University, for many the next big step in life. The phase where you are studying for your future career and for many the time where they “leave the nest” to live on your own for the very first time. It’s a new beginning and as with every new beginning they can be a little bit scary.
Although it’s a little scary, it’s also an exciting time where studying for your degree is not the only thing you are going to learn. The following things I’m going to name might not be very exciting but they are the basics you need to learn when you are living the grown-up life. Your parents might have done all these chores for you, but now it’s time to do it yourself. Yes, I’m talking about cooking, cleaning, washing and food shopping.
No, beans on toast is not cooking and yes uni flats are known for not being clean. But knowing some easy and affordable recipes to cook and trying to keep your new home some sort of clean are essential. Then there are of course many more things that come at you at university. We will look into what you need to know before starting university but first, here are some easy peasy recipes to cook up for you (and your housemates).
Right, here we go…
Student jobs
With £9,250 per annum, university doesn’t come cheap. And when it comes to a student loan, the more your parents earn the less money you can borrow. parents have to cover any gap between the maintenance loan and what it actually costs to live. Those only entitled to the minimum loan might have to find several thousand to cover basic costs such as accommodation. So, when keeping this in mind it would not be a bad idea to get a student job. We understand that university is already a lot of hard work and that having to do extra work isn’t ideal. But, having a student job benefits you in two ways. First of all, you get some extra cash to live more comfortably and enjoy the student parties. Secondly, a job will of course look good on your CV. It doesn’t matter if it’s a job in a clothing shop or working as a waiter/waitress in a restaurant, it shows you are willing to work (even though you don’t like it at all). You can use your work experience to your benefit when you go for that first job interview after graduation.
Accommodation
As if tuition fees aren’t expensive enough already, there is of course housing costs. It’s a time-consuming process to find a place where you are going to live. It’s a competition between price and comfort and you want to try and find a happy medium. Don’t want to live in the old buildings? But also don’t want to pay way above your budget? Tough decisions have to be made. Don’t worry about having to live in the older buildings, old buildings have a sense of community and camaraderie about them between all the housemates. You’re all in the same boat. It’s better to have a room that you can afford than live in a house you won’t be able to pay for. Remember, the money that you have to borrow, needs to get payed back.
Time management
University is very different than secondary school. You won’t be in the classroom for five full days anymore. At university, you have as they like to call it, “contact hours” to measure time in seminars and lectures. It’s normal to just have five or six hours of classes a week. It is expected of you to use the rest of the time for “independent study”. So, no it’s not lots of free time, because you will have lots of assignments to finish. Teachers won’t be telling you all the time when to finish assignments, you will have to keep track of everything yourself. So, buy an agenda where you keep track of all the deadlines you have and use your time wisely to finish assignments on time!
Adulting
You are now a fully-fledged adult. Why? Because you’ll need your own support systems. Just to name a few: you need a bank account (if you don’t have one already), student travel cards, registering with a GP in your university city and you have to pay bills. Nobody said being an adult was going to be fun…
Make sure you sort out your finances before fresher’s week. Firstly, set up your bank account. Many banks offer special student accounts that have interesting extras for students included. If you are receiving government-funded student finance, make sure you make this a priority and get it sorted, as this is a lengthy process. Once these measures are in place you need to figure out your budget. Add your funding you are entitled to together with family allowances and part time-time job earnings. In this way, you get a clear view of what you can spend every month. Don’t forget to include food, bills, course materials as well as new clothes, and socialising into your budget.
Food shopping tips
To save yourself from spending unnecessary amounts of money on food, always make a shopping list. Make a list with things you need before going to the supermarket. You will notice that when you shop with a list you will stick to your list instead of impulse shopping. The latter will get you to buy things you don’t really need, forget the important stuff and you will end up spending more money than necessary. Another good idea is to do one big food shop a week. In this way you won’t have to go to the supermarket every day. Because we all know once you are in the supermarket it’s hard to not buy that bag of crisps or tub of ice cream.
Also, cook in bulk and keep things refrigerated or get them in the freezer. This is a far more cost-effective way of looking after yourself.
You don’t have to know everything
As mentioned before, going to university is a new beginning and can be scary. It’s normal that you don’t know how everything works the first day. Universities have many support services available where you can go to if you have questions. So, don’t just bin the university guide with handy tips and services available on campus, because you might need it some time.
Sharing is caring (or not)
If you are sharing a house, everyone will have their own cupboard and a shelve in the fridge to put their stuff on. If you have your own cutlery, plates and kitchen utensils and you leave them in the kitchen area, the rest of the house will most likely use your stuff as well. If you don’t want other people using your stuff, make sure you put it all back in your own cupboard. Does this not keep people from using your stuff, maybe get a cupboard lock or leave your stuff in your bedroom.
Discuss the flat’s food policy early doors. What are you sharing? How are you going to make it fair? Some flats go for the ‘all in’ approach which is great for developing relationships but can prove complicated. Others go for a few shared items e.g. milk, bread. And others will go for an unadulterated ‘buy your own’ policy. Whatever you decide make sure everyone is happy.
When living with several people in a house it’s a good idea to create a cleaning schedule. Sharing a house with several people can cause rooms such as kitchens, bathrooms and living rooms to become messy. Nobody feels responsible to clean someone else’s mess and before you know it your house looks like a war zone. To prevent this from happening and to keep it reasonably clean, create a cleaning schedule.
Join societies
Join several clubs in fresher’s week and find out which ones you like best to stick with the rest of the year. Student societies are a great way to get to know new people and actively indulge in student live.
It’s perfectly normal to feel homesick
Moving away from your family and friends is a bit of a shock to everyone and it’s only natural to feel a little homesick now and again. But remember that everyone is in the same boat. Everyone moved away from friends and family and university is an excellent opportunity to meet many new friends.
If you are feeling homesick, don’t be afraid to call your parents and talk about it. Talk regularly to friends and family and in the meantime, familiarise yourself with your new environment. Sign up for a student society, get to know the people you are living with and find your way around campus. It will soon feel like home.
Student discounts
The blessing of being a student… lots of discounts!! Make the most of student discounts and freebies. Your student card can get you 10% of in many retail stores and online retail shops.
Last but not least, enjoy it! Your time at university will be over before you know it. You’ll find that your university experience is an absolutely fantastic part of your life.
want to you what comes after finishing university? Read our blog post: Finished university? What’s next?