How-to: life

So I have been at uni for 7 weeks now, crazy!

It feels like a lifetime and I’ve been so busy I haven’t really posted in here.

I thought I’d do a quick catch up post on what I’ve learnt so far.

It’s more than I expected.

When I was preparing to come in, my mum went out to the shop and bought a bunch of spices. Like a lot. Things I didn’t even know how to use. What even does Cumin do???

But it was a lifesaver.

1. Your spice cupboard will help you out a lot.

Whether it’s mixed herbs in a pasta sauce or homemade fajita mix (Which I will post about in a few says because it’s DELICIOUS), spices really help to change a meal from boring, repetitive and bland to different.

So. When I first got here, everyone was getting fresher’s flu and I had managed to avoid it. Great! I avoided it for 2 weeks. Then, when lectures were getting real and life kicks in... BAM

2. You can’t avoid fresher’s flu.

All you can do is stock up on cold and flu tabs, honey and lemon, cups of tea, and hope. Even people still living at home get it eventually. 

Also, if you do feel yourself getting run down or if you feel like you’re tired or you need a break. Have one. 

3. You don’t need to party every night.

People expect freshers to party every night, be rowdy, make noise, get drunk, skip lectures. No. Don’t. You’re at uni for a reason - to get a degree. Whilst partying may be fun you will regret spending £9000 a year (maybe more) to sit in bed and wish you weren’t hungover. 

Also, if you’re not the sort of person to party every night don’t feel like people expect you to do so. You may feel like you’re missing out if you miss one or two nights off but it’s better to do something you’re comfortable with than force yourself to go out.

Also, even people who swore they didn’t drink much now keep a bottle of vodka in their fridge for evening drinking. 

4. You will get stressed.

The best thing to do is manage it, speak to people, and a splash of vodka lemonade to help the weekly readings go down isn’t the worst thing a person could do.

I have also learnt that, in 7 weeks, I have developed as a person. I’ve become self sufficient, got a job, and I depend entirely upon myself for organisation, money and time management. 

5. Tidy your room.

6. Get a job.

These two tips will: a) help you not to live in a messy room, which can help reduce stress and also is just nice when you have visitors, b) help you get more money because trust me when I say the first two weeks are PRICEY. Books, course materials, Student Union fees, nights out, food, clothes - a lot of things add up in your first weeks as you realise cheese is hella expensive and you can’t join any societies without paying them. For me, I had to spend £55 on a pair of tap shoes. A job will help you in not spending your overdraft but also not having to live off baked beans for a lifetime. 

Also, you can never eat too much pasta.

And please PLEASE DON’T IGNORE THE TV LICENSE LETTERS. 

I didn’t know this but you have to register whether or not you will be needing/you have/ you don’t have a TV license. They sent me a letter threatening a fine and an investigation unless I let them know that I didn’t need a TV license...

Meal planning sucks, but it’s actually very useful. 

I learnt that the hard way after carrying a full 35ltr rucksack and 4 carrier bags up a hill back to my flat after I let my impulsive buyer take over and didn’t stick to my list.

I then realised everything I bought and lugged home could only really be made into 2 or 3 substantial meals.

So. Meal plan. Find easy recipes, get the ingredients in and then find more recipes that utilise the same things. 

Trust me. It will save you from having to take up two freezer draws (which is okay for now because our flat is a man-down but when we get a new flatmate I’m screwed!)

Also, don’t splurge in iceland. You think it’s the best thing ever when you’re just re-heating all your meals.

So, I’ve been here 3 days and it’s already a whirlwind experience! Meeting new people, living on my own, shopping and partying.

I thought I’d share a few thoughts on my journey so far.

Packing and unpacking everything was fun but I realised I took way too many clothes. I definitely didn’t need all those t-shirts and I really didn’t need 20 pairs of socks. 

I also thought my room would be neat but it turns out I’m a naturally messy person and that’s okay, too! I’m never going to regret brightening my room up with fairy lights or printing off a billion photos from home but my desk is cluttered and my draws unorganised but I can live with it. 

(If you can’t live with it, try to avoid taking the mini draws from your desk at home and the extra desk organiser because “they’re cute”)

Also, remember to pack coat hangers! I did but I didn’t pack enough...

Meeting my flatmates was sooo much easier than I had anticipated and they’re all so lovely! They had all been out the night before so I thought I’d be the odd one out but arriving the second day meant I didn’t have to pitch in for the new toaster!

Freshers was great and I love going out to different events veery night but I’ve learnt you don’t need to go to every single event. Pace yourself. Because people get tired and going on “mad-ones” every night for 1-2 weeks will make you seriously ill. I’m taking tonight out to chill and catch up on sleep and having an easy night tomorrow, too. We’re still socialising in our flat just without the alcohol!

Also, invite people round. Invite the flat next to you, invite the flat below/above, if you’re not staying in accommodation make friends and ask them to go round. Even if they’re not going to be friends for life it’s fun to just socialise and get to know your surroundings. Remember, everyone is in the same boat.

Uni!

It’s starting.

In less than 2 weeks I will have moved away from home and have started the next part of my life studying something I love in a place I adore. 

So.. scary!

I decided to make a uni-checklist to make sure I’ve got my head screwed on and to make sure anyone else does too.

So...

-Buying Uni essentials.

In my last blog post I posted a shopping list and I spend around £70 on new things to take with me on my journey.

-Opening a student bank account.

This is one I have been putting off and putting off. I got my results, I got a place and I finally need to get round to doing this! I’ve given myself until Wednesday to get this one done. For anyone else who is avoiding banks I suggest you do so too. Also, research banks to find the best account for you.

-Check student finance.

If  you’re applying for a loan and you have/haven’t had it through - LOG ON NOW. Even if you’ve got it done just log on and double-check that EVERYTHING is okay and done and how you like it. If you have any issues it’s better to find them now than when you’re just settling down at uni.

-Double check accommodation.

If you’re planning on living at uni you’ll most likely have got this done by now but if you’re anything like me you’ll be stressing that something will go wrong. So log on/ring up/check and double check that  everything has gone to plan.

-Get essentials together.

I don’t know about you but my uni sent me a pack. It had a to-do list and everything. So, if you’ve been sent one read it. It may be long and boring but it helps you to prep and to know what to prep for this next step.

 Here’s a quick list of what I found useful in my pack:

Timetables for freshers - you’ll probably get handed a dozen of these when you get there but it’s nice to know what to expect.

An essential document list - remember to bring ID such as a passport or driver’s license, bring your student finance letters and any other letters you think you might need for reference when you get there.

Discount leaflets - it may give you tips on savings and discounts which will come in handy when you need it!!

Links - it will give you links to pages and websites where you can register and log on and find out where/what/who/when/why/how for anything and everything. For my uni we were given a week to register online and anyone that didn’t read the leaflet won’t know to register online. If your uni requires this then you might want to check/ double check that everything has been done to make sure your arrival and enrolment run smooth.

So I haven’t posted in a while - I’ve been out working at festivals and stuff but I got home and found a letter from student finance.

After calculations and stuff I worked out I have £24 a week per term to live on...

GR8!!!

So I’ve been researching and I cobbled together a list of money saving tips for everyone to think about as they prepare for similar crippling debt.

Here goes:

1. Student Banking.

I already looked into this but student banks are acc. like incredibly resourceful.

Some offer gifts and such to temp you into choosing them - vouchers, train cards and coach cards but in order to be eligible you have to put a certain amount of money into the account each year. Now, idk about you guys but I don’t have £500 free each term just to be eligible for 1/3 off rail travel so think long-term about whether you really need the thing and can you just afford the thing yourself?

I’m planning on buying my own train pass anyway, and at certain times you can get 20% off anyway so you’re already saving money!

With banks, you want a good 0% overdraft so if you come into trouble you can just spend a bit extra and pay back when your loan comes back in. Now, remember: DON’T go over your limit or the interest will shoot up, DON’T choose a bank with a ridiculously high overdraft otherwise you will spend more than you have and won’t be able to pay it off, DON’T choose a bank on the gifts it offers and DO look around for more than one. Just because I bank with a certain branch now doesn’t mean I want a student bank with them as well.

If you don’t want a student bank, that’s fine but here’s my reasoning for getting one:

-overdraft, just in case

-I won’t spend my rent money because I’ll keep that in my current account and transfer my spending money into my student account

2. Prepare

Idk about you but I’m going away from home. Far away. So I’m preparing - i.e looking on maps as to which shops I will be shopping at and which offer the best deals; I’m going to sign up to alllll the points cards I can because even if I never use them it’s worth it just in case.

With points cards, as well, I’m going to get them now and start asking my parents to use them with their shops (unless they have their own) this way I will get vouchers before I get there that I can (hopefully) spend when I’m there.

I’m also lucky in that my parents are willing to do the odd online shop for me if I need it. But, as there will be no car and most the shopping will be on foot my dad gave the good tip to buy a cheap but sturdy rucksack/backpack so I can buy/carry more shopping. Larger shopping hauls are usually more cost effective.

ALSO

before you go for a shop, check online for vouchers and discounts.

3. NUS

Get the card. Bookmark the webpage to remind you to check for details.

You get good discounts in shops and it all amounts up. I don’t usually shop in certain places but if you do the maths and work out that it’s cheaper with the discount - obviously go there!

Always remember though, just because you get a 20% deal or 2 for 1 or buy one get one free DOESN’T mean it’s cost effective/the best deal.

When looking at deals, ask yourself:

-is this the cheapest?

-do I need this?

Don’t just buy because you have the money and the offer seems too good to refuse. A buy 1 get 1 free offer costing £2.40 for 2 may look good but the shop next door might sell them each for £1.10 - that extra 20p adds up.

4. Money Jars

I already do this one and it’s an easy way to save pennies.

I have a piggy bank for pennies, one for 5ps, one for 10s, one for 20s and one for £1 or 50ps. When you have a night out or find yourself with spare change in your purse - put it in the piggy banks. It will slowly add up and you’ll find yourself with £1 worth of 20ps in no time. If you save up enough, bag them and bank them but they also come in handy when you REALLY need to buy toilet paper and you have no money left - you can dip into your change pot and grab a pound.

5. Charity Shops. Second Hand Bargains.

Books. Clothes. Dvds. CDs. Picture Frames. Ornaments. Mugs. Pots. Pans. You don’t have to buy them new. Buy them second hand - ebay, TK Maxx, charity shops. You save a lot of money and get the exact same item except someone else doesn’t need it anymore!

If you have to buy new, go to comparison websites or shop around yourself for the cheapest items. Don’t just buy from the main retailer because chances are you’ll spend way more than you need to on it.

5. Train Tickets

A tip my mum has always taught me is to break up the journey on the train - it works out cheaper.

These two links help when you don’t ave a mum to do it for you:

http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/travel/cheap-train-tickets#split

http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/split-cheap-train-tickets/

6. IGNORE the ‘sell-by’ date

‘Sell-by’ dates on products are for the workers to know when to take an item off the shelf.

This has nothing to do with the quality of the product.

You’ll need to check the Use-by date for when it goes off

The best before is more a guideline than a rule and usually things are fine to eat even after this - check first if it’s been a while but if it’s dried or frozen more often than not you’re good to go!

Freeze fresh produce to make it last longer and typically ignore stuff telling you to consume within a month - only don’t consume if it smells/looks or tastes off on the first bite. 

(Do not eat fresh produce and eggs after the date bc mould and salmonnella and stuff)

Also, leftovers

If you have enough after a meal to enjoy a whole other meal from it - FREEZE IT. Make another meal when you run out of food.

If you have, for example, half an onion, half a pepper, some leftover frozen peas and some reduce-section ham you can buy a can of tomatoes for pennies and make some easy pasta or something from the leftovers.

DO. NOT. THROW. AWAY. leftovers unless they can’t be eaten/used.

7. Reduced items

This gives you a handy guide on when stores move things to the reduced section or reduce items further.

Me and my dad once waited in a shop for half an hour on a sunday and bagged great deals just before closing time.

Obviously don’t walk in right as they’re about to close because workers want to go home.

http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/shopping/cheap-supermarket-shopping#yellowsticker

All you need is half a pepper, half an onion, pasta, tinned tomatoes and mince

EASY

What I did: Looked in the fridge for the vegetables.

Then substituted mince for frozen quorn mince.

GOT YO’SELF A TASTY MEAL THERE

And here’s how you cook it:

So, chop up them onions nice and good

Shove them in a pan with some oil, maybe shove some garlic if you can find it (chop it of.c man don’t be like my uncle and shove it in whole that’s just nasty)

Now, while you remember, PUT THE KETTTLE ONNN

So cut up some peppers, I also added mushrooms and like just shove all that in the pan

Get the boiling water from the kettle and put it in a pan with some pasta (turn on the heat as well, obvs) so you can just leave the pasta in there to cook while you finish your sauce

So while  you remember ADD SALT

AND PEPPER

I also added herbs (dried mixed herbs bought in those bottles from supermarkets and stuff)

So now add like however much tinned tomatoes you want and let it heat up all nice and good

Now add your frozen quorn mince 

(If you’re adding real meat mince make sure you COOK it first - just fry it up in a pan until it’s brown)

Then like stir, put a lid, turn the heat down, check every now and then, wait for the mince to be cooked (basically the froze- is all melted away and it’s piping hot okay don’t wanna be eating half cooked quorn ew no thanks)

THEN

Drain the pasta 

Add the sauce

WOAH THIS ONLY TOOK LIKE 15 MINUTES NOW I HAVE A MEAL FOR ONE

OMG THANKS!

Hey! 

So for my first substitute method I thought I’d start off simple with a pea soup. I searched for recipes and made this one :)

Ingredients:

1 small potato

1/2 of an onion

(the original recipe said spring onions but I didn’t have any)

Vegetable stock

(you can also use chicken stock)

Frozen peas

(all the recipes were like ‘use fresh, use fresh’ but I’m poor okay?)

Butter

Milk

Dried mint

The method I used could serve 2 but because I was extra hungry it also can serve one.

Method:

So I cut the potato and onion up finely, put a stock cube in some boiling water and brought it all to the boil.

My frame recipe said to bring to the boil and simmer for 5 minutes but I actually simmered it for longer because the potato wasn’t soft.

So then I added the frozen peas and obviously this brought the temperature riiiight down so I had to bring it to the boil again before simmering for longer.

I have no measurement for peas because I just put them straight in but I suggest put what you think is enough in; if there’s too much you can always save the leftovers for later.

I added some salt and pepper, the original recipe also called for mint and lemon juice so I put some of that in but I wasn’t too sure and didn’t put much in.

For me, lemon and mint sounds strange - the mint not so much, the lemon confused me.

But I put just enough mint in to be able to taste, the lemon didn’t make a substantial difference.

I suggest, if you’re up for an adventure, put plenty of lemon juice in and let me know how it tasted!

I just let all that boil up, I put too much water in so I was trying to boil down the water. I added some butter and milk to make it creamy and then I blended it all together.

This was actually like hella delicious and most of it was guess-timated so if you have any questions let me know!