Living Independently

You might be one of the many students living independently for the first time. And while that can be exciting, it can also feel a little daunting — especially when suddenly you’re responsible for things you’ve never had to think about before!

Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. From doing your first food shop to figuring out what on earth those washing machine symbols mean, we’ve got answers to all the questions you’re too embarrassed to ask your flatmates. 😉

Click below to jump straight to a section

What to bring Shopping Cooking Laundry Cleaning Managing Money Health and Medical Post and Parcels Getting around colchester Safety and Security Part time work Top Tips

Things you need (and definitely don’t need!) for University:

If you’re living in University accommodation, the University has put together a list of essentials to bring with you, as well as information about what you can and can’t have in your accommodation.

If you’re living in private accommodation off campus, things might be a little different. Your accommodation may already have some furnishings, and there may be different rules about what you can bring with you. It’s worth checking before you arrive so you don’t end up bringing something you can’t use!

University Packing List

As a student, there are some things you don’t realise you need until you really need them. Here are a few things we’d definitely recommend adding to your packing list:

🧻 Toilet roll and hand soap for move-in day — you definitely don’t want to discover you’ve forgotten these at 10pm!
🔌 Extension lead and adapters — especially useful if you’re an international student.
🚪 Doorstop — a great excuse to keep your door open and say hello to your new flatmates.
🩹 Plasters and basic first-aid supplies — because blisters and minor disasters happen.
🧵 Sewing kit — you never know when a button is going to make a run for it.
📄 Copies of important documents and ID — keep them somewhere safe and easy to find.
🚿 Shower caddy and flip-flops — particularly useful if you’re sharing a bathroom.
🧽 Cleaning supplies — future you will be grateful.
🍾 Bottle opener — that bottle isn’t going to open itself!
🥡 Tupperware/food containers — great for leftovers and saving food (and money).
🧤 Tea towels, oven gloves and washing-up supplies — the glamorous side of independent living.
🥿 Slippers — because cold floors are nobody’s friend.
📚 Study supplies — notebooks, pens, highlighters and anything else you like to use when studying.

We’ve also put together some essential bundles with the things you’re likely to need in your first few days at university — you can find out more in the next section!

But there are also a few things you probably don’t need to bring with you (at least in our humble opinion):

🍽️ That fancy dinnerware set — plates and crockery have a habit of getting misplaced, broken or mysteriously ending up in someone else’s room. Sticking to the basics means they’re easier to replace and much less heartbreaking when something goes missing.
🖨️ A printer — you have a printing allowance and can easily print across campus, so save yourself the space (and the ink).
💎 Expensive or valuable items you don’t really need — university accommodation is probably not the place for your most precious possessions.
📚 Your entire school or college study collection — old notebooks, textbooks and revision materials are unlikely to get much use at university and will take up valuable space. You can leave the GCSE flashcards at home.
👔 An iron or ironing board — these are usually provided in most University accommodation, so check what’s available before packing your own.
💡 A bin or desk lamp — these are provided in most accommodation too, but it’s worth checking what’s included before you arrive.
🖼️ Blu Tack — this is usually prohibited in University accommodation because it can damage walls. Damage-free Command strips can be a good alternative, but always check your accommodation contract first.

Grocery shopping

Need something you forgot to pack? Don’t panic — the SU has you covered!

The SU Store on Central Campus is your go-to for everyday essentials, including ready-to-go lunches, fresh, frozen and cupboard food, toiletries, cleaning supplies, drinks, alcohol and plenty more.

There’s also a smaller Mini Store near Meadows and Pastures accommodation, where you can pick up your essentials without trekking across campus — including the important stuff. 😉🍻

We’ve also put together some pre-made, value-for-money bundles to help you cover the basics when you first arrive:

placeholder for essential kits

🛒 Plan before you shop

When you’re doing your food shop, it can help to plan a few meals for the week and make a clear list of the ingredients you’ll need. Before you head out, check what you already have and think about how much space you have in your cupboards, fridge and freezer.

Try to stick to your list as much as possible — and don’t go shopping when you’re absolutely starving! Everything will look delicious and your bank account may not thank you.

You also don’t need to buy a week’s worth of fresh food if you know you won’t get through it. Buy what you’ll realistically eat to avoid wasting food (and money).

📅 Know your dates

It’s worth knowing the difference between ‘Use By’ and ‘Best Before’ dates:

Use By = a food safety date. You shouldn’t eat food after its Use By date, even if it looks or smells fine.
Best Before = mainly about quality. Food may still be safe to eat after this date, although its quality may have started to decline.

Be particularly careful with meat and other foods that can carry harmful bacteria. Keep raw meat covered and stored towards the bottom of the fridge, so any juices can’t drip onto other food. Always follow the storage and cooking instructions on the packaging.

💷 Keep an eye on your spending

Setting yourself a food budget can help you keep track of where your money is going. A few easy ways to save include:

Try supermarket own brands — they’re often much cheaper than big-name brands.
Sign up for supermarket loyalty schemes — places like Tesco have reward cards and apps with discounts and offers.
Check for deals — but only buy something because it’s cheaper if you were actually going to use it!
Don’t forget the reduced section — you can sometimes find perfectly good food at a fraction of the original price.

🛍️ Cheaper Options

Home Bargains, just off campus near the Quays accommodation, is a useful place to pick up affordable food, including frozen, refrigerated and cupboard items. It’s great for basics and good value, although there’s less choice than you’ll find in a larger supermarket.

You can also pick up cleaning supplies, homeware and some décor while you’re there — handy if you’ve just moved in and realised you forgot something!

🚚 What about grocery delivery?

Getting your food shop delivered can be a really convenient option, especially for bigger shops. You can see your running total as you add things to your basket, which can make it easier to keep track of your spending.

It can also give you access to supermarkets that are further away and would be difficult to visit in person.

Just remember that deliveries usually come with a delivery fee or other charges, so they tend to make the most sense for larger shops rather than a couple of bits and pieces.

Top tip: Whether you shop in person or online, make a list, set a budget and remember that you’re shopping for your actual life — not the imaginary version of you who suddenly cooks a three-course meal every night. 😉

Cooking

Cooking for yourself is something lots of students find tricky at first. The good news? It doesn’t have to be complicated! You don’t need to be making elaborate meals every night — just aim for a balanced diet with a good mix of nutritious foods, including fruit and vegetables.

If cooking every day feels like a lot, meal prepping can make things much easier. You can cook a few portions at once and keep leftovers in the fridge or freezer to enjoy later in the week. It can save you time, money and the inevitable “what am I going to eat tonight?” panic.

There are loads of cheap, easy and student-friendly recipes online. The Student Food Project has a great collection of simple recipes to help you get started and try something new.

You can also find plenty of and other social media platforms, with options to suit different diets, tastes and cooking abilities.

Finally, a legitimate excuse to doomscroll… 👀

Laundry

Knowing how to wash and dry your clothes properly is important if you want to keep them looking their best — and avoid accidentally turning your favourite jumper into something that would fit a teddy bear.

Different fabrics and items need different care, so it’s worth getting familiar with the care labels on your clothes. They use symbols to tell you how an item should be washed, dried and cared for.

Always check the label before washing, and avoid using a higher temperature than recommended. Washing clothes too hot can cause them to shrink, fade or become damaged.

Not sure what all those mysterious symbols mean? Don’t worry — here’s a quick guide:

What do the temperatures actually mean?

20°C — very gentle/cold

Dark colours
Delicates
Clothes that aren't particularly dirty
Helps reduce colour fading

30°C — your student laundry best friend

Jeans

Synthetic fabrics

Most mixed loads

Most everyday clothes
T-shirts
Tops

40°C — everyday deeper clean

Towels
Bedding
Underwear
Heavily worn cotton clothes

60°C — only when the care label allows it

Some towels and bedding
Items where a hotter wash is specifically recommended

Fabric	How to wash	Temperature	Drying
Cotton	Normal wash	30–40°C	Tumble dry usually okay; check label
Polyester	Synthetics/easy-care cycle	30–40°C	Low heat or air dry
Wool 🐑	Wool/delicate cycle	Cold–30°C	Lay flat to dry
Denim 👖	Wash inside out	30°C	Air dry; avoid frequent washing
Sportswear 🏃	Synthetic/sports cycle	30°C	Air dry; avoid fabric softener
Linen	Gentle/normal wash	30–40°C	Air dry ideally
Silk	Delicate/hand wash	Cold–30°C	Air dry away from direct heat

Using Circuit Laundry

Our on-campus accomodations use Cicuit Laundry. Circuit Laundry can be paid for in each of the laundrettes or through the Curcuit Go app. The cost in all laundrettes is £3.05 per wash and £2.20 per dry. This video from Curcuit Laundry shows you exactly how to set up your account and use their machines.

Top tips:

Don’t put everything straight in the dryer! Check your clothes first and remove anything that shouldn’t be tumble dried. When you can, use a low heat to help prevent shrinking and damage.
👖 Turn jeans inside out before washing to help preserve their colour.
🌈 Separate your colours — keep whites, darks and colours apart to avoid lighter clothes coming out a very different shade!
🧴 Don’t go overboard with detergent. Using too much can leave residue on your clothes and isn’t great for your washing machine either. Laundry pods can make it easier to get the amount right.
🐑 Be careful with wool! Wool can shrink dramatically in the dryer, so check your labels and avoid tumble drying woollen clothes unless the label specifically says it’s safe.
👖 Check your pockets! Pens, tissues, receipts and random bits of rubbish have a habit of making laundry day much more interesting than it needs to be.
🧺 Don’t overfill the washing machine. Your clothes need room to move around to get properly clean, and overloading can put unnecessary strain on the machine.

Cleaning

🧽 Keeping your space clean

Keeping your space clean isn’t just about making it look nice — it can also help keep your home healthy and comfortable. And the good news is that a little bit of cleaning regularly is much easier than letting everything build up into one enormous cleaning mission.

There are a few things you’ll want to stay on top of:

🍽️ Wash up regularly — don’t let food become crusted onto plates, pans and surfaces or start developing its own ecosystem.
🗑️ Take the bins out — old food and rubbish can start to smell and attract unwanted visitors.
🧴 Wipe and disinfect surfaces, particularly in the kitchen where surfaces come into contact with food.
🧊 Check your fridge regularly and get rid of anything that’s gone out of date or started to spoil.
🚿 Keep your bathroom clean — bathrooms can build up bacteria and mould quickly because of all the moisture.

🚿 Give your bathroom some air

Bathrooms, particularly small ones, can get damp very quickly. Leave the door open when you can to improve airflow, and spread your shower curtain out after showering so it can dry properly and reduce the chance of mould and mildew building up.

A bathroom-specific cleaning spray can be useful for tackling soap scum and product build-up from things like shampoo and conditioner.

Try to clear hair from your shower drain regularly to prevent blockages. It’s not glamorous, but neither is standing in ankle-deep shower water.

🧤 Clean safely

Yes, cleaning can actually be dangerous — so a few simple precautions are worth taking:

Never mix cleaning products, particularly bleach with other products. Some combinations can produce dangerous gases.
Follow the instructions and warnings on the packaging.
Keep the room well ventilated when using cleaning products.
Wear gloves to protect your skin, particularly when using stronger products.
Avoid getting cleaning products on your skin or in your eyes.
Wear clothes you don’t mind getting messy or stained — some cleaning products can permanently damage fabric.
Only use bleach in the toilet bowl, as it can cause damage to drains

🛏️ Don’t forget your bedding

Your bedding collects sweat, oils and dead skin, so it’s worth giving it a regular wash.

As a general guide:

Sheets and pillowcases: around once a week
Pillows: every 4–6 months
Duvet: once or twice a year

Always check the care label before washing your bedding, particularly for pillows and duvets, as different fillings can have different washing and drying requirements.

Managing money:

Budgeting is one of those skills that becomes very useful very quickly when you’re at university. You don’t need a complicated spreadsheet or a finance degree — just having a rough idea of what’s coming in and what’s going out can make a big difference.

Start by working out your income and regular spending, and make sure you can cover your essentials, such as:

🏠 Accommodation
🛒 Food
💡 Bills
🚌 Transport
📚 Course materials
🧴 Toiletries and other everyday essentials

📅 Don’t forget the costs that pop up later

Not everything needs to be paid for every month. You might have larger or less frequent expenses such as accommodation instalments, travelling home, course equipment or annual subscriptions.

It can help to make a note of these in advance and put some money aside for them, so you’re not caught out later in the year.

💡 Get some help with budgeting

The University partners with Blackbullion, which offers free financial guidance, online modules and a budget calculator to help you get to grips with your money.

You can sign up using your Essex email address.

Blackbullion

🛍️ Make your money go further

There are lots of ways to cut your costs without cutting out all the fun. Try:

Using student discounts where you can
Buying second-hand rather than new
Cooking at home instead of relying on takeaways
Choosing free or low-cost activities
Comparing prices before you buy
Keeping a little money aside for unexpected costs, where possible

You don’t need to get your budget perfect straight away. The important thing is knowing what you have, what you need to spend and what’s coming up.

Health and Medical

One of those jobs that’s easy to forget when you first arrive is registering with a GP. You might not need a doctor straight away, but registering early means you’ll be ready to make an appointment if you do become unwell.

If you’re living on campus, you can register online with the University Health Centre:

New Patient Portal

To make an appointment with the Health Centre, you’ll need to be registered with the practice first and use their online appointment system, Anima.

💊 Getting your prescriptions

If you take regular medication, you can have your prescriptions delivered to SU Reception, which can make things a little easier when you’re living on campus.

To do this, ask your GP to send your prescription to Hythe Pharmacy, then ask the pharmacy to arrange delivery to campus. SU Reception will email you when your prescription is ready to collect.

💷 Help with health costs

Healthcare costs can add up, but you may be eligible for help with some NHS health costs, including prescriptions.

SU Reception can provide you with an HC1 form, which you can complete and send to the NHS to find out whether you’re eligible for help with your costs.

Post and Parcels

If you live in University accommodation, you can have post and parcels delivered directly to your residence. Depending on where you live, deliveries will either be left in your flat kitchen or sent to your nearest accommodation reception for you to collect.

If you don’t live on campus, any post addressed to you at the University will be delivered to the Post Room.

📍 Post Room: 4N.3.0, Floor 3

🕙 Opening hours: Monday–Friday, 10:00am–4:15pm

Closed on Bank Holidays and during the Christmas closure period.

📦 Amazon Lockers

If you’re ordering from Amazon, you can also use the Amazon Lockers on Square 3, located at the entrance to 3NE. Just select a locker as your delivery location when you place your order, then collect your parcel whenever it suits you.

Getting around Colchester

Whether you’re heading into town, off to the hospital or exploring further afield, there are plenty of ways to get around Colchester and beyond.

🚌 Local buses

A few bus services run through or near campus:

51 (First Bus) runs between Highwoods and Wivenhoe, stopping at the University, Colchester city centre and Colchester Hospital.
87 (First Bus) runs between Great Horkesley and Brightlingsea, also stopping at the University, city centre and Wivenhoe.
74 and 76 (Central Connect) run between Colchester and Clacton-on-Sea, with stops in Wivenhoe along the way.

There are bus stops on campus outside South Courts, outside Essex Business School, and next to Meadows and Pastures accommodation.

🎟️ Student bus discounts

First Bus offers exclusive discounts for Essex students, so it’s worth checking these out before buying your bus tickets.

To get a discounted student pass:

Download the First Bus app.
Sign up using your @essex.ac.uk email address.
Select ‘Buy Tickets’.
Filter for student tickets.
Choose the zone and duration you need.

Passes are available for anything from one week to one year.

Make sure you select the ticket for ‘UofE’ students, and carry your student ID with you whenever you travel.

🚆 Trains

The nearest railway station to campus is Hythe Station, which is around a 30-minute walk from campus or accessible by bus.

From Hythe, you can get direct services to London, as well as connections to destinations across Essex and Suffolk.

🚕 Taxis

There are taxi ranks on campus at the top of North Towers Car Park and by South Courts accommodation, making them convenient places for pick-ups and drop-offs.

Local taxi companies serving the area include Panther Cabs, Roman Cars and Five Eights.

🚲 Driving and cycling

If you’re bringing a car or bike to Essex, there’s more information about student parking and cycling on the University website:

Student Parking and Cycling How to get to Campus

Safety and Security:

The Colchester Campus has a dedicated 24/7 Security and Safety Team, with additional security provision in some on-campus accommodation.

📞 Campus Security

Campus Security: 01206 872125

In an emergency on campus: 01206 872222

Calling the emergency Security line allows the Security Team to respond quickly and direct emergency services to your exact location if needed. For life-threatening emergencies, you can also call 999.

📱 SafeZone

The University also uses the SafeZone app, which allows you to quickly raise alerts for medical or emergency situations on campus.

Alerts are sent to the Security Team and trained first responders near your location, who can provide assistance.

It’s worth downloading SafeZone when you arrive — hopefully you’ll never need it, but it’s much better to have it ready just in case.

Safezone App Security Services

Finding Part-Time Work:

For some students, part-time work can be a useful way to earn some extra money alongside your studies. If you’re looking for a job, there are lots of places to start your search.

You can find part-time opportunities through the SU jobs pages and the University’s careers platform, Careers Connect. External job sites such as Indeed also advertise roles in Colchester and the surrounding area.

📅 Part-time Jobs Fair

The University also runs a Part-Time Jobs Fair during Term 1, connecting students with local employers and volunteering opportunities.

📍 Square 5

📅 7 October

🕚 11:00am–3:00pm

It’s a great chance to meet employers, find out what’s available locally and explore opportunities that could fit around your studies.

Top tips for living independently:

💷 Don’t blow all your student finance in a month! Make a budget and stick to it (really!). Your student finance needs to last a lot longer than that first week of excitement.

📁 Keep your important documents together. Create one folder — digital or physical — for everything important, from your passport and accommodation contract to bills and University communications. Keep it somewhere safe and make sure you know where it is!

📅 Become best friends with your calendar. Your Outlook calendar isn’t just for lectures and deadlines! Add reminders, friends’ birthdays, SU events, work shifts, appointments and anything else you need to remember. Keeping everything in one place makes life much easier.

📞 Save important contacts before something goes wrong. When you arrive, save useful numbers such as Campus Security and your accommodation’s security, maintenance or repairs team. You’ll be glad you did if you ever need them.

🤝 Don’t confuse independence with doing everything alone. Lean on your support systems — whether that’s family, friends, University support or your SU family — when you have questions or need a bit of extra help. And give yourself time: settling in doesn’t happen overnight!