So you’ve aced your A-Levels and now you’re off to Uni. You’ve got a book list as long as your arm and your mum nagging you to buy only sensible, warm clothes to take away with you. Well she’s right. We’ve been there, done that and bought the t-shirt (using NUS discount, of course). Here’s our Editor Hannah’s advice on what students will need to buy…
1. An NUS Extra Card: Yes it does cost you £12 a year, but you could easily save over £500 when you can use it to claim student discount on everything from food to fashion, transport to event tickets. Just look at the places you can shop and save in the SalesGossip student section…
2. A Watch: Free from the constraints of a long college day you’ll want to make sure you’re on time for the lectures you do have - there’s a new city to find your way around and many universities won’t stand for late entry. Navajo Watch, £18, River Island.
3. A Student Planner: There aren’t just lectures, seminars, essay deadlines and exam dates to worry about – you’ll also have a year packed with freshers’ socials to keep track of! Mid-Year Floral Organiser, £15, Paperchase.
4. A Warm Winter Coat: Summer is fast drawing to a close and you’ll need a coat to keep warm – believe me, I’ve walked home at 3am wearing shorts and a t-shirt in the snow! This khaki Topshop coat combines two of Autumn’s biggest trends – military styling and leather. It’s also a good idea to stock up on the basics – underwear, t-shirts, jeans etc. to avoid taking loads of washing back home to often. Kharki Coat, £65, Topshop.
5. Winter Woolies: Student houses don’t tend to be warm and cosy places – especially when the boiler breaks in mid-winter. I once had a friend come to visit me who never took her gloves off the whole weekend she stayed. Sheepskin Mittens, were £15 now £6 at ASOS & Superdry Bobble Hat, £19.99.
6. A Sturdy Satchel and Shopping Bag: I’ve had many a handbag strap snap under the weight of textbooks. My Norton Anthology to Literary Criticism now makes a handy doorstop, but while you’ve got to carry this stuff around it’s worth investing in a strong (and stylish) bag – and it never hurts to have a foldaway shopper to spare. Brown Leather Satchel, £95, Cambridge Satchel Co. & Peace Shopper, was £16 now £8, both available at Urban Outfitters.
7. Converse Trainers: Transport is expensive, as is a gym membership – so kill two birds with one stone and get used to walking everywhere. Converse have to be the coolest option around. Converse Pro Low Trainers, £45, from Kurt Geiger.
8. A Personalised Mug: In shared houses mugs have a habit of sprouting legs and disappearing – only to turn up 6 months later in your flatmates room where they have been cultivating mould worthy of some crazy scientific experiment. Get one with your name on – or the name of your hero – and they won’t dare touch it. Oscar Wilde Mug, from £18, Emma Bridgewater. Add the name of your choice for £1 a letter.
