Games every student should play at least once

Truth Bombs

In Dan And Phil's Truth Bombs, a group of players write 'truths' about other players, and a selected player picks their favourite 'truth'.

three question cards are played, and you fill out the correlating questions on a piece of paper and hand it over to the next player. After all, colours have been answered, each player takes turns to read a 'truth'. The results of this game are hilarious, and a fantastic party game. 

Cat Chaos:

This game features various cat-themed celebrities and pop culture icons in a competitive card games. The idea is to complete a deck of at least 6 cats, the first to complete all 6 of their decks is the winner. Throughout the game, the available cards are shuffled, allowing each player to fairly attempt to complete a deck of cats.

Cat-themed characters in this game are Notorious C.A.T., Jude Paw, Luke Skywisker, and David Meowie.

Shit Happens:

A team of researchers created a scale to present what's worse; from 0-100. One player selects a card from the draw pile, and other players have to card has to guess what rating it has. The person with the closest guess gets to keep the card, which will add up as points at the end of the game. It's a great game to play with groups of friends and it has so many hilarious cards.

Have you played any of these epic party games? 

Good, Bad, and The Ugly of Student Life

G is for Good.
There are many different moments in student life, and not all of them are pretty. When you're becoming a new university student, you should always make sure you are prepared for some nasty moments during your life at university. 

Here is a list of some good, bad and ugly moments you might face at university:

Falling out.
Fallouts with friends will happen from time to time, it's best to keep your head up and stay strong. Most of us have experienced this before in life, but it can get a little more stressful during university because there's often pressures of money and work.

A chance to start fresh.
Personally, I think the start of University is a fresh start. New people, new campus, a time to start over. It's refreshing to know that the option for that exists, and it's something a majority of people might not even consider.

All-nighters.
At university, you might have to pull a few all-nighters to meet that deadline you left till last minute. Don't confuse these all-nighters with drunken all-nighters! Almost all uni students will do things like this, and no matter how much the lecturers tell you to do your work earlier.

The best memories of your life.
The best memories of your life will probably happen at the university. You'll make lifelong friends and experience lots of new things.

Hangovers.
As you get a bit older, your body doesn't handle hangovers quite as well as you would when you are 18. The difference between hangovers at 18 and 22 is surprising, at 22 your body reacts very differently and you'll need that hangover cures ready.

Messy kitchens, unclean bedrooms.
It's highly likely that if you move into University accommodation you will move in with students that are a mess. Students with lots of deadlines and going out doesn't make for clean accommodations. Most student accommodation will get inspected from time to time so the owners can make sure it's clean. 

Thanks for reading, I hope you enjoyed this list of things that are good, bad and ugly at uni.

Love,

Will 

Campus: What To Do If You Find Yourself Lost

C is for Campus:

Finding your way around your university campus isn't always easy at first, and when you've moved away to university you might find yourself getting lost a few times! It's okay though, getting lost happens to almost every new student at University. Students often walk into the wrong lectures or lessons, or even struggle to find where their lectures are being held. 

During my first couple of weeks at university, I managed to walk into the wrong lecture. Luckily, it was pitch black and there was a video playing on the projector, so nobody really noticed. But the lecturer stared at me and gave me a "Are you ok?" kind of look. I recall being sat next to a girl and then realising I didn't know anyone in this lecture, so I quickly got up and made a quick escape. In retrospect, I can laugh about this experience, but at the time it was pretty scary!

It isn't even just freshers that can get lost at university, during the third year I accidentally walked past the room my lesson was in and continued to go up 2 floors. I'd already been at the campus for two years, so you'd expect a third year to know the campus inside out? Well, that's not exactly true.  At this point, I was already really late for my lesson, probably about 10 or 15 minutes late. I went back down to the first floor and found my classroom... Every chair was full apart from one seat at the front. I was late and had to take the seat at the front, it made me feel really embarrassed! It's like I could feel everyone behind me staring and thinking "What the hell is he doing?", when I look back on this I realise no one probably cared that I was late, and I worried for no reason.

Students going out into town and getting drunk always causes a few issues because drunken students get lost like no tomorrow. It can be really dangerous, especially if you're new to a town or city, or even with people you don't really know. My university actually printed footsteps onto the pavement that pointed in the direction of the university from town to help students coming back home from a night out find their way home. I thought this was a really clever idea because it explained the direction of the uni from town really clearly. 

To avoid getting yourself into situations like this, it's good to prepare a little. Don't feel afraid to ask someone at your university for directions, many people are always willing to help out. Another thing I found useful was recognising other students in your year group because guaranteed if you're lost you will probably also see another student in your lecture wandering around looking for the room. You can use this as an opportunity to ask if they're looking for the lecture theatre, and you can even make new friends this way! It's quite an odd way to make new friends, but in some situations, it definitely helped me.

If you're coming back home from town on a night out, it sometimes is best to book a well trusted and licenced taxi or Uber. It will cost a few quid that could've been spent on a drink, but it's always better to know you have a safe way of getting yourself home. Universities will often advertise trusted taxi firms and Uber is slowly becoming available in more and more locations across the UK.

Universities always have maps that you can get for free, often you'll find these on open days. It's just good to have a map on you, that way you can refer to your map if you ever find yourself lost. You could even use this map as a reference when you're asking someone for directions. Despite me going on about being safe and prepared for getting lost while at university, remember to have fun and laugh about the silly things like this. It'll probably happen to everyone at Uni at least once, so remember it's okay to not know where your lecture is!

Thanks for reading,

Will

Budgeting as a student (who loves to spend!)

B is for Budget:
Your first student loan is like the best feeling, ever. For the first time in your life, you have a decent amount of actual money in your bank as opposed to the £5 your dad gave you last week or the £150 you've earned from your part-time job and you feel like a proper loaded and you can blow your money on a new games console, a few meals out and the drinks are on you all evening until it's been 5 days and you realise that £300 left in your bank has to last you for the next 3 months and shit well and truly hits the fan. 

Luckily for most of us, the bank of mum and dad will help out, especially during your first year as if our parents or grandparents don't take pity on us, who will, right? But as the terms go on and you end up in the same situation, not something your family are cool with. Then you're left with two options, to curb your spending (boo) or get a part-time job. For most of my time at university, I did have a job that did help to supplement my student loan, but that did missing out on loads of cool stuff as most of it took place on a Saturday night and I was at work the next morning, and I cannot cope with hangovers, like at all. For some of us who have too much work to get a job alongside university or who just like living that 'student life, while they can (don't blame you) here are my top tips for budgeting whilst at university. 

Bulk buy:

It often works out cheaper to buy most things in bulk e.g. pasta which you can share with your housemates and just split these items between you or just keep them for yourself. I mean a 1kg bag of pasta is always handy, especially for someone who basically eats nothing else. When offers are on it's worth purchasing multiple of the items and storing in your room somewhere for later. Tins are always good to stock up on, as so many meals can come out of them, I love to have tined bins and spaghetti at my disposal as they're such an easy meal to make when paired with toast. 

Shop in the reduced section:

At random times of the day, supermarkets reduce items due to go off, this is usually in the evening, and you can get some pretty amazing deals especially with bread and vegetables, I've gone in before and purchased a large number of baked goods for 25p and they're usually good for a few days after it says too. It's also a great time to get food you wouldn't usually be able to afford for a fraction of the price. 

Lidl or Aldi?

When I was at university there was not a Lidl or an Aldi nearby, since being at university a huge Aldi has opened up around 10 minutes away, and I had no idea how cheap the fruit and vegetables are and the fact they sell dupes of loads of brands too, which taste the same! Again for the fraction of the price. With Aldi and Lidl I'd recommend buying a mass amount of cheaper items, making a HUGE meal out of them and then freezing as many pots of it as you can fit in your freezer drawer.

Take advantage of your student discount:

And for those times you really need to treat yourself your student card usually has your back, using sites such as Unidays and Student Beans. With additional bonuses popping up around the year to get even more money off it would be rude not to, right? Plus who doesn't love a discount on takeaway and new shoes?

I would love to hear of any tips you may have for budgeting in the comments!  

Accommodation: Staying at home, moving into halls or living with friends?

A is for Accommodation:
When moving to university most people move into hauls, especially when moving to a new place. As it is difficult to move to a new town or city knowing nobody and also finding somewhere to live. I actually stayed at home whilst going to university in my hometown but being someone who suffers from anxiety I found it easier that way, I do feel like I missed out somewhat moving into halls purely for that 'full' university experience and by that I do mean going out and doing things as a flat, getting exceptionally drink with your friends in one of the kitchens and learning to live alone with a group of people who are also going through the same thing.

I did, however, get to experience the life of living with students when I moved into a student house for the third year, I moved in with some of my boyfriend at the time friends, which for the first few months was amazing, it was like one big party and there was almost always someone around to talk to. It was when the cracks started to appear it became less than appealing, the good turned into the annoying and then turned into a big pile of crap. Treading on eggshells at home is not the one as you constantly feel on edge with the kitchen and the bathroom and any other communal and when anyone had friends over or there were extra people in the house it was so cramped we may as well have been sitting on each others lap. The things we had in common slowly became things we pretended not to like anymore so we didn't have to discuss them and the things we did discuss was that of small awkward talk on the stairs or whilst making a drink, it was never what I thought would happen. If it wasn't for my ex I don't know how I would have made it through the last few months. 

Since living together I only still have one of the people I lived with on social media and that isn't my ex, I would like to say we are still friends but often it doesn't feel that way. As for the rest, we left each other at home when we moved away. Putting things into perspective, spending my first two years of university living at home did save me a LOT of money and as much as you fight with your family, it doesn't feel as awkward and upsetting as it is with your friends. But moving out did give me a sense of freedom I didn't have at home, e.g. partying with friends, random conversations and learning how to survive on your own. With University living arrangements I'd say it's always worth spreading your wings and giving it ago!

Love, 

Olivia

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.

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.

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