Student houses can be pretty amazing places to live. Sharing your first house with your mates who like to chill, party and work hard at the same time as you. Although, the division of responsibilities can be hard work, Sharing household expenses, personal space and mouldy bathrooms can be a total nightmare and when you add unpaid, contested utility bills into the mix the whole place is likely to kick off.
Most students in a shared house have experienced stand-up rows and indirect Whatsapp messages over who owes what, when and to who. It kind of kills the buzz of student life to dread the deadline for each bill. The chances are someone will end up paying more than they should to keep the peace and the ‘heavies’ off the doorstep. Do you want that to be you? No? Then organise yourself and our housemates as soon as possible to prevent this from happening.
Energy, water and student broadband deals
Glide Student could save you and your friends all the drama. We’ll provide your home with energy, water, student broadband deals, TV licensing and telephone to make your life as easy as possible. Even better we’ll split the bills fairly for you and automatically take the money out of each tenant’s account via a direct debit. We’ll make the whole process stress free. Awesome, right?!
So, what about the other more interesting things you might want to pay for? Student broadband is important of course but Glide have that covered with fast internet. We’re talking here about the services that will make your house a fun place to live.
Music
Music streaming is the way most young people listen to music and there’s no need to give that up when you move to uni. It doesn’t have to cost mega bucks either. Sharing a new playlist you created with your new housemates and then collaborating on a house party playlist are great ways to bond and get to know each other.
Spotify Premium and Apple Music are both charged monthly. They do offer student discounts which works out around £60 a year but the family packages are what you should be looking at – £14.99 for up to six people is a massive saving on the £4.99 individual price and you can keep individual playlists.
Binge watching, box sets and movie nights
Using your ex’s Netflix password feels like a little bit of sweet revenge, especially when you’re snuggled up to someone new watching movies at their expense. However, at some point … probably when you’re half way through watching a series … he’ll change his password and you’re screwed.
There’s a few TV streaming options beyond Netflix, there’s Now TV and Amazon Prime too. All of them have individual subscription options but for not much more a month and there are plans which allow multiple people to watch and even have separate profiles.
Obviously spending your precious university years sitting under a duvet binge watching Game of Thrones is not a great use of time. Sharing that duvet, nibbles and an in-depth discussion of what the hell you just watched with a new friend is a fab way to relax and spend quality time with each other.
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All the Food
Shop with your housemates … not the most fun day out we know but going after a pub lunch every Saturday might make it something to look forward to. Agree a budget with everyone for the big stuff like loo roll, washing powder and boxes of cereal, put the money in a kitty and then save by buying in bulk. If you go together you’ll all know what you have, what you need next week, where the money went and everyone is happy. Shopping like this will reduce waste, petrol if you all go in the same car or taxi and you’ll have someone to help carry everything.
Try shopping online together too. Comparing prices, deals and splitting the delivery fee will save pounds. This is a great idea if you’re planning a party too. No-one will buy more booze and crisps than anyone else and feel cross and you won’t have five bottles of gin.
Talk about your expectations and sharing household expenses
When you first move into your student property, it’s really important to have a house meeting and talk about your expectations and sharing household expenses. It doesn’t have to be boring and formal. Have dinner together and just chat. Sort the utility stuff out first and then simply discuss your worries, loves, dislikes, a possible cleaning rota and the grocery budget.
If you want to find out how Glide Student can help you in your new student house, call one of our Gliders on 0333 666 5555 who will go through everything there is to know when it comes to bills!