There is something about sending a child to university that makes perfectly sensible parents start buying things as though their teenager is moving into a fully furnished penthouse.

I understand it.

Buying things feels like doing something.

It feels like preparation.

It feels like one small way of looking after them when you are about to lose the ability to see what they are eating every day.

But after helping two sons move into university life, there are definitely a few things I would wait on.

1. A Giant Cookware Set

They probably do not need six saucepans, three frying pans and a wok before they have cooked their first meal.

Most students can get very far with:

• one frying pan

• one saucepan

• one baking tray

Start small.

Add later if needed.

2. An Air Fryer Before Checking the Rules

Air fryers are brilliant.

But student accommodation can have its own appliance rules.

There may already be one in the kitchen.

A flatmate may bring one.

There may be very little counter space.

Check first.

Buy second.

3. Too Much Crockery

Your student does not need eight plates.

Or twelve mugs.

Or a dinner set that could cater Christmas lunch.

A couple of plates, bowls and mugs is usually plenty to begin with.

Less stuff also means less washing up.

In theory.

4. Loads of Decorative Storage

Storage baskets are lovely.

Until you discover they do not fit under the bed.

Or the wardrobe.

Or anywhere useful.

Wait until you see the actual room before buying lots of organisers.

University rooms vary enormously.

5. Expensive Bedding Before Confirming Bed Size

Never assume.

Check the accommodation details first.

Student beds can vary in size, and buying the wrong bedding is an annoying and completely avoidable expense.

6. Every Cleaning Product Known to Humankind

They do not need a cupboard that looks like a supermarket cleaning aisle.

Start with the basics:

• washing-up liquid

• sponge

• multipurpose cleaner

• cloths

• bin bags

• laundry detergent

They can add more later.

7. A Mountain of Food Before They Know What They Will Eat

It is tempting to send them away with enough food to survive an apocalypse.

But fresh food gets wasted.

Taste changes.

Flatmates share things.

Schedules change.

Start with easy basics and a few reliable meals.

You can always restock.

What I Would Buy

I would focus on:

• a simple first kitchen

• basic bedding

• a laundry basket

• extension lead if allowed

• reusable water bottle

• basic first-aid supplies

• storage containers

• a document folder

• one or two things that make the room feel like home

That is enough to begin.

Sometimes Preparing Them Means Buying Less

One of the biggest things I learned is that we parents can sometimes confuse buying with preparing.

The two are not the same.

A new frying pan is useful.

Knowing how to cook an omelette in it is better.

A laundry basket is useful.

Knowing how to run the washing machine is better.

A budget planner is useful.

Understanding how much money is actually available to spend is better.

The goal is not to give them everything.

It is to help them feel capable when we are not standing beside them.

And if there is one thing I know now, it is this:

Sometimes preparing them means buying less and teaching more.

If you are getting ready for university and want a simple place to start, download the free Before Uni Checklist.

And if food is the part you are most worried about, The Student’s First 10 Meals is designed exactly for that.