How much to budget for UK 3-year degree?
-
Hello everyone,
My son wants to do a law 3-year degree in UK after his A level this year. Assuming he gets in a place in university in one of these like UCL, LSE, Warwick and Nottingham, I understand London living cost will be higher. How much does do I need to budget for -
a. tuition fee
b. living costs
c. any other cost.
Thank you. -
Below are the approximate sums of my daughter (Science) in London (in pounds):
First Year
Fees\t
18000
School Dorm with breakfast, dinner and housekeeping (9 months, Single Room, Shared Toilet with another room)\t
7100
Grocery / Food / Transport / Phone Bills / Entertainment\t
300 x 9 months = 2700
Total = 27800 pounds
Above exclude airtickets but incl the several trips she made to Spain, Italy, Paris, and one more (can't remember) during her breaks (usually a group of them traveled together and staying in 10 pounds/night dorm, backpacker-style).
She is coming back for Jun holidays soon and I still have about 2500 pounds in the bank after my first transfer of 30,000 pounds into her account (meaning for first year, she spent about 27,500 pounds, incl of everything such as buying of a printer, etc).
Her second year budget:
Fees\t
19500
Single Room in a shared-apartment (12 months)\t
9360
Grocery / Food / Transport / Phone Bills \t
450 x 12 = 5400
Total = 34,260
Second year I will not give her any budget for travelling and entertainment coz she will work on weekends as a salesperson (making about 6 pounds / hour).
PS: She lives comfortably with above allowance. Her Jun - Sep holidays will be interned in Spore at S$600/month. She plans to have second year internship in London itself and therefore she looks for 12-month tenure for her second year accommodation (lease usually signed with either 9 months or 12 months or 24 months tenure there. 9-month tenure tends to fetch higher weekly rate than 12-month and so it's very challenging to try to match).
PS2: She is not a scholar but ALL her close female peers are scholars. ALL these scholars want to have single room and so she can't find anyone to share room with and have to take on a single room herself which both of us feel is unnecessary expenses. As scholars' accommodation charges are highly (if not fully) subsidised, ALL her peers go for single room. (meaning if your child can find someone to share room, the accomodation cost can drop quite a lot if she is not going there under scholarship). Her new accommodation is within walking distance to school and so rent is very expensive, meaning further away is much cheaper but then have to factor in transport charges, travel time, discomfort of moving around in bitter winter, etc...
Hope above info is helpful to your planning...
Note: numbers edited. Roughly first year to budget about S$60,000 and second year S$70,000. -
Thanks for the information! It is most helpful.
How about the financial guarantee? Do they need all 4 years? By the way, did your daughter face any adjustment problems when she moved to the UK?
Thanks!! -
Quintessential Mum:
Hi Q Mum,Thanks for the information! It is most helpful.
How about the financial guarantee? Do they need all 4 years? By the way, did your daughter face any adjustment problems when she moved to the UK?
Thanks!!
Errrr...dont need financial guarantee leh.
In her visa application, one of the documents required I remember is have to show a bank statement under sponsor's name to have minimum amount of first year expenses but during her visa interview, she was not asked to produce that documents (which was prepared).
It was smooth sailing for her with no adjustment problems. I flew with her on her first trip there coz too many things to carry and weight limit of 30 kgs can't really bring much and so I brought myself there to have additional 30 kgs (flew Emirate but SQ also allows 30 kgs if informed beforehand is a student or at airport counter, show them the student visa and they will take in 30 kgs). Then, we shopped around for plates and bowls, etc, to set up her dorm.
She was lucky coz she has a very good neighbour (also a Sporean girl) and two can click very well. So, she settled down very fast with ease after I left. Now she has a big clique who will travel to nearby places together.
She also has been dealing with the winter quite smoothly there (staying in dorm is an advantage plus her winter gears are good enough for her to weather the slippery roads and cold).
You don't worry too much coz kids are really stronger and smarter than what we imagine them to be...
PS: Just that the study and grading system is a bit different from here. May need to blur blur a bit first in the beginning then later know how then can score with the 'correct' method (not by hard regurgitation...)
PS2: Her neighbour shipped most of her stuff there. Warn you first, it takes about 2 months for the cartons to reach there. So, don't pack things that need to be used daily inside those cartons else really have to wait till neck long long if you intend to ship...(another friend expecting a present to be airmailed to him but it NEVER arrives somehow...) -
Thanks a bunch insider!! You are so helpful.
True, cost of living in London is expensive. What is your daughter studying and how long will she be in the UK?
I am so glad to know that she settled down quickly and is happy there.
I have heard that there is a strong drinking/partying/drug abuse culture there and the kids can easily be tempted. This is a cause for concern.
By the way, does she come home once a year or every term?
Thank you once again! Have an awesome day!
Cheers -
Quintessential Mum:
I have heard that there is a strong drinking/partying/drug abuse culture there and the kids can easily be tempted. This is a cause for concern.
By the way, does she come home once a year or every term?
Thank you once again! Have an awesome day!
Cheers
For first year, she is taking BioTechnology and then second year she will be changing to BioChemistry (under her professor's advice).
She is looking at obtaining a first class degree for her 3-year course, then with her first class, go direct into a PhD programme (about another 3 years) either in UK or back in Spore. Her interest is in research and if can’t do research due to whatsoever reasons, then as a Pharmacist with final plan as a lecturer (she is good in presentations). If she fails to obtain a first class, then will have to take another year of Masters before PhD.
Pertaining to ‘bad culture’, I guess this thing is like almost everywhere and therefore, this is where 家教 will come in. Even in her elite secondary girls school, there are lesbians, underaged pub drinking, pregnancy, etc issues. These are things that actually to me is good to expose kids to. A ‘good’ person is not really one who doesn’t do bad things but to me is one who can be among the bad things but still remain ‘pure’.
She had a 3-month internship in Manchester during her 3rd year poly and that time she also stayed in the dorm with shared toilet. Then, there would be people drinking and partying in the shared kitchen as well as making out in the toilet (at anytime of the day). So, those were just ‘eyes opener’ for her and I feel it would be up to her how she wants to use her logical reasoning to decide whether to participate in such activities.
In her current dorm, it’s more ‘proper’ coz she is in one of the more expensive dorms available where kids who party lesser will prefer (meaning other dorms may have more party culture). So, you may want to study ‘dorm culture’ if you are really concerned about ‘bad influence’. She chose that particular dorm (can’t really choose actually as one can put in the preferred but at the end is still subject to availability / balloting) coz she read that kids who stay in the norms are mostly ‘nerds’ and therefore environment is more quiet (which is true). If it is my son, he will be bored to death in that kind of environment and probably will choose the ‘most happening’ dorm and be the organizer of parties.
I am reading the three words - ‘easily be tempted’. I think we all understand our kids well, as to whether they can be easily tempted or not. Even for my playful son, I don’t think he will be easily tempted as I trust he knows how to draw a line between responsibility and play, and therefore, he is allowed to party as much as he wants. This is the ‘faith’ element that I have in him; sort of an ‘implied expectation’.
My daughter did all the research on her UK studies on own. She read about courses and charted her path. She presented to me the pluses and minuses of each university and later each dorm with respective cost. Her UCAS application etc was totally none of my business (largely coz I am not familiar with her course and therefore unable to advise and so better don’t 越帮越忙). I always feel it is important to let kids have ownership of such research instead of being spoon fed. (not that I don’t research at all but she has to do on her own and her reasoning must fit what I read myself, otherwise, we re-chart, etc).
Finally, maybe you want to fall back on the saying of “birds of a feather flock together” whereby usually human will ‘scan’ among the crowd and stick to people similar to themselves. So, if your child is the studious kind, he/she will tend to stick with peers of his/her kind (not sure your child is a girl or boy). I see my daughter's group travelling pix, all like 'same kind' ones...
PS: My daughter is more towards 宅女 type and so she thinks partying is a waste of time done by brainless people. Honestly, I am hoping that she will dress up more and party more instead of being so boring but cant really change her coz she is just so different from my son (one is 无静不欢, another one is 无闹不欢……)
PS2: This June she will be returning for her first summer break while taking a 3-month internship (need to be resourceful to get internship attachment here while she is still there. 'Must make things happen instead of waiting for things to happen' - a strong strategising concept I built into my kids since young <by being seemingly bo-chup about them as much as I can so that they will use their brains instead of being dependent> as this is a critical surviving skill).
I don't see she will be coming back for next summer break coz she is eyeing for another internship opportunity in UK itself. Those 2-weeks Christmas breaks are too short for her to come back and so I encourage her to go for short trips around coz cheaper and more fun than taking the long flight back to eat char kway tiao...
PS3: previewing my writing and shaking head on myself for being always so lo-soh! hahaha...
Have fun! -
Thank you once again for your in depth analysis and thoughts! Your frank and honest accounts are most appreciated. It is good to know these things and also hear from someone who has experienced it first hand.
I share similar parenting views too. My daughter is like your daughter, enjoys learning very much and puts her best in everything she does. She is keen on a career in the academia sector too. Ha ha I have budgeted for 3 return air fares in a year! -
Hi Q Mum
Recommend you a gem to buy for your daughter to bring there:
Toshiba mini rice cooker (or other brands):
http://i43.tinypic.com/33ts013.png\">
This one can cook rice, instant noodles, porridge, etc. (students are not allowed to cook in their own rooms but then many will keep a mini cooker to cook secretly. Anyone get caught will have the cooker confisticated with warning issued). My daughter even managed to magic out Red Bean Paste Buns 红豆沙包 out from the cooker (got baking capability)! She also successfully made 红烧肉卤蛋(one of my own mum's best tricks):
http://i40.tinypic.com/2s9a8so.jpg\">
Go buy one first and then experiment with her how to cook 'One Pot Food' with the rice cooker before she flies off. Internet got many recipes available...
http://www.sbar.com.cn/caipu/85656/
http://i44.tinypic.com/33xyni8.png\">
http://www.sbar.com.cn/caipu/58050/
http://i40.tinypic.com/2ue1x68.png\">
http://3hungrytummies.blogspot.sg/2011/12/rice-cooker-egg-rice-malaysian-monday.html
http://i43.tinypic.com/2w1xd76.png\">
If you can read Chinese... (old links, so not sure still workable).
http://www.360doc.com/content/09/0522/23/150011_3613666.shtml
http://blog.renren.com/share/258338853/9106644930
http://www.tieku001.com/528267/1.html
http://www.sbar.com.cn/caipu/dianfanguozuocai
http://www.360doc.com/content/11/0311/11/2408194_100130112.shtml
http://www.douban.com/note/161240801/ -
WOW WOW WOW :rahrah:
Thanks so much Insider!!! Very useful. Will look out for it!! -
Hi Insider
By any chance, do you have a packing checklist? If you do,would you mind sharing it with me? Thanks so much! -
Quintessential Mum:
Below is the packing list that I posted in Mar 2011 for her internship:Hi Insider
By any chance, do you have a packing checklist? If you do,would you mind sharing it with me? Thanks so much!
Documents\t
Accommodation - Bank Draft\t
Accommodation - Documents\t
Internship Documents\t
Bank Draft\t
Passport + Photocopy\t
Cash 1000 pounds\t
Cash USD200
Cash SGD100\t
Credit Card\t
Airtickets\t
Dormitory Address\t
Clothings
Camisoles\t
Short Sleeve Shirts\t
Shot Sleeves Blouses\t
Pyjamus attire
Track Pants\t
Long Sleeve Shirts\t
Long Sleeve Blouse\t
Leggings - Thermal\t
Leggings - Normal\t
Stockings\t
Pants\t
Panties\t
Bras\t
Jacket Normal\t
Coat Thermal\t
Sweaters\t
Belts\t
Footwear - Slippers\t
Footwear - Track Shoes\t
Footwear - Boots\t
Footwear - Sandals\t
Footwear - Bedroom slippers\t
Socks - Normal\t
Socks - Thermal\t
Gloves\t
Scarves\t
Face Towel\t
Body Towel
Cap\t
Lab Coat\t
Toiletries (Small)\t
Shampoo
Body Foam\t
Umbrella\t
Toothpaste\t
Toothbrush\t
Nail Clipper\t
Face Soap\t
Facial Sunblock\t
Lip Balm\t
Moisturiser - Face\t
Moisturiser - Body\t
Contact Lenses + Solution\t
Cotton Wool\t
Comb\t
Retainer Case\t
Retainer
Dental Floss\t
Hair / Rubber bands\t
Wet Tissues\t
Tissues\t
Shower Cap\t
Cotton Buds\t
Hand Sanitizer\t
Kitchen\t
Cutlery\t
Peeler\t
Fruit Knife
Chopping Board\t
Container\t
Cup\t
Plate\t
Bowl\t
Chopsticks
Coffee / Milo Packets\t
Dish Cloth
Dried Food (Pasta sauce/seaweed/miso soup base/etc)\t
Electrical & Personal\t
Mini Iron\t
Hairdryer\t
Rice Cooker + Rice Cup\t
Mini Kettle\t
Alarm Clock\t
Kindle + cable + charger\t
I Pod Touch + cables + Charger\t
Cell Phone + Charger\t
Camera + Charger\t
Universal Adaptor\t
Laptop + Adaptor\t
Thumb Drive
External HD\t
Books\t
Notes\t
Stationery\t
School bag\t
Batteries\t
Battery Charger\t
Soft Toy\t
Scissors\t
Water Bottle\t
Spectacles\t
-----------------------------
When staying there for longer term, I bought electric bed cover (a bit like mattress protector but with wires that can be heated) and silk blanket for her to bring there (taobao can get them much cheaper than here). She told me schoolmates envy her so comfy bed during deep winter, esp when heater broke down... (the central heater in her dorm will only be on when the temperature drops to a certain degree and so all have to gear up themselves if they feel cold without heater. At times, the heater might breakdown, etc.)
I bought real iron for her there (there's a room for ironing but it's cold in that room and at times have to queue. Mini iron is not real effective).
Other than that, additional items bought there is a full size electrical kettle that comes with filter (London tap water is not drinkable. It's 'cloudy' in appearance and therefore looks 'scary' for someone who studies science thinking about bacteria, etc.), a humidifier (heater in the room dries up skin and so this one for 美容 purpose as well as for better breathing).
She upgraded her Kindle to a full size i-Pad about 6 months later coz most of her scientific journals are in pdf that she will download and read from Kindle. However, as Kindle is black and white and size a bit small, she requested for i-Pad to see colours as well as pictures in larger format.
She purchased a printer too (from amazon.uk).
Then more cultery while there (for personal use in her room).
This coming trip, we have shopped together for more cooking pots (after shifted out from the dorm to a house, she can cook more stuff on own in a proper kitchen).
She will be researching whether the spin and mop system is available in UK and if not, she will be buying a set there for mopping floor (she is used to using this spin and mop system).
PS: You may get most kitchen utensils there if you are concerned about luggage over weight. Small items are not too expensive but those real good cooking pots are very expensive (double/triple the price here) so we bought from here (your daughter will not need this yet if she is gonna stay in the dorm).
PS2:
Even A4 size papers are so expensive there. Per ream vaguely remember 4 pounds or 6 pounds (at that kind of price, usually one will treasure every piece of paper instead of anyhow use and throw). Stationery prices also can make us stick out our tongues and so if your daughter is into using different kind of stationery, then she better prepares more from here (staple, staple bullets, all sorts of pens, highlighter, liquid paper, etc). The Pilot gel pen that she has been using for years selling at about $3 - $4 per pen there. There was once I mailed to her about 10 pen refills (one refill about $0.99) coz pen prices there seem simply insane to us...
PS3:
Toiletries are abundance there at reasonable prices (cheaper than here). So, just bring minimal in small bottles and then replenish there after settling down.
PS4:
Footwear I recommend Timberland and Dr Martens (more on soft boots and forget about their 'hard' range that can kill feet). These are lasting/durable and safe that even if she wears them regularly, can last her probably for the whole 3 years there with two of each. Good walking shoes (waterproof leather or suede) are very expensive there (anything that caught my eyes was anytime above $250 while I was shopping there). Packing shoes will take up a lot of luggage space... -
Thank you so much for your detailed reply! It is most helpful. I have a couple of questions:
Electric Blanket and Humidifier - Where did you buy them from? Any brand to recommend? Thanks!
Boots/Shoes - Any model/shop that you would recommend? Thanks!
Thanks once again for your list! -
Quintessential Mum:
Hi Q Mum,Thank you so much for your detailed reply! It is most helpful. I have a couple of questions:
Electric Blanket and Humidifier - Where did you buy them from? Any brand to recommend? Thanks!
Boots/Shoes - Any model/shop that you would recommend? Thanks!
Thanks once again for your list!
1. Electric bed underlay (not sure what this is called actually but this piece is to be laid under bedsheet) I got from taobao (http://item.taobao.com/item.htm?spm=a1z10.5.w4002-2385835762.79.0dzDlo&id=19005979557
This 彩阳 brand recommended by a China friend and also a HK friend (these two don't know each other) and both said good brand and durable.
Usually my daughter will heat up her bed before she crawling herself into it. Once she is in that warm bed, then she will off the heater. In the morning, she will on it again and put her clothing on the bed. Then she will put on those 暖暖的衣裳 before going out to the cold.
Try not to sleep in the heat for too long coz will be drying and may result in heatiness (and then pimples). Must also remember to off (can't remember whether there is auto-off function or not) to prevent overheating and then fire.
That time I bought at about RMB70. So, it's cheap and good.
http://i41.tinypic.com/2rmmkjp.png\">
2. My silk blanket also from taobao (http://item.taobao.com/item.htm?spm=a1z10.5.w4002-2385835762.79.0dzDlo&id=19005979557
http://i43.tinypic.com/vdnxcn.png\">
I bought the 7 斤 weight for her (about 3.5 kg). My daughter is scared of cold kind (内寒 and so will 手脚冰冷 easily)and so I thought and thought and decided on 3.5 kg. You may buy heavier or lighter depending on your daughter's preference. (during winter, the room temperature in my daughter's dorm with heater is about 20 degrees. Without heater, about 10 degrees.).
I bought this at about RMB240 for a single size then (150 cm length). Very comfy that subsequently I bought 1.5 kg pieces for my own home when i needed to change my quilts.
3. Humidifier I bought Honeywell. You may read them from http://www.kaz.com (think they offer delivery) though that time I inexperienced, I bought from http://www.argos.co.uk (can go to this website to check prices. I like this website coz reliable and prices reasonable and also offer delivery. They have many outlets in London.). When buying humidifier, need to consider spare part (cartridge). Argos does not sell cartridge that has to be purchased from Kaz and so better to buy directly from Kaz (Argos gets their stock from Kaz).
4. Footwear you have to visit shops with your princess coz different people different type of feet (my princess' feet come with very broad top part and so need 大头鞋 that she can walk comfortably like a King else slim top will render her 寸步难行). Timberland and Doc Marten both have big flagship shops here and you may go look see esp if the Singapore Sale is still on.
PS:
My taobao stuff I always get good friends to bring back for me and so I am not familiar with shipping them into Singapore. I think there's a taobao forum page somewhere here and you may go and dig if you are interested.
Have fun shopping!
PS2:
Oh, this is the electric kettle with filter:
http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/9020809.htm
http://i39.tinypic.com/6gvedu.png\">
Something like this. Think most common brand is this Breville. That time I also not familiar with kettle with filter but when I shopped and shopped, I saw everywhere also selling this and so just bought it.
You may read around to decide on which one to buy if you are buying.
Breville's kettles with filter frequently on offer (like buy kettle then free replacement cartridge). When choosing brand, of course the replacement part has to come into mind else kettle becomes white elephant...
Most kids will buy just a plain filter jar, then they boil water in a normal kettle, let the water cool in the kettle, then pour into the filter jar. Electrical kettle with filter works with pour water into the filter, let it boil, then drink which I find more hassle free and don't need to juggle with two different equipment just to drink water = more convenient. -
Speaking as someone who studied and lived in the UK for many years, and has also lived in a few other countries over the years, I would suggest that parents allow their kids to see how people live in other countries and learn to follow suit rather than bring so much “baggage” (literally and figuratively) with them. Learning to adjust to different styles and standards of living is a valuable lesson in itself. Learning where and how to shop and a foreign country is also a good way to make kids grow up and be independent. Just my thoughts.
-
slmkhoo:
Speaking as someone who studied and lived in the UK for many years, and has also lived in a few other countries over the years, I would suggest that parents allow their kids to see how people live in other countries and learn to follow suit rather than bring so much \"baggage\" (literally and figuratively) with them. Learning to adjust to different styles and standards of living is a valuable lesson in itself. Learning where and how to shop and a foreign country is also a good way to make kids grow up and be independent. Just my thoughts.
Ya, agree...
My daughter is very thrifty kind. If I don't buy for her, most of the time she will just live with whatever she has (taobao's cheap shoes, cheap coats, etc. Buy quality stuff for her she will exclaim 'So expensive! Don't need lah!\"). I told her many times she has the budget to spend on useful things but she will always try to save as much as she can that sometimes maybe detrimental to her health (she is yet to fully grasp the concept of 'save the penny lose the pound').
London city area is poor in their clinic services and so one should try to maintain as 'sick-free' as possible. My daughter's friend was having high fever and her public doctor appointment was 7 - 14 days later. She then change to private clinic but the queue was about 4 hours long. Then she no choice visited a Chinese sinseh who prescribed her some Chinese medicine (spent about 40 pounds).
My daughter suffered from serious food allergy once and she experienced the same thing that couldn't find a doctor quick. She took photos of her badly inflamed skin (all over her body) that she said the nurse said just take antihistamine and see doc in a week time. She was in agony of itch for a period of time before the allergy wore off.
When young I also studied overseas but to a place with no winters. That time also one-hand-one-leg settled myself without any help. It's this winter and my daughter's 体质内寒 that bother me a bit. If she doesn't take care of this part, it may reduce her future 生育能力 even more substantially (体质内寒 usually implies easier miscarriage even if one manages to get pregnant from TCM point of view). This is the part that I am most concerned of (keeping warm and not to allow her body to go even more 寒 else may not be able to carry baby anymore in the future). She went there complete with 白凤丸......(my mum fed me regularly with this when I was young and I am not sure whether my so trouble-free three pregnancies and deliveries gotta do with my mum took care of my 体质 since I started menses).
PS: I am referring to London city area for those clinic comments. Other parts of London / UK may not have this problem coz friend staying in Cambridge said doc can be easily found over her end.
PS2:
As someone believes strongly in TCM, I cannot allow my daughter to live the way the ang mo live their winters with so minimal clothes (thin clothing, broad neck shirts, mini skirts, etc). This is extremely wrong from TCM angle. Many old age illnesses are due to 邪风入体 that created all sorts of aches when one doesn't take care of his/her body when they were young (enjoy strong fan, low temperature aircon, expose neck / knee areas without protection in cold weather, etc).
不听话in this area 以后就会吃无可挽回的苦头...... -
Thanks again for all your advice and insight! It is better to be prepared for the winter. As you mentioned, it will be difficult if they fall ill over there as it is difficult to visit a gp unlike Singapore where there are clinics everywhere and they have no family to care of them. As a member of the kiasuparents forum, one cannot expect anything else If not, we will not be true members...ha ha ha.
Thank you once again! -
A few suggestions to QM :
1) to check amazon website which has good bargains. Just buy and have it delivered.
2) get some medications to bring along, eg flu, stomach cramp n etc. explain to your family GP that your daughter going overseas, and they will provide the necessary.
All the best to your daughter. -
Q Mum
Another useful small thing you may wanna buy from here is laundry net:
http://i42.tinypic.com/2w3nts8.png\">
You may go and buy from Daiso coz their quality not bad and price reasonable.
Over there, other than panties, anything (bra and socks incl) that does not require dry cleaning will go inside the washer. We can't seem to really find laundry net there in our first trip and when we managed to find, the price is about 4 pounds per net (stick out my tongue again) vs $2 per net from Daiso.
Without laundry net, clothes spoil / go out of shape much easier...
PS:
When choosing clothings, try to choose those can be thrown inside washer and dryer. My daughter's little dorm space is filled with clothes out from the washer coz those are the ones that cannot be thrown inside dryer (will shrink). That's one of the small disadvantages of staying in a dorm coz one has to do everything within that about 120 sq ft space...
PS2:
Buy medium size nets (for blouses and better quality shirts) and some small nets for bras. My experience is big ones are not as useful (tend to entangle easily and so may do more harm than good at the end when it 'fights' with other clothes). -
plc:
Thanks for the tips and best wishes!A few suggestions to QM :
1) to check amazon website which has good bargains. Just buy and have it delivered.
2) get some medications to bring along, eg flu, stomach cramp n etc. explain to your family GP that your daughter going overseas, and they will provide the necessary.
All the best to your daughter.
Yes, I am planning to get some meds from our GP. -
insider:
Thanks. Yes I have bought the laundry nets and even a collapsible laundry bag.Q Mum
Another useful small thing you may wanna buy from here is laundry net:
http://i42.tinypic.com/2w3nts8.png\">
You may go and buy from Daiso coz their quality not bad and price reasonable.
Over there, other than panties, anything (bra and socks incl) that does not require dry cleaning will go inside the washer. We can't seem to really find laundry net there in our first trip and when we managed to find, the price is about 4 pounds per net (stick out my tongue again) vs $2 per net from Daiso.
Without laundry net, clothes spoil / go out of shape much easier...
PS:
When choosing clothings, try to choose those can be thrown inside washer and dryer. My daughter's little dorm space is filled with clothes out from the washer coz those are the ones that cannot be thrown inside dryer (will shrink). That's one of the small disadvantages of staying in a dorm coz one has to do everything within that about 120 sq ft space...
PS2:
Buy medium size nets (for blouses and better quality shirts) and some small nets for bras. My experience is big ones are not as useful (tend to entangle easily and so may do more harm than good at the end when it 'fights' with other clothes).
I have purchased Cordyceps capsules too to boost immunity.