There is a lot for your teen to think about when they leave home for the first time and head for university life. This could be the first time they have lived independently and don’t have mum downstairs to offload washing on and be their personal taxi. Start preparing them now to cook for themselves, manage their money to getting to know a new town and where the nearest supermarkets and doctor’s surgery is.
while this can be a difficult time for you, you’ll want to help as much as possible to get them ready for life away from home. Here are some simple tips for making sure their new university life goes as smoothly and safely as possible.
Brush Up on Some Cooking Skills
The more cooking you do, the more you’ll notice that a lot of recipes use the same base ingredients.
That’s why it’s a good idea to stock up on these essential basics, as it’s a lot easier to throw together meals if you know you have the majority of the ingredients already in your cupboard. Also, try using some budget-price products like the store brand’s own labels. Teach your child the art of batch cooking so meals can be made and frozen for those busy days in class. This also stops the temptation of them to pick up their phones and buy a takeaway.
Top tip – Purchase a slow cooker for their new university accommodation
Starting University – Teach Essential Skills
Many teens go off to university, having never needed to fend for themselves. This means that they have never cooked for themselves, cleaned, or done their own laundry, and can mean that they have stress and anxiety when arriving at their new accommodation. Teaching your teen all the essential skills they will need to live independently is crucial to ensure they are equipped to take care of themselves. Help find and register them with a local doctor and supply them with telephone numbers for a local chemist and hospital and most importantly essential numbers to call if they feel their mental health is suffering.
Help Them Find a Student Bank Account
If your teen is getting ready for starting university, you’ll want to choose the right student bank account. Student bank accounts work in a similar way to standard current accounts but they can only be opened by students and usually come with interest-free overdrafts and other benefits. Remember to take Proof you are a student your UCAS status code is the simplest way to do this.
Essential Electronic Devices
When starting university there is a list of essential electronic devices that are essential and a few that will just make their life easier and give them the creature comforts they miss from home.
- Toaster
- Kettle
- Microwave
- Contract mobile phone – to call mum obviously!
- Tablet for studying, taking lecture notes, and face timing family
- Laptop
- Tv – Add them to your TV subscription family accounts
Need to Know websites
Your teen will probably settle well starting university and start enjoying their new life, friends, and independence. Just incase of any issues big or small it is helpful to give them the tools they need to ask for help.
The following websites might be helpful as they prepare to leave.
NUS: The one-stop student information shop
Gov.uk: Everything they need to know about loans, budgeting, and student finance
Money Saving Expert: Top tips on how to make the loan go further and the best student bank accounts available
The Student Accommodation Code protects students’ rights to good accommodation. Find out what should be expected from student accommodation and see which halls are covered
Student Recipes: Over 3,700 quick and easy recipes for students by students
Counselling for student mental health problems
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