Have you just fled the nest? If you're wondering how to get on top of your laundry, cooking and cleaning, look no further than this guide.
You’ve done it - you’ve flown the nest and landed at university. Moving out is an exciting time to meet people, try new sports and societies, drink too much, go out an awful lot, and, of course, spend your time mostly hungover. But, after a couple of weeks enjoying the fun that comes with being a university student, you’ll inevitably have to take responsibility for the boring parts of being an adult too. Luckily, we’ve got you covered with this quick guide to living independently.
1. Get to grips with doing your laundry
Accommodation buildings usually have their own laundry services and information on how to use them. If not, find a launderette nearby. Grab your dirty pants, some detergent and some fabric softener (if you’re feeling fancy) and freshen up.
PS Detergent powders are the cheapest option, while pods are easier - you just chuck them in with your washing! Just remember to separate your whites!
2. Inject some passion into your cooking
While it’s tempting to stock up on frozen items, it’s not nutritionally great. So, instead of defrosting your fourth pizza of the week, try out a new recipe. For easy, cheap and healthy options, try your hand at a stir fry, risotto, pasta bake or fajitas. It’s also more fun to cook with your housemates, so get them involved too. Here are 10 easy recipes for you to try.
3. Don’t skip the cleaning rota
If this is the first time you’ve lived away, you might find it difficult living with housemates whose tolerance to mess is vastly different to yours. The best way to avoid this, and an onslaught of passive-aggressive post-it notes, is to sort out a rota where each housemate is responsible for an area of the house or by taking turns to clean each week.
4. Get your bills in order
There are bills you need to be aware of as you move out of your family home:
- Firstly, you may get a letter from the council asking you to pay council tax. As a student, you are exempt so you’ll need to let the council know to avoid paying. If you don’t register as a student house, you may get summoned to court.
- The second is rent, which is best set up as a standing order with your landlord.
- Thirdly, you may have to pay utilities, although they are sometimes included in the rent in university accommodation. If not, go online and research which energy and water companies provide to your area and work out which is best for you (i.e. the cheapest). This includes water and electricity or gas depending on the property, but your landlord will let you know.
- Finally, there are bills associated with the technology you use, such as a TV license and WiFi, both of which can be surprisingly expensive! Search the internet for the best deals and then get haggling.
5. Don’t scrimp on safety
There are a couple of things you can do to maximise your safety. These include getting your valuable items insured, bringing a portable charger with you, getting a second copy of your key and turning on the Find My Friends app or something similar. If you’re looking for more ways to stay safe on a night out, click here.
Moving out is a rite of passage, but it comes with responsibilities. Check out our other student life hacks for more ways to make your time as a student easier.
