If you have never lived away from home, the move to university can feel like an enormous task. One that you can’t even begin to tackle because there are so many things to do.
But fear not. Here are some easy steps you can take that will help make that move to independence just that much simpler.
Familiarise yourself with the area
During the time leading up to your move, why not go and visit the city or surrounding area you are moving to with your family or friends. You can scout out some good pubs and restaurants, maybe even some cute coffee shops you could sit and do some work in throughout the year.
If you like make-up, try and find a make-up store you recognise. If you’re more of a sporty person, why not search for a football cage or a sports team that you could join.
Best to look around the area now so that when you move in, you are already slightly familiar with it. And you already know the best hot stops.
Make a budget
Most students get given a maintenance loan to help cover the cost of living at university. Whether that applies to you or not, it would be a good idea to draw up a weekly or monthly budget.
Money comes and goes very easily and soon you’ll be ringing up your parents asking for £1 so you can buy a Pot Noodle. To avoid that, write up a budget allowing for food, entertainment, nights out, etc and stick to it.
You don’t want to be stuck having to choose between an Uber home or tomorrows dinner.
Learn cooking basics
Everyone loves a bit of pasta, but after two weeks of only that, you will get bored! Before you move, make sure you have some simple recipes under your belt to get you stated in the kitchen.
If you are a complete novice in the kitchen, look at some tips for beginners and get started.
Remember the budget! A meal out is great here and there, but going to Wetherspoons every night will eventually put a dent in that bank.
Lists
Packing is one of those things we end up leaving until the day before. You might even find yourself cleaning your room to avoid packing. Procrastination gets the best of us all.
To help, write a list of things you’ll need to pack and tick them off as you pack them. There will be much more to pack that you realise, so best to get ahead of it while you can.
Leaving things at home isn’t too bad, you can always go to the pound shop and get yourself a new cheese grater. But, you don’t want to be out there buying a whole new set of pots, pans and cutlery because you forgot everything for the kitchen.
Organise medical supplies
Make sure you are stocked up on whatever medication you need. If you are moving to a university close to home, this may not be an issue. But, if you cannot keep coming home every weekend to re-stock, it may be an idea to register with a doctor close to your university.
You don’t want to be far away from home and then realise you haven’t got your inhaler and can’t get another one until you go home for Christmas.
