Heading off to university is an exciting time; however, the transition from home to halls can also be overwhelming. Here are some tips to help you (or the student in your life) enjoy a stress-free move, with finances, food and fun all sorted…
If you’re moving to a new city to study, or a member of your family is leaving home for university, you’ll know just how exciting – yet also scary – this transition can feel.
So, in order to make the process feel stress-free and seamless, I’ve come up with some suggestions to help new students get settled…
Organised finances for fun with friends
The main thing any student should focus on is their finances. You have a finite amount of student loan/scholarship/grant to live on and only a few hours in the week where you can make some extra income from a part-time job. So, it’s essential to get a grip on your finances while you’re studying.
Without an organised budget and plans for what to spend and what to scrimp on, you may well run out of money and be forced to end your studies early, which would be such a shame, not to mention a further waste of your money and your time.
So, the first thing to do on your student laptop is to create a spreadsheet showing all your income and outgoings for the year to make sure the money will stretch to cover each term. You can download my monthly budget planner from my resources library to help you get started.
Money (or lack of it) is one of the main sources of stress while you’re at university – or throughout life, for that matter. The state of your personal finances can affect your mental health, so don’t skip this tip. It’s totally doable to live within your means and I think you’ll be surprised to find out just how much money is spare in your budget each month.
Once you’ve got your budget planned, you’ll know exactly what money you have left to spend on fun, food and essentials and won’t run up massive student debts while you’re living away from home. And you can then spend your leftover money guilt-free on nights out, cinema trips or fun with friends. Or you could save it for a rainy day.
Which takes us nicely on to some more ways you can cut costs as a student…
Everyday essentials for frugal food
There are some things you’re going to need at the start of term to help you set up your new accommodation, whether that’s in the halls of residence or a house share. If you’ve never lived away from home before, the basics like kitchenware and bedding are the everyday essentials you’ll need to stock up on before you move.
In the kitchen, I think a kettle and toaster set is essential, so why not make it a colourful one like I have? The good news here is that, if you have these essential appliances, you’ve got an endless supply of low-cost breakfasts and lunches to fuel your day.
Breakfast is the most important meal of the day when you’re a student, as it is essential for concentration, motivation and can help you to perform better in exams. Toast and tea at home is so much more affordable (and healthy) than eating breakfast out or buying mid-morning snacks every day – you’re looking at paying pence rather than pounds for your brekkie.
Plus, you can make yourself a coffee to take with you in an insulated cup rather than buying a takeaway brew before class. If you’re saving around £3 each weekday by not buying a morning coffee from the cafe, over the whole academic year, that adds up to over £570 saved. That’ll certainly help your budget! I think it’s worth investing in that kettle and thermal travel cup, don’t you?
Stress-free studying with ‘me time’
Right, we all know that you’re actually going to have to study if you want to succeed at university, BUT why not make study time ‘me time’? At the start of the academic year, it can feel overwhelming to find out just how many assignments and exams you’ll be doing, so let’s dial down those stress levels and focus on your well-being.
The first idea is to make sure your study time is ‘me time’ – make a big cup of tea or hot chocolate, tuck yourself away in your own study bedroom, play some relaxing music and get snuggly in your favourite jumper and squishy socks. You could maybe even do a face mask while you’re typing up your lecture notes or have a lie down while you’re reading. Whatever you can do to make it a relaxing experience will help boost your enjoyment levels and make you more likely to stick at it.
Instead of seeing studying as something you have to do, think about it as something you get to do. When you think about it, a university education is a bit of a treat (especially with how much it costs these days), so try to feel grateful that you get to study at all. That’ll be a great boost to your mental health when you’re feeling swamped with study sessions.
Plus, you’re taking a subject that you love, so remember the enthusiasm you have for that topic and make it your mission to absorb all the information you can – be passionate about it. If you’re doing something you’re passionate about or truly care about, it won’t feel like work when you’re preparing that presentation or reading some new research.
I hope these tips will help you to enjoy a smooth transition to life at university, with an enthusiasm for your course and organised finances that’ll keep you feeling stress-free throughout each term. Let me know in the comments below if you have any other money-saving or studying advice for students. I’d love to hear your hacks and I’m sure your advice will help this year’s freshers, too. 🙂
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This article is a sponsored collaboration. The pink links in the content indicate a sponsored link or information source. The blog post reflects my own experience and the sponsor hasn’t had any control over my content 🙂
