Things They Don’t Tell You About Uni But They REALLY Should…

After all of three days at university, you start to find out certain things. Things the guidebooks, leafelts and assorted other rubbish failed to tell you. Important things. This is a list of the ones I’ve found out so far. Forgive the indent, I have no idea how to get rid of it. 

 

1)      Most breads last at least a day after their sell-by date. Two days if you only use it for toast (always check for mould though. Mould is usually a sign for it to be thrown away)

 

2)      Forget about being healthy – buy things like milk, cheese and bread that will last the longest. White bread will stay fresh longer than wholemeal due to those wonderful preservatives. If you are worried that this will damage your diet buy lots of lovely fruit and vegetables to combat it – they’re very cheap when bought loosely and last the longest if you keep them in the fridge.

 

3)      If you’re planning on bringing anything electrical, ALWAYS ALWAYS get a computer technician or ask a senior resident to get somebody to help you set it up. I know it’s a pain, but it’s also a pain when you can’t use your computer for a week because your faulty Internet connection is acting up.

 

4)      No matter what they say, Freshers week WILL be the ultimate piss-up. If you’re not into that sort of thing, request that your room be a “quiet” one – chances are you’ll be put with people who are less of party animals. If you are into that sort of thing, remember – alcohol is expensive. Always budget and stick to it before going out. If you can’t afford to go out, don’t go out. All those peeps bragging about health earlier – if you don’t spend money on alcohol, you can spend it on wholemeal bread! Whoopee!

 

5)      Get to know your area – if you have a couple of days before you start your course, explore around. Get your bearings. That way when term starts you can tell everybody where the room is – a great way to get popular!

 

6)      Always stay true to yourself. If you have lots of work to do but your friends want you to go out with them don’t feel pressured – if they’re really your friends, they’ll understand. Of course, if you do want to go out instead of work it’s entirely up to you!

 

7)      Pasta is the ultimate God-send. Lasts forever, you can put tonnes with it or just eat it plain, you can get a load of it for under a quid and it’s incredible simple to make. Get some. If you don’t like pasta, learn to.

 

8)      If possible, buy everything before you leave. Student Union shops are very expensive.

 

9)      Learn how to do things like ironing, washing, budgeting and cooking before you arrive, and learn some short cuts[1] too – hand washing stuff is a great way of saving money.

 

10) REMEMBER TO INCLUDE PHONE CREDIT IN YOUR BUDGET!

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[1] Example: washing up. Don’t leave it all to the end, wash it immediately after you’ve used it. Saves a lot of bother.