uni haul shop

what are the best places to shop? how much should i really be spending? I do plan on buying little bits to decorate my room, although i can take some stuff from home, i plan on coming back every few weeks because i'm not too far away so it would be nice to keep my room at home as it is. i know a lot of people take stuff from the kitchen at home but my family don't really have many spares of things so i'll probably have to buy some stuff for the kitchen too. Any help would be appreciated!

Original post by IkathleenI

what are the best places to shop? how much should i really be spending? I do plan on buying little bits to decorate my room, although i can take some stuff from home, i plan on coming back every few weeks because i'm not too far away so it would be nice to keep my room at home as it is. i know a lot of people take stuff from the kitchen at home but my family don't really have many spares of things so i'll probably have to buy some stuff for the kitchen too. Any help would be appreciated!

hey @IkathleenI 😊

I would say for decoration bits you don't need anything too expensive. Shops like Tiger or B&M are perfect for fun decor bits like fairy lights and duvet covers.

I would go super basic for kitchen stuff at the beginning, literally just one frying pan, one pot (I got mine from sainsbury's that has a built in strainer in the lid) a cheap baking tray, tin foil. And you can get cheap cutlery and individual plates/bowls/cups from a lot of the bigger supermarkets.

Think of the things you might need when you're cooking a meal: chopping board, a good knife, spatula, a tea-towel or oven mitt, etc

Don't bring too much with you initially. I'd bring only the basics with you and when you've scoped it out you can get to the shops the next time you go home, as you said you're going back pretty regularly. Don't spend too much money on items you'll keep in shared areas. If you're bringing your nan's prized Le Creuset cookware, keep that in your room!

If you're staying in shared accommodation, when you get to know your flatmates, you can decide to share some kitchen items as long as you're all respectful of each other's things. Otherwise you'll end up with like 12 cheese graters and tin openers and a million pots and pans! Don't forget, the more you have, the more washing up you're generating for yourself!

If you're on a budget, start getting a few things each month, but you only need the cheaper items from B&M, QD, the basics section of supermarkets. It doesn't have to cost a fortune!

Hope this helps

Best wishes,
Essex Student Rep - Hayley

Original post by IkathleenI

what are the best places to shop? how much should i really be spending? I do plan on buying little bits to decorate my room, although i can take some stuff from home, i plan on coming back every few weeks because i'm not too far away so it would be nice to keep my room at home as it is. i know a lot of people take stuff from the kitchen at home but my family don't really have many spares of things so i'll probably have to buy some stuff for the kitchen too. Any help would be appreciated!

Hi there,

I moved to uni with very little and just brought what I needed, when I needed it. The most important things are bedding, towels and something to cook/ eat with, then you can by cooking utensils, decorations etc as you need them. THis way you're not spending as much but can work out what you need.

I hope this helps!

All the best,
Jaz - Cardiff student rep

Original post by IkathleenI

what are the best places to shop? how much should i really be spending? I do plan on buying little bits to decorate my room, although i can take some stuff from home, i plan on coming back every few weeks because i'm not too far away so it would be nice to keep my room at home as it is. i know a lot of people take stuff from the kitchen at home but my family don't really have many spares of things so i'll probably have to buy some stuff for the kitchen too. Any help would be appreciated!

Hi there @IkathleenI 👋

My favourite places to shop for decorations and utensils when I was preparing for uni were B&M, Primark, H&M, The Range, TK Maxx and Home Bargains, as these are all reasonable in price. I also see many people shopping at Shein for home decor. I then bought my tableware from Dunelm (I bought a set with plates, bowls, and cutlery) as well as bedding.

In my first year of university, I made the mistake of overpacking and half of the things I packed I never used (I get very carried away shopping!) so I'd definitely recommend taking the bare minimum for now and buying as you go - besides, in terms of decorations, you might not know entirely what your room will look like yet and so it would be good to take a real look at it and decide how to decorate it based on the design of it.

The only real thing I'd recommend is buying a decent bedding (sheets, pillows, duvet) and tableware that you can use not only in your first year, but in your second and third year at university. This will enable you to save money in the long run. As I mentioned, I bought a tableware set with matching blue plates, bowls, and cutlery as these are items I personally didn't want to share with flatmates. I did share other items such as tin openers and cheese graters with my flat mates, however, as I felt that it made more sense.

I hope this helps and best of luck at university!

Lauren 😊
WrexhamUniReps

Original post by IkathleenI

what are the best places to shop? how much should i really be spending? I do plan on buying little bits to decorate my room, although i can take some stuff from home, i plan on coming back every few weeks because i'm not too far away so it would be nice to keep my room at home as it is. i know a lot of people take stuff from the kitchen at home but my family don't really have many spares of things so i'll probably have to buy some stuff for the kitchen too. Any help would be appreciated!

Hi there,

Shopping for university can be confusing and seem complicated. It doesn't have to be, and can be cheap too! My main piece of advice would be to start out with a few bits, and then buy as and when you need them.

For decorations, I'd recommend getting photos printed from FreePrints, and getting small bits from charity shops, B&M, and Marketplace/Vinted. Little decorations such as fairy lights, small plants, and photographs help to make your room your own.

For the kitchen, start out with the essentials (cutlery, plates, bowls, mugs, glasses, and basic cooking sets). You then know that if you find you need anything else, you will definitely use it instead of not needing it. I found a lot of stuff on Marketplace and in my local area, and stores such as B&M, The Range, TKMaxx, and supermarkets are great for everything else.

It can be difficult to know what to bring, so I've linked some useful checklists here, here, and here.

I hope this helps,

Isabella
Geography with a Year Abroad Student

Reply 5

Uni of Southampton Students

Official Rep

15

Original post by IkathleenI

what are the best places to shop? how much should i really be spending? I do plan on buying little bits to decorate my room, although i can take some stuff from home, i plan on coming back every few weeks because i'm not too far away so it would be nice to keep my room at home as it is. i know a lot of people take stuff from the kitchen at home but my family don't really have many spares of things so i'll probably have to buy some stuff for the kitchen too. Any help would be appreciated!

Hi @IkathleenI

I remember shopping was such an exciting time when I was preparing to go to university. Here are some tips based on my experience -

It's a good idea to start with a basics and add more as you go along. Your needs might change over time, and you will gradually build up your collection of decor items and kitchen essentials. To start with, I think the important things are bedding, towels, basic decor items, cutlery, plates, bowls, and a pan.

I would recommend to talk to your accommodation and check what kitchen appliances they provide. This will help avoid overpacking or unnecessary shopping as many accommodations provide basic appliances like toasters, kettles, irons, etc.

For furniture and kitchen utensils, IKEA was my go to place. It not only provides high quality and a wide range of options but is also affordable. When it comes to bedding and decor items for your room, I'd recommend to consider both IKEA and John Lewis. John Lewis is more expensive, but it provides fantastic quality. I bought some stylish decor pieces from John Lewis to add a personal touch to my room such as lamps, pillows, rugs and frames. Also, Amazon is definitely a very convenient option for any last-minute purchases or unique items.

I'd also recommend to always keep an eye out for discounts and special offers! Many stores often offer huge discounts on university essentials.

I hope this helps!

All the best,
Akshita Gupta
(University of Southampton Student Rep)

Original post by IkathleenI

what are the best places to shop? how much should i really be spending? I do plan on buying little bits to decorate my room, although i can take some stuff from home, i plan on coming back every few weeks because i'm not too far away so it would be nice to keep my room at home as it is. i know a lot of people take stuff from the kitchen at home but my family don't really have many spares of things so i'll probably have to buy some stuff for the kitchen too. Any help would be appreciated!

Hi @IkathleenI,

It is always good to bring what you can from home to save you spending more but I also understand about wanting to have a nice space to come home to. Ikea was my go-to when I moved to uni where I managed to get things like cheap cutlery and decorations. Primark and B&M are also great for cleaning supplies, bedding, and decorations on a low budget. I think start with the basics such as one frying pan and one pot as an example and then see as you go before getting more.

I would also recommend buying bulky items when you have got to your accommodation as it can be heavy and a lot to move everything from your home. This is also great for decorations and any bits you might need once you have seen the size of your accommodation. 😊

Hope this helps.
Jakub - Fashion promotion and marketing student

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