The University Edit: Stationery | Lifestyle

I am currently sat in my room surrounded by a huge pile of stationery which I have been itching to use but I know I should save it for university and especially to take pictures of which I literally just finished doing! Recently I took a trip to B&M and picked up so many amazing discounted stationery items which I had to haul with you lot as I know you are all stationery fans too! A huge bag full of stationery and well over an hour later I left the store feeling super happy with my purchases. I spent around £20 on stationery which should of been more than double that. I am always drawn to colour so this little lot caught my eye pretty much straight away. As my readers are mostly university students I thought I'd share this haul as you can treat yourselves before returning/starting uni at a fraction of the price and also feeling guilt free. So what did I pick up from B&M I hear you ask? Well let me tell you!


First things first I noticed the huge pack of Fineliner pens which are usually waaay more than the £7.99 which they were retailing for in B&M. I think these are perfect for making notes as I prefer to read my notes in colour as it keeps me more interested than if they are just in black pen. Next I picked up two packs of Biro pens and in case you hadn't already guessed they are in colour! One pack is multi coloured and features a blue and a black pen and the others are pastel colours! Obviously every student needs Biros! Next I got the coolest notebook around, and it was super cheap too. I am in love with all things which are cuuuute so that suits me fine. I will probably grab a couple of other notebooks for my other lectures too as one is never enough. Okay so next I brought this Tsum Tsum set which I am pretty sure is for young children BUT I love tsum tsums so I had to get it didn't I? Although I probably won't use it at university it's good for home and looking cool. Finally I purchased the most awesome pack of highlighters I've ever seen, they are super bright and there are so many fun colours to work with. Perfect for revision and just everyday use in lectures. 





I hope you enjoyed this post and thank you to B&M for providing me with a voucher to grab these awesome gooooodies!

Creating Memories At University | Lifestyle

Hi all, how are we doin'? Sorry about the little delay between posts but I've been so busy and then when I planned to write something for this blog I started to feel unwell. Can you believe we are in August already? For us Students that means returning to university is looming, or if you are a first year it'll only be a matter of time before you move to halls if you haven't already! Living in a university/rented accommodation means you are limited to what you can do to a room. I've always taken it upon myself to create super cute collages of photos on my walls, it always keeps me taking photos as I have somewhere to put them and update them and it is a little more creative than sharing them just on social media. I was recently contacted by a PR company on behalf of HP and their new social media snapshots campaign and I thought it would be perfect for you all. Below is the video all about how to print the photos and then I thought I'd talk to you about creating your own photo wall!



Creating a photo wall: 
Once you've printed out a wide selection of photos this is where the creative part comes in. In the past I've cut up snippets from magazines as well as posters to add a bit more colour to the wall. The added a mix of photos in the gaps. Currently my photos are in a fairly toned down display in a 4 by 4 square which suits the room I am in. I would love to one day cover a whole wall in photos with no gaps but I don't have that many friends (jokes who wants to see themselves that many times). Pinterest has some gorgeous suggestions of how to create a photo wall if you are looking for inspiration.

Hopefully this inspired you and gave you some ideas for your new room which awaits you sooooon! 

*In collaboration with HP 

Are you ready to move into your student house? | Guest Post



There is so much you need to know before moving into your student house, here are some tips from Walton Robinson to help you along on your way. Before you start -  why not read over our top 10 tips for what to do before you move out to help avoid deposit charges, which you can check out here. Hopefully you find this post interesting as there are so many different parts of moving into a student house which students aren't made aware of.
apartment, blinds, cabinets


1) Make a plan in advance -There is nothing worse than not having a plan for an event like this. When moving house, you want everything to be as stress free as possible. Maybe you can your family and friend if they can lend a hand? If there's a few of you moving together, it could be worth hiring a van so you can do it all in one trip!

2) Paperwork - Moving is stressful, before you move into your house it is vital you make sure that all paperwork is complete and all fee and rent payments have been made. If you're in a group, make sure every single one of you have completed everything - if just one person is missing one payment or piece of paperwork we won't give out any keys at all until everything is 100% complete!

3) Collecting the keys - Check with your agent or landlord if there is a certain time you have to collect your keys. At Walton Robinson it must be after 3pm and you must call up and make an appointment in advance. Speak to your housemates about when they're moving in, the first person to come to the office can collect all the keys for each tenant.

4) Know your point of contact - When you collect your keys make sure you are given the number and email address of the person you need to contact if there are any issues with the property, and if there is a separate number for out of hours’ emergencies. This will either be the landlord or, if your property is managed by Walton Robinson, your property supervisor. You can also find details here if WR manage your property. We also appoint a lead tenant, someone who is our point of contact for when we need to inform you about viewings and inspections.

5) Inventory - You will be given an inventory when you move in, either from Walton Robinson or the landlord. Make sure you know the deadline for returning the completed inventory (with WR it is seven days) and that you pay close attention to every item and make any corrections that may be necessary. This will help when it comes to moving out and getting your deposit back at the end of the tenancy.

6) Utilities & Bills- You will be asked to record meter readings on your inventory form. Keep a note of them as you will need this information when creating new utilities accounts. If you need any help with this, call your property supervisor and they will be happy to help.

7) Council Tax -  Students are exempt from paying council tax but you will need to inform the council of your exemption status or you will be sent a bill. Download the form here.

8) Summer Arrangements - If you're moving your things in but not actually living there over the summer, let your landlord or agent know. This bit's obvious but remember to switch the heating and any plugs off before you leave and make sure you don't leave any valuables on display! You never know who might be peaking in.

*Guest Post By Walton Robinson. 



Moving To University, What Do I need? |Tips and Tricks.

I can't believe it's a matter of a week until it is August! Crazy right? For those of you who are going to university means it's only a matter of a month until you move into your halls for university, or if you're going into second year you may have already moved in or be planning to into your new house. I decided to make a little bit of a guide to share with you what you need to take to halls when you're moving into university. I hope you enjoy this post and find it somewhat helpful, I would love to know any ideas you have in the comments also to help those new students.


First things first you need something to pack your stuff in, if you're anything like me you have a LOT to move. When I was looking for ideas of how to pack all my stuff I came across a website called Davpack who offer a huge range of boxes from all shapes and sizes, perfect for moving. On the boxes it even says what weight to put in them and what they are suited for! You can get a pack of 10 for £14.95 and the boxes are suitable for so many different things as well as sturdy.

Now to the check list of what you need to take:

Important documents:
This is usually the last thing on any students mind, but it is really important. I have my own important document box now, which I have collected up all of my documents over the last few years, including my passport, birth certificate, course acceptance letters, student finance as well as your driving license (if you have one) and bank card!

Kitchen and Bathroom basics: 
I cannot stress enough how when you get to university you will not use everything you've brought with you, and if you do it is probably likely to get destroyed in shared accommodation. Go for cheap, your cutlery will probably end up missing, with your cups stained and smashed and your towels destroyed. Of course bringing stuff to university and over buying is normal, but just be wary of what you don't want getting wrecked. For basics for the kitchen you need things like plates, cutlery, glasses, pans etc. For the bathroom you need things like towels, toothpaste, toothbrush, shampoo. But of course like everything else in this guide don't worry too much if you forget anything.

The bedroom: 
For most university students this is where they will spend most of their time, it is important to bring things from home which you feel you will need as well as the things which will give you comfort. You need things like a duvet, pillows, clothes, possibly a TV, washing stuff, linen. There's so much you could take but it is just about what you think you need. When you move into your halls you don't want to have taken a huge bedrooms worth of stuff to fit into a small one, as it just won't work.

If you need anymore advice or tips feel free to tweet me at @dungareesdonuts! 

If you're purchasing from Davpack, make sure you use the code Student10 for an extra discount!

*In collaboration with Davpack. 

9 tenancy rights every student should know | Lets Talk

Moving into your own parent-free home for the very first time is hugely exciting, but it is a serious step. This means it’s extremely important to know your rights when it comes to renting your digs. A few facts can go a long way to preventing you from losing time, money - and your patience. Pump equipment specialists, Pump Sales Direct offer their best advice:


1. Fire regulations
Your landlord must ensure that you are as safe as possible in the event of a fire. This means that you must have an adequate escape route and, if applicable, access to fire extinguishers. You must also have a minimum of one smoke alarm on each floor. It is advisable to check out who is responsible for maintaining the smoke alarms before signing your tenancy agreement.

2. Appliances
All gas appliances must be tested each year and a Gas Safe certificate should be kept in the property to show that this is the case. Make sure that you ask your landlord to show you this before you sign your tenancy agreement.

Your landlord is also responsible for ensuring that electrical installations are not dangerous and any portable appliances supplied, such as toasters or kettles, need to be PAT tested each year.

3. Carbon monoxide
Your landlord must fit carbon monoxide alarms in any room where there is a solid fuel appliance. Gas boilers are not covered by these regulations, although it would be advisable to buy your own alarm to position near these, if your landlord refuses.

4. Infestations
Unwanted guests probably won’t be unusual during your student years but some could be more irksome than others, such as bedbugs, rats, and mice. Thankfully, if you get such an infestation, it is often your landlord’s job to sort out the problem, as long as you didn’t cause the issue yourself. When it comes to bedbugs, for example, the responsibility falls to the person who brought in the affected furniture.

Most infestations can be solved with the help of private companies or through individual actions but rat problems should be reported to your local authority.

5. Decorating
You will need to get written landlord permission before you decorate. Many will give this but may want you to return the property to the original condition before you leave.

Just be wary of spending too much money on things such as decorating, especially if you are only likely to be living in a property for a short time. Whilst it may be essential to ask your landlord to invest in good quality equipment to ensure that the plumbing in your property operates efficiently - and you can have a decent shower - changing walls from beige to blue isn’t normally an essential expenditure.

6. Landlord visits
Your landlord may own your property, but that doesn’t give him the right to just wander in whenever he wants to. In fact, he must give you a reasonable period of notice if he wants to inspect the property or carry out some repairs. Your tenancy agreement should say what this period is.

7. Accidents
You should report anything dangerous at the property to your landlord as soon as possible. In most cases, this will result in the problems being solved.

If you have an accident that you didn’t cause, you could seek legal advice in order to make a claim for compensation.

8. Evictions
Your landlord does have some legal rights when it comes to evicting you - but so do you. Whilst you can be evicted for not paying your rent or breaching your tenancy agreement, for example, there are still procedures that your landlord must adhere to in order to remove you from the property legally.

The procedures that must be followed will depend on the kind of tenancy agreement that you have, so it is important to seek legal advice if you are told you are being evicted.

9. Notice to leave
If your landlord decides that he wants you out of the property, he must notify you in a certain way, including particular warnings and information. How he gives you notice will, again, depend on the kind of tenancy agreement you have and the terms it contains. If you feel you are being unfairly treated, you can seek advice from the Citizens Advice Bureau.

If you want to vacate the property before the end of your contract, you may have to pay your rent for the remaining term, unless you can reach an arrangement with your landlord, or you can prove that your landlord has done something wrong, such as breaching the terms of your tenancy agreement.

*Guest Post

4 Ways To Live A Healthier Lifestyle | Tips and Tricks.

Hi all, how are we doing? SO sorry about the delay between posts at the moment, I am sad that when I am busy my student blog suffers but I am hoping to change this soon and be able to create a weekly post for this blog, if you have any suggestions of what you'd like to see on my blog do let me know, I am happy to write about what you lot like to read. Today I am bringing you an advice styled post on how to live a healthier lifestyle whilst at university, I thought I'd give you some tips and tricks how to implement a healthy lifestyle whilst living at university (although we all know it is SO hard). Let me know your top tip for keeping healthier whilst at university.



Tip One: Less Drinking. 
Being a university student of course involves drinking a lot, there are so many parties and events which involve drinking, going to party and not drinking can often make you feel like an outcast and people saying you're boring. For this tip I am totally NOT asking you to give up alcohol all together, but I am saying to cut down the booze to a once or twice a week instead of seven days a week. OR just drink when it is a big event, it is ok to say no to drinking and if your friends have a problem with that then that is their own problem, not yours.

Tip Two: Ditch The Fast Food.
Speaking from experience with this one, but eating takeaway every single day of week is going to make you unhealthy, feel like crap and give you less energy. Although pizza is good and as is Chinese food it is important to sometimes cook for yourself, I have found the most useful site I have for creating dishes from the leftover food in your cupboards is Big Oven you share three items you have in your house and it will create tasty dishes for you to make. Do this when you feel like ordering takeaway as you have no food in as it will save you money, help you stay healthy and give you a new meal idea.

Tip Three: Alternatives To Smoking. 
In 2016 vaping is the new way forward, smoking is old news and if you want to smoke something that tastes better and is a lot less damaging to yourself than smoking, as well as being able to do it indoors (no more trips outside in the rain) vaping is the one for you. Being a student vaping is the new way to smoke socially without harming those around you, Vapelux offer a HUGE range of vaping tools to get you started as well as what you need to start smoking Shisha including many Shisha pen flavours.

Tip Four: Start Working Out.
Although a gym membership isn't always friendly to a student budget there are SO many other fun ways to exercise which can work for a small budget or even no budget. Some examples of this are swimming and running. With Swimming you can pay as you go or get a student pass for a fraction of the price. Running with friends is a totally free way to hang out as well as work out. Other ideas could include buying some weights and working out at home or the university gym is usually cheaper than other 24 hour gyms.

What are your top tips for getting healthier at university? 



*In Collaboration with VapeLux. 



5 Things EVERY New Student Needs To Know | Tips and Tricks!

A bit of a different one on the blog today and although the I have a totally different blog I decided I would bring you a student related post on Dungarees & Donuts, as I know I still have some student readers here and I thought it would make a good Wednesday post, having 6 months of my degree left after already studying for 3 years I would say I have a good idea on how to live life as a student and all of the things which come with it. From saving money to nights out, here on Dungarees & Donuts I've experienced it all. Today I thought I would share just 5 things all new students need to know although I could probably go on for weeks. I hope you enjoy this post and if you fancy reading any other student posts feel free to check out my other blog Dungarees & Degrees.



1. Student = Discount
Being a student means you get discount on so many things, from food to clothing and even cheap nights out. It's amazing being a student because you get so many discounts and it enables you to spend more. Although sometimes it can be a bad thing, hello 40 pairs of shoes.

2. Cheap Travel
Similar to the last point but this one is aimed more at travel as there is so many different ways for a student to travel. Stagecoach offer an amazing discount for university students meaning that you can travel around the city for a discount price. As well as the discount you can get on trains by using a Railcard.

3. It's OK to feel lost.
During the first few weeks of university everyone is feeling the same way as you are, a bit lost and unsure of what to do as well as probably homesick and trying to adjust to life whilst at university, it is totally fine to feel this way.

4. Enjoy Freshers
Whilst you are in first year university is nowhere as serious or as hard as the years to come, it is totally worth having your parties and getting drunk lots during the first year before the hard work commences after. When you stop being a fresher it totally changes everything!

5. The Pot Noodle Diet
When you first become a student it often becomes a case of eating easy food for the next few months until you get settled. Pot noodles are a personal favourite of mine along with pasta and pizza takeaway. As long as you eat some stuff which is relatively healthy eventually, you'll be fine!

I hope you enjoyed my tips on being a new student!

In or out what will you decide? | Lets talk

For those of you who live in the UK I am sure you are very aware of the huge decision that is upon most of us over the age of 18 in the UK, whether or not to leave the EU. If you are like me and not really sure and have spent a lot of time researching before taking the time to vote on the 23rd of June. With so many people out these lost and confused with what to vote for, and with a recent survey ran by My Voucher Codes for the opinions of students on the topic at hand. With a lot of students concerned with the outcome of leaving the EU and what it will do to their lives as students. Being a student myself I have been considering what I will vote for for a while now and after hearing a talk from Boris Johnson in my local town about the EU and why we need to leave and after reading so many articles about why we need to leave I was even more confused than ever. With the results written up by The Independent I decided to share with you lot the concerns of the students polled and also let you know what my own personal opinion is, although this isn't something I would usually write about with it being an important topic and current I thought I would give it ago. 




Some of the top worries of students about leaving the EU are:


  1. Harder to travel around Europe - 64%
  2. Harder to gain work in Europe - 49%
  3. Effect on employment post-university - 46%
  4. Loss of education funding from EU grants - 45%
  5. Harder to study in Europe - 41%
  6. Rise in loans interest rates - 38%
  7. Harder for UK and European universities to collaborate - 28%
  8. European students facing higher fees in the UK - 17%
  9. Issues for EU nationals currently studying in UK - 15%
  10. Less protection for workers’ rights - 13%
After reading up on the subject myself I will be voting remain and this is due to many reasons the first being the fact I feel like the UK is more secure in the EU as it where we've been for so long and the EU protects on many things like workers rights and wages. According to EU Referedum
"Average real wages could be nearly 3% lower than if we remained in the EU, which would amount to a reduction of £800 a year for someone working full time on the average wage."
Which to me is a real scary thing which could happen to us, along with the fact we risk the possibility of losing up to 50 trading contracts which are already in place! 

I would love to know what you are thinking of voting and what your reasons are, I just wanted to disclaim there is obviously reasons for both sides and my opinion does not mean it is right or wrong one. I hope you enjoyed my attempt at being serious for once. 



May Degustabox Review | Food

Happy Friday lovelies, and it's a Bank Holiday too you lucky lot! It's that time of the month again where I bring you the latest Degustabox review, if you haven't heard of the Degustabox before it's a subscription box where yummy food gets sent to your door every month basically! For £12.99 a month you get lots of product which always costs more than the box itself and it's a great way to try new and interesting foods as well as getting something fun through the mail! Because you've read this post you get an amazing £6.00 discount off your first box with code BLDEG15 so for just £6.99 you can a whole range of amazing products yay. If you want to read Aprils review check it out here. 


 Brioche Pasquier – Croissants
I am total fiend for Croissants so this is the most perfect thing I could of received within a box, these are great for snacks on the go and for breakfast in the morning. Eat then cold or warm them up the choice is yours! 


Jack Daniels – Honey BBQ Glaze
The perfect accomplice for any steak or burger, and my other half has fallen in love with it. Although it's not my thing I know a lot of my friends enjoy this with their food so a perfect barbecue glaze sauce from Jack Daniels, what more can you ask for?



Pechkeks – Misfortune Cookies
When I saw these I was interested to see what was inside and these are fortune cookies but with a misfortune inside and the cookies themselves are black, I got a message in mine about having my dreams destroyed as you do. I love these as opposed to a fortune cookie as the dark sense of humour cracks me up and is totally me all over! 


Garofalo – Fusilli
I can hands down say this is my favourite pasta of all time, I buy it often and I enjoy it because of the shapes it comes in, the cooking time and the overall taste. I find it more appealing than general pasta, I love to pop the pasta in a bake and it tastes even more yummy and has an awesome texture to it. Would recommend 100% to any fellow pasta lovers out there. 



Kallo Milk Chocolate Corn Cakes & Yogurt Rice Topped Cakes:
At first I was a little apprehensive about trying these but as soon as I saw the word chocolate I was riiiight in there. These are great snacks and full of goodness to get you through to lunch time (anyone know the struggles?) perfect desk treat or even good for breakfast!


Beloved Dates- Date Nectar
Although I am not a huge fan of honey I was drawn to the packaging of this and also how much it looks like honey, I passed it on to my boyfriend who eats just about anything and he said it's great and tastes just like honey! So anyone looking for a natural alternative I think you've found your guy (or honey) 


Cranes Cider: 
It's that time in the box where alcohol makes an appearance and although I hate cider my friends were more than happy to try these out for me. Although the flavours got a thumbs down from them but that might possibly be because they're beer drinkers so if you're a cider fan, totally give this ago for yourself!



Mrs Crimbles – Gluten Free Cookies
When I saw these in the packaging I had no idea what they were at all until I opened them up and found that they are actually cookies! They're gluten free so a perfect treat for anyone who can't eat gluten! Although I wasn't a huge fan of them, my other half loved them!



Pommegreat- Pomegranate Juice: 
Totally not a thing for me as I hate Pomegranates but a perfect thing to have in the fridge for when you have guests to stay (or if you like it yourself obviously drink it) it's a super cool looking drink and the packaging is fun and eye catching!


Wonderful- Pistachios & Almonds: 
I have tried these previous and they're amazing, these are adorable treat sized bags so perfect for on the go or a break time snack. I love the packaging of these as they are fun and colourful and draw your attention and you can also get the pistachios in a variety of fun flavours!

What would you most like out of this box? 

Ensuring you get your FULL housing deposit back!



Ensuring you get your housing deposit back in full

It’s the end of your student letting period and it’s time to move out. When you leave, you’ll have the opportunity to get your initial deposit back.
Providing you don’t damage anything, you should be able to get back the full amount. However, there are a few conditions that’ll help keep hassle to a minimum. Here are some tips from Newcastle based lettings agency letslivehere to ensure you get your deposit back.

Take inventory

When you first move in, pay close attention to the inventory you should be given by your landlord or agent. Take pictures of the property. When it’s time to move out, check the items in the inventory are all in good working order and replace them if necessary. Your property should be returned in as close to its original state as possible to match the original photos.

Fittings

You may be surprised to learn that your landlord is not responsible for lightbulbs and other minor maintenance items like smoke alarm batteries. When it’s time to leave, ensure you replace any broken light bulbs and put a new battery in the smoke alarm so that they’re in the same condition as when you left it.

Cleaning

Once it’s time to move out, you’ll need to do the most extensive clean you’ve done so far on your property to return it to its original condition. You’ll need to wash the following areas:
  • Skirting boards.
  • Doors.
  • Window frames.
  • Sockets and switches.
  • Inside and outside of any appliances you leave in the property.
  • Inside and outside of cupboards — pay particular attention to the back of cupboards which can attract dirt over time and go unnoticed.
  • Sanitise bathrooms and kitchens with anti-bacterial solutions.
  • Clean all worktops and countertops.
  • Clean and polish all woodwork and surfaces in the kitchen, bedrooms and living rooms.
  • Sweep and wash all floors.

Consider a pre-move landlord check

It isn’t uncommon for tenants to invite a landlord to their premises for an early inspection to point out anything they’re unhappy with. This gives you time to fix things before you move out so they can’t subtract from your deposit.

Fight off damp

While dampness is often not your fault, you should still try and combat it at all costs. Use a dehumidifier if your landlord will provide one or try and leave the heating on for an hour a day. Don’t leave washing in unventilated rooms and clean any damp patches with diluted bleach or a fungicidal wash.

3 Health Hacks Every Woman Should Know! | Hacks


It’s no secret that eating healthily, exercising and caring for yourself is essential if you want to keep your wellbeing in check. However, while you might think you’ve got it sussed, here are three health hacks you’re probably going to want to try.



1. Delay your period to suit you

While it’s part of being a woman, getting your period can sometimes be an inconvenience. Whether you’re attending a wedding, sitting an exam or going on holiday, mother nature has the potential to ruin your plans. So that you’re not caught out, you could delay your period to suit you. For example, you could use period delay tablets such as norethisterone. Containing a synthetic version of the female hormone progesterone, it works to stop your womb lining from shedding and can delay your period for up to 17 days. To be effective, norethisterone needs to be taken three days before your period is due, and it should be taken three times a day for each day you want to delay it. It’s important to note that this treatment is not a form of contraception, so an alternative form of birth control may be needed. If you’re interesting in learning more about norethisterone and delaying your period, you should speak to your GP or consult an online pharmacy for advice.



2. Up your water intake for better skin

It’s no secret that drinking plenty of water is a must. In fact, it’s recommended that you drink between six and eight glasses every day to stay hydrated and alert. Aside from keeping you healthy, upping your water intake can improve your skin. Failing to get your daily dose of fluids can leave your skin dry and your complexion lacklustre. So, to keep your skin looking its best, make sure you drink up.



3. Adjust your posture to boost your mood

Although sitting up straight is a key part of keeping your back health in tiptop condition, adjusting your posture can also have an impact on how you’re feeling. Whether you’re slumped in your chair at work or you’re sat awkwardly on the sofa at home, simply making the effort to improve your posture could significantly boost your mood. Sitting up properly increases the levels of certain mood-enhancing hormones in your body, such as dopamine and serotonin, and reduces the production of the stress hormone cortisol, leaving you feeling happier and more relaxed.


By using these tricks to delay your period, improve your skin and boost your mood, you should find it easier to remain in control of your health and happiness.


* Guest Post

3 Things To Think About When Buying A Car! | Lifestyle



The process of purchasing a vehicle can be lengthy and sometimes confusing. So that you’re able to make an informed decision, keep reading. Here are three things you should think about before buying a car.


1. Your budget


Buying a car could be one of the most expensive purchases you’ll ever make and it’s important that you determine a budget for yourself first. You should take your time to assess how much you can afford to spend. As well as the upfront price of the vehicle, you'll need to think about running costs. For example, you should factor in fuel costs, road tax and insurance. Some vehicles are considerably more expensive to run than others. As a general rule, highly efficient cars with smaller engines are the cheapest to keep on the roads. So that you can keep your cover costs down as much as possible, you could use a broker website such as www.chill.ie to secure yourself a competitive deal.



2. What model you’re looking for


Before you start visiting car showrooms, it might help if you have an idea of the type of vehicle you’re looking for. With so many different makes and models to choose from, you may struggle to make a decision if you haven’t thought about this first, and you could even risk ending up with a car that isn’t right for you and your needs. To narrow down your search, you could take to the internet and carry out your own research. It might help to read reviews and check out vehicle specifications first. Once you've got a clear vision of what you want, you should be able to find your ideal car.


3. What you’ll be using it for


So that you pick the right car for you, it’s important to ask yourself what you’ll be using it for. Whether you plan on using it to take you to and from the office everyday or you just need transport to get your little ones to school during the week, it’s vital that you give this some thought. For example, while a cool-looking sports car may be suitable for one person, a people carrier style vehicle may be more fitting for a family. From how many doors the car has to the size of the boot, it’s crucial that you establish what your needs are before you buy.



Bearing these three issues in mind should help you find the perfect car for you.


*Guest Post

#NSW With Euroffice: Getting into writing for a career! | Lifestyle

As most of you may know this week is National Stationery Week and between this blog and my main blog I decided to share with you some amazing stationery related pieces. Today the post is all about getting into career writing with the help of an Euroffice. A lot of bloggers have the end goal of becoming a full time blogger if not working in some form of writing job, this includes me. Euroffice has shared some of their tips which are amazing for helping those wanting to get into writing as a career. I have decided to share a range of their tips along with my own tips to help you get into writing.



  • Have an employable degree!


Media is the second most employable degree *yay*, so having this in your corner may back you up when it comes to wanting to do writing for a career.

  • Show off some of your work online
Treat your blog/website as an online portfolio and get it on your CV to share your work with the world, employers will be impressed by well put together websites.  

  • Tailor your CV for that job
If it is a writing gig it is important to fill your CV with previous work which you've done, there's no point in filling it with retail as it won't be important to them. 


  • Start off working for free
Similar to most jobs it's always a good way to get experience is by working for free and getting your name out there, this will help people know who you are as well as possibly working with you in the future. 

If you are interested in reading Euroffice's guide check it out here!

April Degustabox Review | Food

Hey all, how are you doing? Today I am bringing you something which is very close to my heart and that is food. As a student we are known for only eating takeaways and cheap foods because of our budget but I am here today to talk to you about a box I have recently come across which I think you will all LOVE. It's a box full of gorgeous food items from chocolate to amazing sauces to make food and even some unique and fun drinks for you to try. This box is called the Degustabox and the idea of the box is to introduce you to some new products you may not have tried before to incorporate them into your everyday life. The box comes in at £12.99 including delivery and the contents in the box always exceed that amount, which you can't argue with. I thought I'd share with you what I got in my box this month and hopefully it will inspire some of you to get tryin' these awesome boxes. 

Degustabox Box April

Canderel Sugarly: 
The first item which caught my eye was this amazing sweeter which is a similar consistency to sugar but with 0 calories. According to the information with the product it is the perfect way to maintain a healthy lifestyle without compromising the flavour. I personally cannot wait to try this on top of my pancakes!

Price: £3.00

Degustabox Box April

Milkybar Milk and Crunch and Smarties Sharing Block: 
Who can say no to chocolate right? I love Milkybar and am so excited by their new flavour and it's something a little bit different from the plain white chocolate as much as I do LOVE their classic bar. I love the fact that this comes in mini bars as once I start eating chocolate I can't stop. With the smarties bar I have tried this before and I loved it so I am happy that I get to try it again. A normal chocolate bar with mini smarties inside, win!

Prices: £1.00/£1.20 

Degustabox Box April

Levi Roots- Jerk Sauce!
My boyfriend was super excited when he saw this packet in the box as he loves any new sauces to try with chicken. I am not a fan on the other hand as I don't eat chicken but the fact that it says it's hot and perfect with chicken won him straight over.

Price: £1.00

Degustabox Box April

Rejuvenation Water: 
Although this again wasn't my cup of tea with the health benefits of this water my boyfriend was very happy to help me out and drink this. Although I do plan on picking up a different flavour myself because the benefits stated have persuaded me. With building a natural resilience to stress, depression and anxiety, it seems like a win all round!

Price £1.99 

Degustabox Box April

Popchips: 
This isn't the first time the amazing work from Popchips has been featured on my blog, they have made a few appearances before with their their lighter ways to snack. Full of flavour and less of the bad stuff which fried crisps have. Popchips have introduced two limited edition flavours which both sound devine.

Price £1.99 

Degustabox Box April

Bebeto: 
The perfect sweet selection for those vegetarians and vegans in your life! Being a vegetarian it is often hard to find sweets which don't taste like cardboard as most of them do. But I have to admit these are SO nice and they also are reduced in sugar and are made from fruit juice, so you can feel good about having a little treat!

Price: £1.99 

Degustabox Box April

Pimms:
With the weather picking up *touch wood* it's the perfect time to crack out the pimms, I am not a huge fan of cider but the unique and fun flavours which pimms create always sway me. According to the bottle it is best served with friends and ice, so I'll bare that in mind before cracking mine open!

Price: £2.29 

Degustabox Box April

Veetee Rice: 
I have previously tried a selection of these gorgeous rices with so many varieties and so simple to make how can you say no. The box came with two flavours one which is pictured and the other is Basmati which is the usual rice I use. On their website they have a load of suggestions for their yummy rice too!

Price: £1.49 / £1.29 

Degustabox Box April

Parle: 
The final items in the box were Rusks and Parle G biscuits out of the box these were the two things I haven't heard of before. Perfect companions for tea and full of goodness why would you say no to these beauties? Also another bonus is the amazing price tag which comes with them!

Price: Parle G 25p and Rusks 89p  

Degustabox Box April
Total =20.46 

To trial the Degustabox yourself I have an amazing discount code for £6.00 off your first box using the code: BLDEG15