Article provided by Storebox storage solutions

It’s that time of year again and the fresher students are flocking to universities up and down the country, ready to start their uni experience.

Heading off to university can be an exciting and stressful experience. For those lucky enough to be able to study at home, with little financial worries, uni will start off pretty smoothly. However, if you are one of the thousands of students fleeing the nest and heading out to make it on your own, it can be confusing as to what to pack in your endless amount of boxes.

The majority of first year students will be heading out to live in student halls, either on campus or in private accommodation. This is where the confusion lies. Many turn up with boxes filled with various kitchen items, every item from their bedrooms back home and even that cocktail making set that was gathering dust in a cupboard somewhere.

To make your transition as stress free as possible, it’s important to make a list of all the essentials you will need, and think carefully about some of the things you’ll be able to leave back at home.

Kitchen

When it comes to essential kitchen items, it might be an idea to leave that fancy garlic press and expensive lemon squeezer where it is.

The kitchen area is usually the first place to get over-crowded. Remember that supermarkets and homeware stores will usually do cheap, essential items right around moving time, so you don’t have to have everything straight off the bat.

Make sure you have a baking tray, 2 saucepans, 2-3 sharp knives and a chopping board when you first move in, then as you go along you can grab other items you find you need day-to- day.

Other essentials you might forget are tea towels and oven gloves. There’s nothing worse then going to get your chicken kiev out of the oven and realising you have no oven gloves to do so.

For bigger appliances such as a toaster and kettle, it’s always a good idea to wait and see what comes with your flat. In the majority of student halls, you will be provided with these types of items.

Bathroom

If you have a shared bathroom, then the less items the better. The only essentials you should need are towels and washcloths. Things like bathroom scales, soap dishes and a bin can all be bought once you’ve finally moved in.

Bedroom

If you’ve been for an open day at your chosen university, you’ve probably had a look inside your student halls already and know just how much room you have to play with. Taking personal items such as a few photos and ornaments can help when the homesickness sets in. However, remember that you won’t be there forever and over your time at uni, you may find you collect new decorative items and items of sentiment.

The essentials for your bedroom may include a lamp at most, but the majority of student hall bedrooms come fully furnished, so all you’ll really need are clothes and any beauty/hygiene items you use on a daily basis.

No matter how far away from home you’re moving, remember that you will eventually have to move out of halls, so try and make it as easy as possible to move your stuff out when the time comes. If you have the opportunity, talk to your flatmates and find out what items they’re bringing, you don’t want to end up with hundreds of pans filling your cupboards. Try not to stress too much and remember to enjoy this new and exciting experience.

Find Storebox storage at Storenextdoor at Manchester, City Airport, Cambridge, Colchester and Hornsey.