If you’re packing for university this week here’s my words of wisdom (!) of moving away to uni –
- I reckon you’ll think “oh I wish I’d brought that with me” on more than one occasion but its true that space is tight in Halls – You usually only get a TINY wardrobe (smaller than you’ve ever seen before) so I think when you’re packing for uni, less is more! And trust me, you’ll definitely be adding to your wardrobe over the year, so leave behind anything you’re not sure about! (if you didn’t wear it much at home, you’re probably not going to wear it at uni either!
- You’ll definitely need fancy dress stuff – When I finished my degree I left with a whole hamper of fancy dress bits! I always try to make up my own costumes to save money so I used tutus, tops and accessories to create tons of cheap but different looks throughout the year. I’ve known friends to spend 40 quid per fancy dress costume, so if everyone has a fancy-dress themed birthday, that’s a lot of cash! Try looking on Ebay for bargain fancy dress bits to create unique costumes that stretch your student loan that little bit further!
- Shoes are a category that you can compromise on, as you’ll probably live in boots in the winter & sandals in the summer. Plus you’ll need some trainers for joining in with uni sports clubs and a pair of heels for nights out (which will no doubt get ruined, and replaced many times over from Primark during the year!)
- Many shops (such as Wilkinsons, Tesco and Unisak) are offering an “off to uni” package including everything you’ll need – such as duvet, towel, pans, plates, utensils, calculator and most essentially a tin opener and loo-roll! It’s a good idea to get a kit together similar to this to ensure you’ve got the essentials for living away from home. Although, I’ll say it again, space is tight and you’ll have flatmates who also have a tin-opener each, who will probably share with you!
Good luck, study hard and enjoy freshers week! x
