The first time you move out of your ‘home-home’ (prepare to start calling it that, as university will be known as ‘uni-home’ from about Christmas onwards) is the scariest and most exciting time of your life. Ever wondered what you need on your uni packing list? You’ve basically got to analyse the way you live your life and try to figure out what the hell you need of your own in order to survive and thrive. Don’t panic, it’s actually the little things that make the biggest difference! To start off with, you definitely need these 8 things on your uni packing list.
Number one on the list for a reason, no uni packing list is complete without the addition of a set – or two – of fairy lights. They’ll transform any dark, boxy room into your own little cosy space of tranquillity. The best way to feel at home when you move to uni is to make your room feel unique and personal. You can’t be sad when you’ve got your fairy lights plugged in! Fairy lights also have a pretty handy secondary function, you can use them to hang up photographs with little mini pegs.
In uni, winter is always coming. Even in spring or summer. Halls and student houses can be absolutely freezing, and you’re going to need to be prepared for the times where you reaaaally need a touch of proper warmth. Hot water bottles are socially mandatory all year round, maybe even treat yourself to two. Flat-Movie-Night, when you’re all crammed into one person’s room, is just perfected by the presence of something warm and fluffy to hold. If you have pets at home that you miss, it will make you feel 5% less sad.
This is a big one but often forgotten, you’ll spend A LOT of time in your room in halls creating a mess. Food wrappers, empty booze bottles, clothes tags, empty cosmetic products, a used voodoo doll of the ‘foodie’ girl down the hall that cooks octopus when everyone’s hungover (why, Elyse, why?). Imagine how nice it’ll be to have a proper bin so the rubbish doesn’t slowly take over your room. Plus, a wastebasket doesn’t have to be boring, it can be as extra as you want. Take a look at this rose gold one here, snazzy.
You’re going to be having more fun and getting up to more antics than you ever have before. Everyone has a smartphone with which they can capture the action, but sometimes it’s nice to go old school and not have the instant gratification of seeing the pics you just took. It’s also a great way to break free from taking a thousand of the same shot and obsessing over which is the ‘perfect’ one. Disposable cameras can be bought in multipacks of 3, and each camera can take around 25 photos. They’re great fun to use, and make everything more spontaneous!
If you’re patient and can make one camera last a term, you’ll have loads of cool photos spanning a good length of time that are just way more special than something you could have taken on your phone! When you get the film developed it’s really exciting as you don’t know what they’ll turn out like. Huge tip, turn the flash on for ANY photo you take on them, whatever the conditions. This is essential for your uni packing list.
You’ll speak to your family lots, as even your grandparents will want to know what you’re up to and how you’re getting on, but sometimes there’s nothing better than having some nice photos from home or of loved ones to have around you to make you feel less homesick. Bonus points if all you want photos of is your pet. There are tonnes of ways you can display them, just remember you probably shouldn’t stick them to your walls as it might leave a mark – goodbye deposit :(. The best ways involve pegging or tacking them onto strings (or fairy lights), you can curate them however you want! Rank your friends and family from back home, top to bottom for shits and giggles.
Whether you can’t function without coffee, or you love a cuppa tea, surely you have your favourite mug? If not, what’s wrong with you? Just kidding – if you don’t have a favourite mug from home, go out and get one that makes you smile. You’d be surprised what a difference it can make. I can easily get through about 4-5 cups of tea in a day. And you’re damn right that I laugh at the joke on mine every time (no shame).
Uni kitchen floors are vile. Fact. Unless you have been blessed with a flatmate that GENUINELY and passionately enjoys cleaning (a Monica from Friends type), your communal kitchen floor will be absolutely covered in things best left unsaid. Going barefoot in there is only for the brave, and in all honesty is taboo. If you weren’t a slipper person before this, you are now, so strap yourself in for a fun ride. A good, soft and ideally outwardly cute pair of slippers with a sole you don’t mind scuffing up are an absolute lifesaver. Why the hell can’t they be unicorns?
Music is vital. Whether you’re having a flat party or you just want to listen to your chilled out Spotify playlist, having a set of speakers really makes a difference. If they’re portable you’ll be able to take them on the adventures you have…like hungover picnics. Rest assured though, this is the one item on your uni packing list that someone else in your flat will definitely have just in case you forget yours!
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