Happiness can be found in all places, especially pigeon holesFLICKR: BECK GUSLER

A point will come in the Cambridge term when you will find yourself in a situation where you think, ‘I wish I had…’. It is in these moments that you begin to resent your new-found independence, pine for home comforts, and suddenly need something with an irrational passion you would never have thought possible. Apart from receiving something you need, the importance of the care package lies in the message behind it – someone is thinking of you and missing you.The joy of finding something in your pigeon hole cannot be oversold. And of course, it’s fun to march out of the Porters’ Lodge with your parcel to envious glances – they don’t need to know that it's actually full of socks!

1) Instant coffee and hot chocolate: Without it, an all-nighter becomes an impossibility, but even good quality instant coffee puts a dent in your weekly budget. You can never have too much instant coffee in the cupboard to keep you going when you experience the inevitable essay crisis. And when your eye starts to twitch, switch it up with a nice, comforting mug of hot chocolate.

flickr: sevenshadesofblue

2) Extra mug: I can guarantee that, for many of you reading this, the set of mugs with which you began the term will no longer be complete. At least one of them will have broken during pre-drinks, or will have mysteriously disappeared, so why not get an extra-special one? It may not prevent it getting stolen, but it will be difficult for anyone else to pass off as their own.  

flickr: kate reiser

3) Home-baked cakes: Grab them, store them, freeze them and appreciate them while you can! I really missed having an oven when I first moved to Cambridge, so it is always a treat to taste home-baked goods during term. Even if you are blessed with an oven in your accommodation, you’ll rarely have the time or energy to bake anything. And let’s be honest, your mum’s home-made treats always taste better than anything you could bake yourself. 

flickr: betsy weber

4) An assortment of chocolates, biscuits and sweets: Forget Sainsbury’s Basics digestives, request chunky chocolate-chip creations and those M&S biscuits you feel guilty buying for yourself. And you're never too old to get excited at receiving a package full of sweets and lollipops.

flickr: gry nordvik karlsen

5) Cereal bars: When the ‘biscuits for breakfast’ diet starts to get out of hand, cereal bars are the solution. They are a lifesaver for the inevitable mornings when you sleep through your alarm clock. They're not the paragon of healthy eating, but it's better than going without all morning.

flickr: simon q

6) Cold care kit: No student wants to spend money on cough sweets when we can buy Skittles or Haribo. Cough sweets of any flavour are very much appreciated in a package from home when Fresher’s Flu strikes, as are those expensive soft tissues that don't make your nose look like Rudolf's and the comfort of herbal tea.

flickr: scuddr

7) Fluffy socks: No, I never used to wear them either. But by November of first year, I found myself in Primark buying sets of multi-hued, warm, fluffy socks. They’re also ideal for when you want to walk to a friend’s room close-by and shoes are just too much effort. 

flickr: cas

8) Winter woolies: It's that time of year when the wind starts to bite at exposed skin. Putting on a warm, woollen scarf and gloves sent from home will give you a boost on those dark mornings.

flickr: rebekah williams