Forget the printer – here’s everything you actually need for uni that you’re not told about

When I first started getting ready for the big move to uni, I thought I knew what I needed. I had the obvious things sorted into piles: Clothes, bedding, toiletries, stationery and all the other personal necessities that are obvious to bring.

But there are so many things you don’t really think about until you’re actually there and suddenly realise, wait… I actually need that.

Cooking utensils you’ve never heard of 

Cooking was definitely one of the biggest changes for me. Before uni, I could ruin toast. I didn’t have the patience or apparent talent to make meals, so suddenly being responsible for feeding myself every day was a bit of a shock. I remember trekking to IKEA and Dunelm with my parents and grabbing the basics: Pots, pans, chopping boards, knives, utensils, etc. Then when baking trays, food containers, a colander (?) started getting added to the shopping trolley, I was getting confused and overwhelmed.

I thought that I would never use half of this stuff and I would live off bananas, ready meals and food from the library cafe. Thankfully (with lots of help from my first year flatmates) I was practising using all of these pieces of cooking equipment to make meals and even baking in our free time in the evening.

It’s something you eventually get used to, and I enjoyed the learning of it all through independence and some guidance from friends, but I definitely wish I’d practised a few basic meals before moving out to avoid the initial stress. 

Flasks for alcohol

Another thing I didn’t expect was how useful it is to be creative with alcohol. Everyone knows that York city centre can be expensive, and when you’re wanting to stay up all night in the bars and clubs, drinking can soon get expensive.

There are certain ways to conceal alcohol to make the goods last longer, but you need the products to do so. A flask for journey juice that can hide in the calf of your knee high boots, reusable mini perfume bottles for that quick shot of vodka on route to the club, or even blagging it completely and claim the “comfort water bottle” you’re holding is definitely filled of water and not a spirit.  

Personal reminders of home

I also underestimated how much I’d miss the comforts of home. You don’t need to buy all new stuff and completely transform your room before you move in, it’s the little things that you’ve brought that make your new environment feel like your space. Having your own bedding, photos, blankets or even your favourite mug can make your room feel so much more familiar. 

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Slippers

I have always been comfortable with socks and maybe even barefoot in my own home growing up, however, it is almost an unwritten rule that everyone must wear some form of footwear in uni accom. I would say especially for the flats in first year that could be shared up to 12 people, please bring some slippers. There is nothing worse than feeling the grimy kitchen floor of all of your flatmates from spilled drinks from the night before’s pres, fruit from breakfast missing the bowl or any form of dishwater that may be lingering on the floor.

People are messy and many people don’t care to clean up after themselves, so please (I am begging) get yourself a pair of comfy slippers or sliders to use everyday to avoid that panic- inducing feeling of stepping in something. 

Multiple big bags

A trusty tote bag is a total lifesaver. Whether you’re lugging your laundry to the machines, doing a quick Aldi run, or packing a few bits for a weekend trip back home, you’ll find yourself reaching for it constantly.

I’d also suggest grabbing a cute crossbody or small backpack for those casual days when you can’t be bothered to drag your giant laptop bag across campus but still wanting to have enough room to carry back a few bits you’ve bought in town. 

Emergency tech savers

I’d recommend bringing a power bank. There are so many times where my phone was low on battery and I’ve had to leave the club early or worry if my phone or laptop would make it through the lecture. And on the topic of phones, having a long charging cable is a surprisingly good idea.

The plug might be next to your desk while your bed is nowhere near it, or you haven’t sat in a convenient seat in the lecture hall and you need to stretch across a few people. Having this flexibility with the extra long cable can save you, and your devices, more than you would think.

Food storage 

And finally, don’t underestimate the value of food containers and freezer bags. Once you start cooking or meal prepping, you’ll probably make too much food at some point, or need to store it for a later point. Being able to put leftovers in the fridge or freezer instead of wasting them can save money, especially when your student budget is already disappearing, and time, so you can focus on other important things.