Moving to University: Packing Guide
Moving to university can be an added stress to the new school year. When you are first planning on making that big leap and moving away from home for the very first time, it can be difficult to know what to take with you. If you’ve never lived away from home before, it can be difficult to know exactly what to take or buy for your new halls of residence. So whether you are moving to the University of Cambridge, Manchester Met or Kings College London, we take a look at the items you absolutely can not leave at home. Do you really need absolutely everything? You may think you have to take absolutely everything with you to university, but remember, you’re not moving to Mars. Your first year may mean you are in halls, sleeping in a cosy single bed, a lot smaller than at home, so whittling your possessions down to the essentials is a great place to start. The Important Stuff These are the documents you won’t realise how important they are until it comes to a time where you need them. The best thing is they don’t take up much space. Obviously, your passport and driver’s license are key; but what else?
- Terms of your accommodation
- Copies of a passport sized photo
- Bank details
- Debit Card
- Student Loan Documents
- Student Discount Vouchers
- National Insurance Number
Top Tip Making a photocopy of each of these items will do no harm and are perfect for emergencies. The Electricals This category is up there with the major offenders in terms of taking up space. Sometimes, bringing your own TV just isn’t worth it, so what are the electrical essentials?
- Laptop
- Headphones- A Lifesaver in the library
- USB/External Hard Drive- For saving work
- HDMI Cable
- Chargers
- Portable Charger- Because there is nothing worse than running out of battery
The Kitchen Most Student halls and houses have multiples of the same kitchen items, and many of them simply go unused. Don’t go out of your way to buy brand new items or bring too much. A few pots, pans, cutlery, and Tupperware for your lunches should be enough. Most students moving to university for the first time, will wait until they move into their halls and meet their roommates before buying items for the communal areas, this is a good way of ensuring you don’t end up with 3 x toasters, 7 x spatulas etc. The Bedroom As well as the obvious items such as bed sheets, duvets and pillows, here are a few of the other items that will come in useful:
- Coat Hangers
- Laundry Basket
- Ear Plugs
- Door Stop- Makes things more sociable
The Bathroom Many students forget to bring multiples of key items, such as towels and wash cloths. It’s also a good idea to make up a first aid kit for yourself, including plasters, cold and flu medicine to fight off the inevitable ‘freshers flu’ and anti-septic cream. Don’t forget bathroom and toilet cleaner, to keep your new shared or en-suite bathroom sparkling and clean for both yourself, and anyone you may be sharing with. A Simple Solution Obviously, you can’t take everything with you when you finally depart for uni. Or can you? What if I told you that you can keep every single possession you may need, just a few miles away at your disposal. This is the beauty of a self-storage solution. They are usually found in every major university city and you can keep your items safe and secure, picking it up in the car when you desire. Self-Storage boxes are perfect for all students as it just makes the whole move in and move out process stress free, especially in between those lengthy summer breaks.