With so many students getting themselves geared up for moving away from home and going off to university it seemed like a good time to share some tips and suggestions on what to buy or acquire when moving out from home and into a shared house or halls of residence.

The Basics: Utensils for Cooking
  • 1 large and 1 small saucepan with lids
  • 1 non-stick frying pan
  • A wooden spoon
  • A knife, fork, teaspoon and tablespoon
  • A sharp knife for preparing food
  • A chopping board
  • A fish slice - plastic is best for using with a non-stick frying pan
  • A slotted spoon
  • A colander
  • A cheese grater
  • A measuring jug
  • 1 large baking tray - one without holes will be more versatile
  • 1 small or medium sized, ovenproof, pyrex dish
  • 2 cups of mugs (go for ones without metallic paint or designs as they will fare okay in the microwave)
  • 2 tea towels
  • 1 dinner plate, bowl and side plate
  • 2 plastic or glass tumblers
  • Tupperware storage pots with lids - useful for storing leftovers
  • Foil and medium sized zip-lock bags (useful for storing leftovers, cheese and freezing sauces.  Also extremely handy for disposing of rotten or smelly food as they become completely airtight and hold in any nasty smells and stop them from travelling around your home). 

Stocking your cupboards
Check out our useful, printable shopping list for a guide to the kind of foods and household items you want to be picking up when you go food shopping.  Feel free to cross off any items or add any additions.


Bedroom
  • 2 sets of bedding (fitted sheets, duvet covers and pillowcases)
  • Pillow
  • Duvet - 10 - 13 tog will be best for most UK weather conditions
  • Blanket - fleece is good as it's low cost, warm, easy to clean and doesn't weigh much
  • Alarm clock
  • Coat hangers
  • Stationery and writing materials
Other useful items
  • Bathrobe (very handy if you are in a share block in halls of residence as the fire alarm is likely to go off a fair bit in the early months).
  • Flip flops - ideal for small trips around campus or halls of residence, travelling from the shower/bathroom to your bedroom and for putting on quickly if the fire alarm goes off.
  • 2 Bath towels in large and small (bath sheet and hand towel)
  • Bin bags
  • Command strips for fixing posters and pictures to the wall.  They cost more than bluetac but are infinitely easier to remove when you come to move out and won't damage your walls, so you should get your deposit back.
  • Basic first aid kit with extra painkillers, plasters and indigestion tablets 
  • Batteries
  • Torch
  • Plastic bucket