Cheapskate Guide to University
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CONTENTS
Can you live alone is a guide for young adults living away from home for the first time. It covers everything you need to know, from how to manage your money, to how to use the iron. It is also designed by students, so the information provided is quick and easy to understand. We hope you find this useful, and that it helps the transition from living at home, to on your own, a lot easier.
3. Accommodation 4. How to manage your money 5. how to handle bills 6. Opening a bank account 7. Discounts 8. How to survive nights out 10. Travel 11. How to use a cooker/hob 12. How to use a washing machine 13. How to iron 14. Recipes
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Cheapskate Guide to University
If you are studying at university, there is the option of Halls of Residence. This accommodation is generally open to first year students, to help them settle in. If you take up this option, you will be asked to sign a contract which needs to be checked carefully. Another option is a house or flat share. This would usually be with several other housemates. This is normally done through a letting agency, and involves signing a tenancy agreement and putting down a deposit. It is worth speaking to other people and researching for a reputable letting agency as it has been known for some not to return the deposit.
Cheapskate Guide to University
ACCOMODATION
There are many options for accommodation when you are looking to live away from home. Here are some of the options
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HOW TO MANAGE YOUR MONEY 4
Its best to know how to organize your money to ensure nothing is going to waste. There are many things to consider on top of your tuition fees and accommodation, including food, travel and equipment. Income The first step involves adding up all of your income. This includes student loans, any grants or bursaries, sponsorships, parental contributions and income from jobs. Outgoings The next step is the essential costs. These involve tuition fees, rent, travel, contents insurance, car bills, credit card payments, utility bills, phone bills, TV license and food drinks. Other Costs When you take away your costs away from your income, you can figure out how much money you have left for items such as course books/equipment, household goods, clothes/shoes, toiletries and music/films.
Cheapskate Guide to University
Income To start with you need to add up all of your income: Any grants or bursaries you are entitled to Student loan Parental contributions Savings Total income if you have a job Outgoings Add up essential costs: Tuition fees
HOW TO HANDLE BILLS
Handling bills is essential whilst at university, as well as preparing you for the future. There are many costs to worry about, despite tuition fees and accommodation, such as food (if you are not in catered halls), travel costs, insurance, course requirements (books, equipment) bills and leisure activities. Make sure you know what you need, how much it is and how you will pay for it.
Rent Travel Utility bills Phone bills Food and drink Other costs - (take away your essential costs for you income, to see how much you have left over for other) Clothes Course books/equipment Toiletries
Cheapskate Guide to University
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OPENING A BANK ACCOUNT
The prospect of opening a bank account for the first time may seem daunting. There are many things to consider, so we have gathered the most important details, to make it easier. The best idea is to shop around and see which bank suits you best, but the following information may influence your decision. Its best to look out for .. Interest-free drafts: this is the best option as it will prevent you running up a bill on a credit card, and help you save money. But don't forget that the loan will need to be paid off eventually after you graduate. Online Banking: it is best to choose a bank that provides online banking. This will help you keep track of your money and ensure you stay within your budgets. Graduate accounts: this allows you to keep an interest free overdraft for three years Be aware of‌ Credit/store cards: Though they seem useful and an easy fix, they may actually cause you to be in more debt. You can use your store./credit card to pay for goods if you do not have the correct funds, which you can pay off at the end. However, if by the due date, you cannot pay the money back, you will be charged interest; so be careful!
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Overdrafts: depending on your bank, they may offer authorised overdrafts, where they will charge you a certain amount of interest on an agreed amount that you have borrowed. However, If you unfortunately go over this limit, you are effectively spending money that the bank has not agreed to lend you, therefore the interest charges will increase and become very high. Cheapskate Guide to University
Www.vouchercodes.com Www.voucher.co.uk/(discounts)codes
DISCOUNTS
To save yourself some money, you can use the following websites to get discounts on certain items, when online shopping:
Www.myvouchercodes.co.uk Www.hotukdeals.co.uk
Student Discount Card For just ÂŁ12 you can purchase an NUS extra discount card, which enables you to 10% off in a majority of clothing stores as well as many restaurants. The booklet that accompanies the NUS card will give you more information. You can simply apply for the card online at www.nus.org.uk Or through you university or college.
Cheapskate Guide to University
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HOW TO SURVIVE NIGHTS OUT
Going out should be a night to remember, not a night you want to forget. Follow these simple steps and you wont go wrong ... Know your boundaries: before you go out, take a moment to be sure of what you want to happen and more importantly what you don’t want to happen; be safe! Look out for your friends: talk with them about what you want to happen and then look out for each other, to save regrets in the morning! Know how you’re getting home: don’t spend your last £5 on a drink if it is how you’re going to pay for the last taxi home. Have a plan with your friends to make sure no one is going to be on their own late at night. Protect each other. Know how to say ‘NO’: It sounds silly but If you’ve thought of some great excuses beforehand you’ll find it easier to remember them when the time comes and someone is throwing all their best chat up lines at you.
Your nights out should be fun, so here are a few tips to keep yourselves safe and secure while you enjoy your time: Don’t invite strangers into your home Stay with friends and avoid walking home alone at night Do not leave your bag or drink unattended Speak to other students that you trust about the best places to go and which to avoid
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Cheapskate Guide to University
Don’t leave your bags unattended and don’t keep your wallet in your back pocket. Make sure you have your Union Get Home Some Card (which also acts a 10% discount card with City Wide if you pay cash), which you can purchase from the Union shop! Make sure you have a good supply of paracetamol! Drink a pint of water before you go to sleep to prevent a hangover Never leave the house for a night out on an empty stomach Try not to mix drinks Take opportunities to join societies and clubs that you can go out with. This way you can make more friends, stay safe.
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Have a few of the local taxi numbers in your phone before you got out
HOW TO SURVIVE NIGHTS OUT
Get cash out during the day. Avoid using cash points at night.
Make sure you have cash on you as there may not be cash machines nearby however do not carry too much money on you.
Cheapskate Guide to University
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TRAVEL
Train 16— 25 year old students are eligible for a rail card. This means you will get 1/3 off most of your rail fares throughout Great Britain. This will be £28 a year or £65 for 3 years. Bus The unirider from Stagecoach is a great deal and will help you get to many places such as lectures, the city center or places for a night out. With this unirider you can travel anywhere within Kent on stagecoach buses. They are available to purchase online or at fresher’s week. National Express Coach’s If you’re between the ages of 16— 26 or a full-time student you will be able to get a Young Persons Coach card. This will also save you 1/3 on standard fares. Its only £10 for one year or £25 for three years! With this ticket you are guaranteed a seat, so you can travel comfortably with leather seats, toilets and WiFi.
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Cheapskate Guide to University
Its best to understand the oven before you use it. The top level of the oven is best for quick cooking and high temperature cooking. The middle level of the oven is good for moderate temperature cooking and the bottom level is best for slow cooking and low temperature cooking. It can be hard to understand the general notion of oven temperatures in Celsius and Fahrenheit, therefore below are some common conversions that will be useful to know. - 160ºC – 325ºF - 180ºC - 350ºF - 190ºC - 375ºF - 200ºC - 400ºF Always reduce heat for fan ovens. They are more efficient at pushing the heat around during cooking, therefore food is cooked more quickly and evenly. Preheat the oven before you cook. This is important as it will ensure the oven is the right temperature when you add the item for cooking.
HOW TO USE A COOKER/HOB
The best way to start is reading the instructions so you have a good idea on how to use your cooker, but this can be really boring. Therefore we have devised some simple points to help you through your daily cooking.
Clean your oven regularly. Not only does it keep it clean, but it ensures the heat is directed at the food your cooking.
Cheapskate Guide to University
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HOW TO USE A WASHING MACHINE 12
First be certain you have nothing in the pockets of your clothes. Then you need to separate your clothes so put lights in one pile and darks in the other; ensuring you do not leave a red sock in with your whites! If a shirt is light, but has darker designs on it, you should probably just keep it with the lights. The same goes for dark clothes with light designs. Make sure you check the tags of your clothes. Some clothes are made of thin fabrics these clothes should not be washed in the washing machine. Most clothes can be put in a washing machine however if you are unsure, check the tag to see if it says "hand wash only" or "dry clean only" and set these clothes aside. Next set the water temperature. If you are washing cotton or very dirty clothes, for example football kits, you might want to use hot or warm water. Whereas if you are washing things like silk, then you should keep the water temperature warm to cool. Then set the time. A lot of washing machines do this automatically, but you may have to do it by hand. You should set the time for about an hour to an hour and a half, depending on the materials, for example cotton, and how dirty the clothes are. Next put in your clothes and pour in detergent. You need to know if your washing machine uses high efficiency detergent, which is liquid, or normal detergent, which is a powder. You also need to ensure you are using the correct kind of detergent and pour it into the right spot. The amount of detergent needed varies by brand of detergent and type of washer. To find this information out, check the back of the detergent box or look for any labels on your washing machine. Also do not forget to add fabric softener during the rinse cycle. Now all you have to do is turn the machine on and then you’re done.
Cheapskate Guide to University
Iron (steam is best) Ironing Board (the quality of the cover makes ironing easier) Water and/or spray
Before starting to iron you need to consider if ironing is needed at all. Some clothes are made from fabrics that are considered ‘non iron’. If washed carefully and hung up to dry flat, then no creases will appear.
HOW TO IRON
Equipment:
(draw own pictures of these) When ironing any item it is essential that you read the instructions for the item that you wish to iron. Each label will clearly state how hot the iron can be and any care that may be taken. The picture of the iron will illustrate whether the item can be ironed and how hot the iron can be. A single dot illustrates that the iron should be cool. This is normally used for delicate items. Two dots is medium temperature and three dots is the hottest setting. When you are unsure about the temperature you should use try the iron on a sample (unseen) area of the clothes to check that the iron does not stick or burn. When ironing shirts and blouses use the smaller end of the board and pull the clothes towards you to create a flat surface. When on the highest heat setting, steam will removing creases.
Cheapskate Guide to University
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RECIPES
Spaghetti Carbonara You will need: 1 shallot 2 garlic cloves 6 rashers of streaky bacon 142ml single cream 25g parmesan 500g spaghetti Method: Boil a large pan of water and cook the pasta following the packet instructions. Heat a knob of butter in a small frying pan and finely chop the shallot and add it to the pan. Add the garlic cloves (finely chopped) and chopped rashers of bacon for 57 minutes. Mix the cream with grated parmesan and add the shallot mixture and stir. Drain the spaghetti and mix with the sauce and evenly coat the pasta. Grate parmesan over spaghetti as desired.
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Cheapskate Guide to University
RECIPES
Penne alla Roma You will need: 1 onion, chopped 1 garlic cloves, crushed or very finely chopped 1 500g tin of chopped tomatoes or 1 bottle of passata 8 streaks of bacon Italian herb mix
Method: Cut the bacon with scissors into stripes of about 2 cm. Add a few dashes of olive oil to a pan on a high heat Once the oil is hot add the chopped onion, bacon and garlic and fry it until the onion is slightly soft and the bacon is cooked, make sure you stir it so that the garlic doesn’t burn. Add the tomatoes or passatta to the pan, and fill the can/bottle with water, shake it and then also add it to the pan. Add a few dashes of the herbs and then season the sauce with salt and pepper to taste. Turn down the heat to low to let it simmer for about 30 minutes then serve with whatever pasta you like.
Cheapskate Guide to University
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RECIPES
20 minute Burgers You will need: 1 small onion, chopped 500g of mince beef 1 bottle of beer Tomato ketchup or mustard 1 Burger tomato 1 bag of frozen chips (that cook in 20 minutes) 4 burger rolls Method: Put the chips in the oven with a splash of olive oil. Add the mince beef to a bowl with a sprig of beer, the onion and a table spoon of ketchup or mustard or both. Mix the bowl with your hands then make 4 equal sized burgers. Get a pan big enough to fit the 4 burgers in and add a dash of olive oil then put it over a medium heat. When the pan is hot add the 4 burgers and cook them until they are crispy and golden then flip them, they will cook quicker if every so often you push them down with the spatula. While the burgers are cooking put the tomato into slices of about half a centre metre, then cut the rolls in half and add a slice of tomato and cheese. Everything should now be ready so put the burger in the bun and plate up.
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Cheapskate Guide to University
RECIPES
Roast Chicken You will need: 4 large or 6 medium potatoes Frozen Yorkshire puddings Bag of carrots Bag of runner beans A whole cooked chicken Gravy granules Method: Peel the potatoes and cut them into quarters. Add them to a pan full of cold water on high and cook them until they are soft enough to fit a knife through but not falling apart and drain them. While the potatoes are cooking put a baking tray in the oven with a good few splashes of vegetable oil in at around 220ยบC/gas mark 7. Once you have drained the potatoes take the baking tray out of the oven and add the potatoes to the oil, use a long spoon to cover them in the hot oil, put them back in the oven for around 45 minutes. Peel the carrots and cut them into round slices and cut off the ends of the runner beans. Put them in a pan of cold water on high and once the water is boiling cook them for a further 20 minutes. At this time also wrap the chicken in tin foil and put it at the bottom of the oven. Put the yorkshires in the oven however long it says they take before the potatoes are finished and then make however much gravy you want. When everything is finished plate up and enjoy but make sure the chicken is piping hot! Cheapskate Guide to University
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Cheapskate Guide to University