Setting Up For Student Life – On A Budget
It’s an exciting time in the life of a student; they’ve finished school, got the necessary grades and had their extended summer break, where getting up at 2pm is positively the crack of dawn. It’s now time to get serious, rediscover mornings and get organised for university. There’s a lot to do and it’s easy to be overwhelmed by lists, forms and not least of all, the cost. University is by no means a cheap business, but planning ahead can help to keep those costs down.
Leave The Family Crystal Behind
First things first, find out what equipment is already available in your accommodation. There’s no point taking along that fabulous Smeg kettle and toaster set you’ve had your eye on, if there’s already a perfectly serviceable one available. Let’s face it, students aren’t reknowned for taking care of their stuff so it’s best to utilise what’s already there. It’s also worth finding out if there are any appliances that aren’t allowed. For example, some university halls don’t allow deep fat fryers; probably wise when students fall in the door at 4am slightly inebriated and think it’s a good idea to get some chips on the go!
Bundles Of Fun
Many companies now offer essential bundles of kitchen and bedroom supplies specifically for students; this offsets the cost and inconvenience of buying everything individually. These are often inexpensive and adequate for student life. They won’t win you an award for interior design any time soon, but they should last a while and you won’t be devastated if they’re accidentally trashed.
My Student Essentials is one such company with a range of packages to cover every need. Argos offer budget bundles and starter kits for the kitchen, bedding, stationery and tech. Some halls of residence provide a supply of bedding and even eBay and Groupon have some inexpensive options. It’s definitely not a good idea to take mum’s best china or that vintage hand sewn bedcover!
Learn To Love The Library
Students are often given an extensive list of books recommended for their course. These can be expensive but are a vital aide to learning. Universities can offer a discount code if all the books for that year are ordered together. However, the prepared and savvy student may seek to borrow these books before their learning year begins from a home library. This beats the lengthy wait for the few copies available at the university library and they can even get ahead with their reading. Ebay and second hand book websites are another worthwhile option; paying a fraction of the price for a copy is worth a few interesting scribbles in the margins!
In short, to keep the start-up costs of university to a minimum, be prepared! Take a bit of time to explore your options and find out what NOT to take – this can go a long way to making your introduction to student life a little less costly and a bit more enjoyable.
Keep an eye out for my next article on what to look out for with student bank accounts.
