10 Essentials For University

AH, I haven't blogged for over a month! I had a fabulous holiday with the fam and then most recently Demi and I went to Creamfields - a dance festival in the UK. You may have heard about it but half way through the festival got cancelled because of typical English weather but we had a mega time while we were there!!

Anyways, I have got a few friends who are off to uni this month so following on from my Guide to being a Fresher, I thought it would be useful to give my Top 10 Uni Essentials that I think you should definitely take with you!

I limited it to 10 otherwise I'd be here forever - I rolled up to freshers week with a 7 seater car and a roof box full of stuff. So, let's begin!

1) DustBuster - HuH!?, you may say. My Dustbuster was honestly the most useful thing I had at university and useful to all my flatmates too! It's basically a mini hoover. My room only got vacuumed once a week at best and when you and your friends are eating and drinking the floor gets pretty gross pretty quickly.

2) Earplugs - There will be nights (especially if you are in large halls) where you just want to sleep but everyone else around you is wanting to go out. The guys above me regularly had, what sounded like, wrestling matches at 4am in the morning. On numerous occasions I thought the floor was going to fall through but thanks to my earplugs I always got back to sleep!

3) Speakers - An essential for good pre-drinks!

4) Fridge - Most people wouldn't classify this as an essential but if you want people's hands off your food then I'd get one. If not for your food then get one as a booze fridge, no one likes a warm cider.

5) Extension Cables - You never know how many plugs they'll be in your room, always room for more!

6) Fancy Dress - I wouldn't go out and buy stuff in particular because you probably won't know what you are dressing up as but it's handy to take some face paint, UV paint, glowsticks, funny glasses etc.

7) Pack of cards X2 - Preferably more than one pack because they always get sticky and ripped from spilled alcohol!

8) Door Stop - Handy for using during freshers. Stick it under the door the minute you get there so you can say hi to any passing strangers. "HEY NEW FRIEND!" (<<don't say that)

9) Febreze - A god send when you are eating in your room or when someone has made an unearthly smell in the toilet. My febreze was useful when the boys next door stink bombed our loos. If you want to be really gross you can even spray some clothes with it to make them last a bit longer....ewwwww.

10) Food & Alcohol - If you are self catered then take enough food to last a few days. The last thing you want to do during freshers is find the nearest supermarket! And of course take the parents for an alcohol stocking session before you go.


NOT ESSENTIAL: Bottle Openers and USB sticks. If you go to your freshers fair you get loads of stuff like that for free.

I hope this has been helpful. Obviously its subjective but I thought it would be good to include some things that you might not necessarily have thought of! Don't forget to subscribe (top right hand corner!)

Alex x

Guide to being a Fresher...

Following on from Demi's post on finishing uni I thought I'd do a little post on my tips and tricks for having a fab first year at university.

Freshers Week

1) Don't drink too much - Kind of an obvious one. Have fun but no one wants to be found passed out in the hall's lift and found by some random that will laugh about it with all their friends.
2) Don't try too hard - Trying too hard to impress might come across as a bit fake and put people off. So, just be yourself, add a dose of confidence, and you'll be fine!
3) Fresher's Flu is imminent - Having never had a proper hangover before uni I thought this whole 'Fresher's Flu' business was nonsense. Well after 6 nights out in a row you're immune system is at an all time low. I don't think mine ever recovered and spent most of first year with some medical problem or two!

Work
1) Work or Play? - I think its best to balance the two. Keep on top of assignments but skip a few lectures, lay in bed for a day after a solid night out, just don't get too far behind. Cramming for exams after easter is not much fun.
2) Course - Make sure you have a proper look at your actual course content. You can change course once you're there but theres nothing worse than not enjoying what your studying.

Budgeting - Something I majorly struggled with!
1) Nights out - A majority of your budget will end up here but always make sure you've got guest list, share taxis, and find other people to buy you drinks hahaha. I joke.
2) Food - the reduced section is your best friend. Also, look out for the local market to get healthy stuff way cheaper than in supermarkets. I was catered first year which I think made a huge difference. I didn't have the pain of always going to the supermarket to buy food and also dinner was always really social.

I hope this has been helpful and ask any questions if you want!!

Alex x