Student survival kit - ideas please.

When I was shopping I would buy BOGOF non-perishable goods, usually tins of stuff, so one for me and a freebie for son. By the beginning of the next semester I would have nice hamper of convenience foods made up for him at no extra expense to send him back to uni with.

DD1 was always grateful to find a bottle of vodka in her case.

I gave my ds a Student Cookbook. Basic cooking i.e. a meal in 15/20 minutes.
He phoned me once - how do you bake a potato? He'd bought a sack of spuds.
Again phoned me about cooking rice - he'd bought a bag of 4 kgs long grain rice in an asian supermarket.

You need to have something he can lock his medicines in or to lock the refridgerator so that that they stay where he puts them.

Just the tin opener, a microwaveable bowl, spoon, toothbrush, a cheap duvet (by the time you see it again incineration will probably be the only option) and the address of the nearest hardware shop. He'll have forgotten all about cleaning and ironing within 24 hours of arrival.

We have two elder grand daughters at (ironically same uni although doing different subjects) one in halls, older one in house share. They seem to lack for nothing! Eat well, go out (not excessively-or at least they don't tell me!), yesterday they both went for afternoon tea, if you please, at nearby (quite posh!) garden centre as it was on offer! They're certainly not roughing it in any way that's for sure!

I think that you need to collect a first-aid kit, all the necessary items for survival in the wild, this type of quests for students is very interesting, I would also gladly go on such trips, but at the moment I work in a writing company uk.papersowl.com/ and I don’t have time for This, but in the summer I plan to go with friends to the mountains.

I agree with Bagatelle. Keep it simple.

One of my DC had his sandwich toaster stolen within the first week week of use in the communal kitchen. Also some students just seemed to help themselves to other's food and milk from the shared fridge, despite labelling. It was a bit of a jungle really. There were always dirty dishes (sometimes my DC's, used by someone else) piled high in the sink. Another of my DC was faced with a lad with a large meat cleaver, hacking up a couple of frozen chickens with great gusto. (They actually became good friends, but it wasn't a promising start.)

However, this was 15-20 years ago, perhaps they are more civilised now.

It's amazing how resilient they are at that age. One of my DC was terribly home sick but stuck it out and gradually adapted. It feels terrible after they've gone though.

A few simple favourite family recipes. Basic spice kit if he likes curries/chillies. Bottle of his favourite booze. Condoms. Paracetamol. Anti-histamines. Gaviscon. Nail clippers. Hair brush/comb. Razor/Razor blades. Pack of cards. Emergency £50. Spare socks/pants. Card telling him how fab he is and how proud of him you are.

Give him some money or vouchers and let him do his own shopping once he is there and discovers what he needs, and if he blows it all in the student union bar, that is student survival.

I think the OPs grandson has graduated by now! The thread started in 2017.