So, hopefully your time as a fresher was awesome and you worked and partied hard! That first year in a halls is a great way to settle into university life but the second year is all about that next level of independence. Moving into a student house with either friends, strangers or a mix of both is a big change from uni halls and you will be responsible for the maintenance and running of a house and that includes utilities. Having your bills made simple by Glide energy will make moving in much easier – allowing you to enjoy one of the most memorable experiences of your life.
Make bill paying easy
Glide provide the energy, water, student broadband, TV Licensing and phoneline for your new house. They will then work out a monthly bill for each student and take the money from your bank account via direct debit. All your bills are paid in one amount, once a month so that you can easily plan the rest of the month’s spending.
Use the Glide phone number, email or contact us through our website to start the process. You save yourself calls to multiple utility companies, endless form filling and the monthly faff of paying each bill, not forgetting chasing your housemates for money.
Manage your expectations of a student house
Most student houses are simple, semi-detached homes with a living space, kitchen, single rooms and a bathroom or two. Unless you’re very unlucky and didn’t have a good look round before signing the contract, the days of mushrooms growing out of a mouldy carpet and dodgy plumbing should be long gone.
The glossy interiors of TV shows, films and curated Instagram accounts aren’t going to be yours unless you have a massive budget. What you will get is friendship, fun and a crash course in how to scrub a bathroom and loads of great memories of living in your modest, cosy house.
Save money on your text books
The reference texts on most course reading lists will be important to own and it’s those which are the most expensive. You can save money though as you’ll find that you will only read a couple of chapters of each text and don’t necessarily need to do anything other than borrow it from the library. Don’t be caught out by photocopying pages though – printer credits in Uni libraries are expensive and you may as well just buy the book!
Be Social
We’re not saying you must be Mr/Miss Social all the time but having time to yourself to work and chill is important but if you’re just in your room because it’s nicer and cosier than the living room then leave the door open and say ‘Hello’ as housemates pass. The best thing about living in a student house is creating and experiencing the lifelong bonds you’ll make and learning how to live with other people happily.
Label then label some more
The kitchen is where any possessiveness or neat freakery might need to be relaxed. If a housemate needs a spatula and it’s near the cooker it will be used by whoever it belongs too. Manners would hopefully make them wash it up but it may not make its way back to where they found it. Deal with it or you’ll spend all year arguing over who touched your cheese grater.
If you have anything precious, then keep it in your room. Using a lock on your door while your out isn’t an accusation that your housemates are thieves – it’s just a sensible thing to do.
Social Media can come in handy!
Even if the idea of Facebook et al makes your skin itch, sign up well before you start at your university. Social media is where you will find out pretty much all the information you will need throughout your university life.
We know that everyone is far too attached to their phones now but check your social media a few times a day at least. House parties will be turned into Facebook events, the Sports Societies Christmas Ball will be announced on Twitter and your tutors will use it to communicate too. Suck it up and use the methods of communication everyone else is or you will miss out.
How to manage your money
- Don’t spend all your student loan in the first week.
- Budget and don’t go over that limit no matter how much you want a Friday AND Saturday night out.
- Use Glide to have your bills made simple and manageable.
- Cook your meals rather than get takeaway, it’s much easier than you think.
- Avoid getting a credit cards or payday loan at all costs.
Above everything else, try and have fun during your university years. Make friends, have parties, go on day trips, make dinner together and have epic movie marathons on rainy Sundays and with Glide energy you have the headache of paying bills taken care of.