. Packing a simple sewing kit can be the difference between having to wait for a few weeks and fork out for a new top/jeans/jacket etc., or doing an easy mend job with a needle and thread. That trusty needle and thread can also come in handy if you need to conjure up a fancy dress costume out of next to nothing.

Safe

A safe might not be the first thing you think of when you start buying stuff for university, but it is vital to give you peace of mind that important or valuable possessions are protected. Students are the most targeted demographic for burglaries due to having high-value items and spending less time on security. A small safe can be stored out of sight and items such as your passport, camera, a USB stick containing your university work, or even your laptop. Important documents like bank account details, loan documents, acceptance letters, NHS information, insurance documents, and passport-sized photos can also be protected from loss, theft and damage. You can even store your favourite food away from hungry flatmates!

Cheese Grater

One of the things you’ll notice when you do your first food shopping trip will be the price of cheese. I’m not kidding. That stuff can be expensive! You’ll also notice that shops like to charge you a lot more for the privilege of having the cheese pre-grated. While this can be very useful, it can also drain your budget unnecessarily. Our former students recommend simply investing in a good quality cheese grater for a few pounds, which should last you for your time at university.

Tin Opener & Bottle Opener

This one is pretty self-explanatory, but the tin and bottle openers top the list as far as kitchen essentials go. They can also be useful for helping you make friends with your flatmates when you come to the rescue when the lack of a tin opener almost ruins their dinner to open a vital ingredient.

Total Safes

Here at Total Safes, we supply an extensive range of student-friendly safes, delivered nationwide within 14 working days. We can also install your safe by bolting it to a wall or floor* but please check with your university/landlord before arranging the installation. If you’re worried that you’ll lose the key to your safe, lots of the safes we supply can be fitted with a digital lock instead of a key lock. To browse through our safes, head over to the Total Safes website or call our customer service team for further advice on 0161 819 6888 or you can email us at info@totalsafes.co.uk.