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Advice, hints and tips for students living away from home.

Helping your budget to go further and general hints when living away from home.

Some helpful ideas for home life when sharing a home

• Agree 'House Rules' with your housemates at the onset of sharing.
• Get a TV license between you.
• Make sure you have sufficient insurance for contents and possessions.
• Draw up a list of regular chores to be done and agree a fair rota.
• Understand how all your appliances work. if anything is damaged or gets broken through misuse you may be liable for the replacement or repair cost.
• Be friends with your washing machine, heating, boiler and plumbing system. It is so easy to take these for granted but when there's a problem you really do know about it!
• Agree on 'curfew' times for guests. Especially during the week if you need to get up for work or Uni, you don't want to be kept awake into the small hours by your housemates and their friends.
• Have a kitty for items you all use, such as loo roll, washing up liquid etc.
• Learn to cook and avoid takeaways.This will help you to save money, keep you healthy, learn new skills and you may even enjoy it.
• Cook together. This saves times, money washing up and gives you the opportunity to talk.
• Buy products with special offers. 'Buy one get one free' offers is like half price.
• Shop outside normal hours. Get to know the best times wjhen stores in your area reduce fresh produce such as meat, fruit, bread and vegetables.
• Save and use money off vouchers. Many stores will take vouchers even if you haven't bought the item specified.
• Students can get discounts with an NUS Extra card, giving discount at a range of stores.
• Use left overs to make salads, sandwiches, soups and stews.
  
• Take a packed lunch to work or Uni - this cansave you a huge amount of money.
• Plan what you are going to eat for te week ahead. Work out what you need and only buy what is on your list when shopping.
• Go tot the swimming pool or gym and shower there, saving your hot water.
• Try to sign up to phone / internet / TV deals which give benefits such as free calls, unlimited downloads etc.
• Use Skype -it's free!
• Does your mobile contract give any freebies? Some give a free laptop etc.
• Sign up for money off and loyalty cards. Most coffees shops, fast food and books stores have a scheme.
• Shop around for the best rates or perks with high street or internet bansk.
• Make a list of all the dates your bills are due on to ensure thety are paid in full and on time.
• Avoid late charges at all costs.
• If you are a student, apply for Council Tax exemption asap. You must provide proof that you are in full time education.
• Try to resolve all disoutes as they arise, between you. There is nothing worse than a frosty atmosphere, where things go unsaid. Listen to your housemates point of view and ask that they listen to you.
• Offer solutions to problems in an objective way.
• Agree how bills will be split. If your name is on the bill, ultimately you are responsible.
• Keep an eye on gas and electricty usage to keep bills low.
• Clear up after your self - int he kitchen, bathroom and all other shared areas.
• Remember to allow steam to escape when cooking and using the bathroom. This will help to avoid condensation and mould growing.
• Be security conscious and make sure all windows and doors are locked when you go out and at night.
• Be mindful of yoru neighbours. Not everyone becomes best friends with their neighbours but building good relations with your neighbours can have hug benefits.
• keep a healthy sense of humour.
• Mark your possessions with your initials or a security marker.
• Make sure your mobile phone has ICE (In Case of Emergencies) as a contact with more than one person listed.

Out on the town

• If you are out on a big night, set your budget before you go.
• Plan how you will get home before you leave. It's no fun having a long wlak home on your own in the dark.
• Don't take your credit cards - it is so easy to spend what you don't have and regret it afterwards.
• Take a charged mobile phone with you.
• Watch your drinks being poured and don't leave them unattended.
• Share a licensed taxi home with house mates or friends.
• Get to know a local taxi firm.
• Take a jacket.
• Don't take a short cut home through parks, alleyways or unlit areas.
• Learn what your limits are. There is a big difference between having a good night out and ruining the next day or worse, by going to far.
• Drink plenty of water before going to bed.
• Don't give your address or phone number to strangers.
• Stick with your firends and don't leave anyone unattended.
• If you are going on somewhere else, make sure you tell friends where you will be.