Packing Essentials

It’s that time of the year. You’re waiting for your visa, all done with your accommodation, a bundle of nerves but excited to move in and begin a new adventure. There’s a thousand packing lists on the Internet – here’s that info filtered down to what really worked for me. Full disclosure – this info is fresh from the oven, I’m literally posting from Heathrow on my way to Edinburgh, less than 24 hours since I finished stuffing my TSA-equipped (important stuff) bags to their absolute 23kg limits (British Airways loyalty – questionable, I know).

Bedding

There’s a handy service called UniKitOut that everyone asks me about. They deliver a bedding pack (sometimes even kitchen supplies) right to your room even before you move in if you’re in student accommodation. I haven’t used their services so while I can’t comment on their quality, I can assure you that if you pack wisely for emergencies* (read: you’ve just landed and are too exhausted to make an Ikea run on day 1), you can find everything in that UniKitOut pack for much cheaper prices in local stores. Also, don’t even consider the uni bedding pack – you’ll regret their quality right off the bat. Here’s what you’ll actually need:

1. A duvet (I had a 10.5 tog and used it all-year round)

2. A duvet cover (or two, depending on how you do your laundry)

3. Pillows (swaad anusaar)

4. Pillow covers (just as many)

5. Bed sheets (2 or 3 – a new bedsheet can change the look of your room; a vibrant colour will help brighten up your room in the long, gloomy winter)

6. A light throw (pack this in your luggage, especially if you plan on buying bedding when you arrive)

I did not use any mattress protectors or anything of the sort (read this on literally every packing list I saw) and I’m well and alive – don’t fuss so much about it. [EDIT: Past Diya was young and silly. Mattress protectors are a game-changer for spillages etc. and I would highly recommend them! Most rental properties already come with them though, so check before you buy.]

My bedding horror story – I was blissfully warned of the tragedy of the uni bedding pack, so I came in all excited to make an IKEA run on day 1 and flaunt my cheaper, better-quality purchase. Spoiler alert, not how it panned out. I tested positive for COVID when I landed and, forced into my room indefinitely to isolate, my IKEA dreams shattered. Amazon Prime to the eternal rescue, I ordered a bedding pack for next-day delivery. The odds were ­just not lining up for me because the reception at Pollock (thanks to the hundreds of parcels it was getting) took a week to process my parcel. All the while, I wasn’t sure if Amazon took it back, if the reception just couldn’t find it or if the delivery just hadn’t been completed (and the picture evidence on my laptop was a lie). I was quite (understandably) desperate at this point and ended up ordering another duvet for myself. Right when I finished my week-long isolation, both parcels processed on the same day. I’d survived a week with my beloved throw that I hauled everywhere and a rolled-up towel as a pillow – now I had two duvets I didn’t know what to do with (not a good investment whatsoever). Moral of the story – have a beloved throw you haul everywhere. Maybe a pillow too. And don’t get COVID.

Bathroom

AKA “What’s In My Shower Caddy”

1. Body wash (much better than a bar of soap)

2. Hand wash (if you have en-suite bathrooms)

3. Shampoo and conditioner (you get most major brands in Edinburgh if you’re not too picky, but if you use something specific, I’d suggest getting it from home; I use a Dove conditioner and did not find it in any store I’ve been to)

4. Face wash

5. Sunscreen (for those rare sunny days)

6. Moisturiser

7. Shaving cream and razors, or wax strips or epilators, whatever you’re used to.

8. Sanitary products (do not hoard – Scotland gives you these for free)

9. A towel (honestly, get 2.)

10. Hand towels

11. Washcloths

12. Loofah

13. Toothbrush and toothpaste

If your accommodation has shared bathrooms, I cannot recommend a shower caddy and bathrobe enough. It just makes life so much easier when you have to drag all your toiletries to the bathroom and back every time you shower, and you can change in the comfort of your room without feeling awkward about how long you’re occupying the bathroom for.

Remember to not pack any liquids in your cabin suitcase unless you really want to part with it at security check. Also, if your toiletries aren’t sealed already, tape them up so your suitcase doesn’t get messy even if they end up leaking out. This goes for any liquids you’ll carry!

Kitchen

This may depend quite a bit on personal preference, so feel free to make modifications to this list as you go. Before you run off and buy everything on this list (and any other, for that matter), check the stuff your accommodation is going to provide for you. If they’ve not explicitly mentioned that in their contract or website, email them to double-check. Check if you have anything extra in your kitchen at home, any utensils to spare so you don’t need to buy a whole new pack. Any stuff that you can share with friends and flatmates, discuss and split. You’ll not necessarily need 4 pans between 4 people. This is extra important for electronics – I’d suggest waiting until you move in to buy those so you can split the costs between flatmates. I bought hardly anything on this list – literally everything is stuff I’m splitting with flatmates or things I had lying around at home, not being used by anyone.

1. An oven dish (prime example of things I had lying around at home)

2. Measuring spoons

3. Cutlery

4. A whisk

5. A knife

6. A chopping board

7. A peeler

8. A grater

9. A spatula

10. A ladle

11. A pot (something resembling a kadhaai)

12. A saucepan

13. 3 Plates

14. 4 Bowls

15. Glasses

16. Bag sealing clips

17. An oven mitt

18. A blender

19. Disposable cutlery

20. 2 mugs

21. A kettle

22. A toaster

23. An InstaPot (the easier, fire alarm-friendly alternative to a pressure cooker)

24. Microwave-safe bowls

25. Tupperware (I have 2 cartons full if you wanna pick them up from me in Edinburgh)

26. A spice box

27. An ice tray

Every accommodation I know provides a fridge and microwave, so you don’t need to worry about those. Stuff like a waffle maker, sandwich maker, egg boiler or chopper can also come in handy but they’re all things you can live without. Buy only if you’d really use it and are getting them for a good bargain. A lot of things you think you can’t live without, you realise you can.

Food

1. Chips (a 20rs pack of Kurkure costs £1 in Edi – all empty space in my suitcase is stuffed with chips)

2. Specific spices (I’m getting misal rassa and a specific shahi paneer masala Mom uses)

3. Biscuits (you don’t get Bourbon and Hide-n-Seek in Edi)

4. Homemade food

5. Thepla

Mythbusting time

(*cracks knuckles and smirks*)

a. For my dahi-crazy buddies, you get good dahi at every supermarket disguised as unflavoured/plain/natural yoghurt. You also get vegan alternatives (I don’t like).

b. You’re not allowed to carry dairy into the UK. I’ve not packed any ghee and am just gonna take my chances with Indian stores in Edinburgh.

c. You get all common Indian spices at Indian stores – salt, red chilli powder, hing, haldi and so on – at pretty much the same cost as in India.

d. Please don’t hoard Maggi – you get 3 packets for £1.

e. Alcohol and cigs are VERY EXPENSIVE. Mumbai Duty Free is not much better.

f. You get good paneer at Tesco.

g. You can get good Dahi Puri for your chaat cravings but please tell me if you get good Gol Gappe/Pani Puri anywhere. (sobs)

Clothes

1. T-Shirts/tops – I got around 20

2. Shorts – yes, you will get to wear them

3. Trousers – I had 5 (black, blue, beige)

4. A thin sweater (so you can layer)

5. A sweatshirt/jacket

6. A good pair of sports shoes (for the 30k steps you'll be doing everyday)

7. Socks

8. Gloves (if you plan on taking your hands out of your pockets in Jan)

9. Caps (cover your ears!)

10. Thermals (I had a pair of warm black leggings which I’d layer with a denim jogger on extra cold days)

You’ll need to get a pair of waterproof shoes and a warm, waterproof jacket. I got both from Primark right after Welcome Week and used them extensively all-year-round.

Other random things you need (in absolutely no order)

1. Scissors

2. Nail clippers

3. Room freshener

4. Iron + ironing board

5. Hangers

6. Perfume

7. Stationery

8. Masks and sanitiser

9. Garbage bags

10. Tape

11. Pinboard pins

12. Bluetooth speaker

13. Adaptors

14. Books (if you need to buy coursebooks, they’re likely much cheaper in India)

15. Board games

16. Post-its

17. Shoe bags

18. Laundry bag

19. Things with sentimental value

20. Power bank (do not put this in your check-in bag!)

21. Travel documents (make a folder for these in your carry-on – accommodation contract, CAS screenshot, vaccination certificate, Aadhar card, offer letter)

22. Medicines and prescriptions (freshers flu is legit!)

23. Sunglasses (the glare can get unbearable)

I hope you find this list helpful! Stay tuned for a follow-up on where to do all your shopping in Edinburgh; the easiest, the best and the most affordable options. Also, help me out by letting me know if this list was helpful and if you'd (hypothetically, of course) be interested in buying a printable PDF for a minimal cost. Cheers!

Would you buy a Printable Packing Essentials PDF?

• Yes, duh!
• Nah, not really.
• Meh, maybe.