It’s coming to that time where many students are getting ready to go to university, all buying their toasters and weird kitchen gadgets that they’ve never set eyes on before! It was four years ago when I was getting ready to embark on a new chapter on my life that was university – literally feels like it was just yesterday though. I remember going out and spending an arm and a leg on things that I needed for my new university room and watching countless videos about other peoples’ experiences and things they needed and other stuff that just didn’t get a look in. Since (like many others), I’ve been there and done it as well as moved out of accommodation back home, I’d consider myself a packing/unpacking expert, I’ve compiled some advice based on the lessons I learnt as well as some tips that worked for me, regarding packing to make the move to university!
| WRITE A CHECKLIST & RESEARCH
This is the absolute most important tip when it comes to packing in general, but more importantly when you’re going to university. Having a checklist will ensure that you have the bare necessities, whilst showing you what you have got and more importantly, what you’ve forogtten. One thing I will say, particularly to those who are moving quite far away from home (unlike me who was a 20 minute drive away) is to bring home comforts with you, albeit a cozy blanket and photos etc. If you’re unsure with what to bring, do a bit of research – Google and YouTube are your best friends as there are so many people talking about their experiences and talking about the things they brought and didn’t need and things they needed and wish they had brought with them!
| PACK CASUAL CLOTHES YOU’LL WEAR
When you’re moving away from home, it’s easy to think you should bring every single item in your wardrobe, however you don’t need everything. Remember, that when you’re popping home, you’ll want to have some clothes there to prevent you having to lug a sh*t tonne of clothes back. Not only are university wardrobes quite small and will most likely not accommodate an extensive wardrobe, but also you just won’t wear half of what you think you will. My advice is to bring your current go-to clothes as you will probably wear them, and a bit extra as well just for more options. You’ll probably end up going to lectures in casual clothes, so jeans, tops and sweaters etc. but also bring fancier clothes for nights out!
| USE PLASTIC BOXES
Something that I did and was so glad I did was use plastic boxes when moving into my accommodation. Not only does it mean you can throw lots of miscellaneous things in there when you’re moving, but if you get the right size, you’ll probably be able to keep them under your bed as additional storage. I had two boxes (from Wilko) and my suitcase that I kept under my bed all of which came in very handy. Before moving into halls, I stocked up on pretty much everything I needed to keep me going throughout the year, so that I wouldn’t have to purchase it later on. In one box, I kept backups of any kitchen/bathroom stuff, such as washing up sponges, washing up liquid, kitchen roll, bleach etc. and in the other, I kept dry foods that wouldn’t all fit in my allocated kitchen cupboards.
| PRIORITISE COMFY WEARABLE CLOTHES
If you’re one of those people who always look pristine and plan on wearing heels to your lectures, then completely bypass this section! This part is to the rest of you! When you’re thinking about the clothes you’re bringing stock up on (your idea of) comfy clothes because the last thing you want is to be sitting in a 3-hour lecture (which is already painful enough) feeling uncomfortable because your shoes are hurting your feet or because you have to keep fixing your top. When you’re going into your first year and thinking about uni, you think you’re going to try and dress really nice all the time and actually make an effort, but when it’s 8:00 in the morning and you’re struggling to get up for your 9AM lecture, style goes completely out of the window and jeans, a jumper and a pair of trainers become your cult outfit!
| SEPARATE VIA ROOMS
Moving into halls can be a tiring process as it is with the whole, getting there early, picking up your keys, taking photographs for your student ID as well as the daunting prospect of meeting new people for the first time. Make it as easy as possible for yourself! When you’re packing, try and organize everything into the different rooms of your accommodation. For most people, like myself it was bedroom, bathroom and kitchen. It just makes it easier to unpack everything as I can only imagine that having a baking tray mixed with your bedding and fairy lights is pretty annoying, so separate your stuff!
| TWO PAIRS OF HEELS
As much as you may anticipate going out every single night and wearing heels for every single occasion, you probably won’t. Don’t bring a stupid amount of heels as you most likely wont even end up wearing the majority of them. I’d suggest bringing two, but a maximum of three pairs of heels (even that’s too much) because even if you do decide to go out lots, more likely than not, you’ll opt for a pair of trainers.
Are you moving to university soon? Or are your university days behind you? Do you have any university packing tips?
