Would you drop out of uni? | Lets talk

Two post in one week?! That's right I am back and totally ready to get some amazing content out there for you lovely lot. I have wanted to write a post like this for a while and just haven't gotten around to doing so, the reason I want to write a post like this it to show people that dropping out of university isn't the end of the world and it is more common than you think. Despite not actually dropping out myself although I have contemplated it more times than I can count on one hand. The reason I didn't is still a mystery to myself as I find it hard to focus on the subject I have chosen and wish in first year I had decided to change instead of the advice I was given which was 'stick with it'.

With the research of My Voucher Codes I decided to find out why people want to drop out in their first year of university and if they actually would do it. My Voucher Codes took a survey of 1200 to find out their thoughts on the matter, and found out just under a third weren't planning on returning to university after Christmas. Which to me is a crazily high number, but there must be a reason as to why these people don't want to return? The Independent suggests being around strangers and studying away from home can just be too much overwhelming experience for some people which totally makes sense. I chose to study in my local town for this exact reason knowing that the changes would be too big for me to handle and I probably would of dropped out if this was the case.

Being at university can be a fun experience for those that make friends easily but what about those who don't? It makes sense for them to leave if university isn't what they thought it be like. In another case it can often be that people can't cope without their parents guidance and end up not knowing how to cook and spending all of their student money in the first week and then having to survive on rice for the next three months, isn't appealing at all.

For those who drop out because they don't like their course or the place where they are studying is something that rings true with myself, but the good news with these people some of them change course and end up completing their degree or end up changing campus and finding it a lot better, it is just about what works for you as a person. Those who drop out completely also end up finding alternative routes to their dream careers, including apprenticeships or just working their way up the career ladder which totally works too. Plus you're not broke for the entire time, bonus!

Although I wouldn't recommend dropping out of university to be a decision which you take lightly one bad month doesn't mean your whole course will suck, but sometimes the only way to be happy is to walk away, and that is something which is totally fine.

Did you consider dropping out in first year?  

*In collaboration with My Voucher Codes 

Making the most of your uni room! | Lifestyle

Pretty much everyone who has been to university knows that often than not the rooms aren't massive and when you're a blogger the chances are you have more stuff than room and it's a nightmare trying to find places to store it all so I thought I'd give you some tips today for keeping your room organized and finding places for all of your stuff (or at least most of it anyways)

First off, start by sorting out your stuff to get rid of unwanted items: 
Clothes that no longer fit? DVDs that you're holding on to that you've never watched? Get rid of them all, have a good old clear out and if you find anything which is worth money, sell it online and then use the money to put towards storage space for your new room. Win win situation!

Drawers and boxes are your best friends: 
My uni room consists of a stack of storage boxes from Tk Maxx which are perfect for buying different sizes and stacking them on top of each other, or just having one big one. They look lovely and you can fill them with different items, I use mine for items I have no idea what to do with. Also sets of draws are perfect for storage and although they take up more room it's an awesome way to store things easily. I have a big set full of makeup and one mini set on my desk for pens, and brushes and other bits and pieces saves the desk clutter.

Order your wardrobe: 
Most wardrobes have a top section, a wardrobe part then a set of drawers underneath so it's about making the most of the space you have. The top part is perfect for bags and shoes, or if you have a lot of shoes like me the draw under your bed is another perfect place. Of course the middle bit is for hanging clothes, do this in order and it's perfect for keeping organized. I like to have longer stuff at the end like jeans and dresses then tees separate. If you are desperate for space you can use this for storing other things like shoes and bags but if not you can keep this free of clutter. Lastly the drawers are perfect for storing all of your clothes, make sure they're folded and then you can fit more in. I usually keep one of the drawers free for summer clothes/winter clothes to keep my wardrobe less cluttered.

Keep it clean: 
I am terrible at this, but my room honestly feels 100x bigger when it is clean as there's space to walk and you can see the floor, when the room is quite compact more mess makes it feel cluttered which equals smaller space.

These are my basic tips for ordering your university room and if you have a massive room I am super jealous of you, as I want a lovely dresser and lots of makeup room! 

How to deal with deadline stress | Studying

If you're a student right now, this post will totally appeal to you as deadline time is fast approaching and that means panic stations! That report that needed writing last month and is now due in a matter of days, quick pull of the all nighters. In my case I have 2 pieces of film and 2 reports due in the next few weeks eeekkk. But thank god for being kind of organized and doing them pretty far in advance or I would be a huge mess right now. So I thought today I would share with you some of my tips for dealing with the stress of deadlines and I hope it helps you lovelies to have less stressful deadlines in the future.

Break it down: 
Although your deadline is in less than a week, break your work load down and give your self incentives. For example if I write 1000 words, I can have a break and order a pizza and then after my next 2000 I can eat the pizza. That sort of thing works with me and it keeps me motivated and focused on the task at hand.

Get sleep: 
Although when you're stressing about your deadlines the last thing you want to do is go to sleep but staying up all night is only going to ruin your concentration for the next day, so it's worth going to bed getting sleep and starting a fresh tomorrow.

Take breaks: 
If you sit in front of a PC for hours on end you are eventually going to loose concentration and start writing a load of rubbish, so it's worth moving away from the PC and giving your eyes and mind a rest for a while and going back to it later.

Eat and drink: 
It's important to keep eating regularly and also drink lots of water, although you may not feel like doing so, you must do so. Without you'll start feeling ill and not be able to work properly making your work less likely to be any good.

Believe: 
Make sure you believe that you can get it done, if you're constantly doubting yourself you may as well just give up. Without hope there's no chance.

TV series everyone should watch | Lifestyle

In the last year I haven't come across a student who have access to a Netflix account (probably their best friends uncles cousins account) but that's not the point, the access is there and is it fast approaching winter and the weather is finally getting colder it is the perfect excuse to spend your weekends indoors instead of making the effort to go out. I thought I would share with you my top 5 TV series' to watch this autumn/winter, which everyone should totally take the time to watch. I also recommend a decent sized TV like the an awesome 4K one from Panasonic although most students tend to watch them on their laptops it is totally worth investing. Also I recommend a large pizza and lots of sweets for the watching of these series'.

Awkward: 
This programme has been a long time favourite of mine and although you can't get it on Netflix you can get most of the older series anywhere like Youtube or even on MTV. The series is about a teenage girl in high school and her journey throughout, it is a very girl orientated series and won't be everyones cup of tea, but if you love a bit of teenage drama and romance this is for you but I love it and I am hooked waiting for the new series in 2016! If you fancy finding out a little bit more you can do here.

Ru Paul: 
This show is one of my favourites of all time, and if you don't already know the concept it is a battle of Drag Queens in a similar format to Americas Next Top Model but so much better and fun. The series shows a variety of different challenges, with amazing lip sync battles and it something everyone can enjoy and take it from my boyfriend who usually hates everything I watch it's addictive.

Tracy Beaker: 
I bet you're thinking that you've read this wrong, but I am talking the classic series of Tracy Beaker from back in 2004 and although, you're probably thinking you are too old to watch and the fact you've probably already watched it 50 times over when you're ill it is a godsend as it is just easy watching and brings back all of those childhood feels.

The Peep Show:
If you love this show as much as I do you will know the new series starts tonight and it is the final one *sobs* although I was pretty sure it was finished years ago, I ended up watching this in college and I thought I would find it boring but I actually love it. The programme is about the lives of two men Mark and Jeremy and how they are just trying to keep their lives together as much as possible. The amazing thing about this series is the fact it is filmed through POV as well as generic shots which it gives it an edge over other programmes.

If you fancy a read of 'TV series everyone is watching BUT me', check out my other blog or click here. 

Graduates, What's Next? Find A Job Or Make Your Own?

If you graduated this year, student life may already seem like a lifetime ago. You might be in your first 9-5 role, back in study or making plans for your next move, but have you considered running your own business? A growing number of graduates are deciding to bypass climbing the corporate ladder by starting their own company and going in at the top! Read on to find out what’s in it for you…

Why work for yourself?

While graduates leave university with more debt than ever before thanks to growing tuition fees, relatively speaking, they tend to have fewer financial commitments than other groups. Once you’ve been in your career a while it can be hard to quit a stable job and potentially take a cut in salary to start out in business. When you own your own business, you and your salary will hopefully grow with it, you’re likely to work hard but do it for yourself and you can tailor your business to things you enjoy and are good at.

Entrepreneur vs employment

Research by the Simply Business Start-up Index shows a 29% increase in the number of firms set up by 18-25 year-olds since the recession’s started in 2008. Faced with fewer job opportunities it seems the young are creating their own. The top three sectors for young entrepreneurs are internet based businesses, retail and apps. As nearly 75 per cent of Brits say they would like to set up their own business but never get round to it, technology is fuelling opportunities and business development among the young.

In contrast, graduate jobs are in shorter supply with the Times Higher Education reporting that too many UK graduates are moving into non-professional jobs after graduation, which is pushing average salaries down. The European Social Survey reveals that 58.5 per cent of UK graduates are working in non-graduate jobs, a number only surpassed by Estonia and Greece. Last year the average salary of a recent graduate was around £18,615 - £22,785 with variation for different sectors and geographical location.

The reality of owning your own business

Depending on the sector you move into, you could have the chance to put into practice the things you’ve learnt at university and play on your natural skills and interests. You may be able to set your own hours too and perhaps even work from home, which can be preferred in the first instance since renting business premises means an additional cost coming out of your profits!

If you don’t have a spare room where you can set up an office, consider sectioning off an area within a larger room. Understanding parents may let you fit bi-fold doors in your living room or dining room, so that you can portion off an area to use as your headquarters. These type of doors let light through so it’s not quite as dramatic as constructing a wall! You could also try visiting co-working spaces, many of which offer facilities such as meeting rooms, phone lines and Wi-Fi for an affordable monthly or daily fee. However, in reality you might find that you are working outside of normal 9-5 hours and when your friends are clocking off for after-work drinks, you may find you’re still hard at it, particularly when you’ve just started out and have no one to delegate too. The good news is, unlike the hard work you put in your dissertation, you’ll likely be receiving an hourly rate or other financial rewards for your efforts.

Getting help

There’s lots of help available to you if you have your own idea for a business including guidance and funding from the Princes Trust and 1:1 mentorship – check out http://www.mentorsme.co.uk/.

Your local council is also a good first point of call as they’ll be able to point you in the direction of any local support schemes and even co-working spaces in the area. Though the funding for new businesses from government has reduced in recent years there are still some training schemes place funded by the EU and even some grants, so it’s worth enquiring before you get started. There’s a lot of research to be conducted before you get started in business. With this in mind, it pays to find local networking opportunities and mentorship schemes where you can not only benefit from the experience of others but also hopefully make new contacts for the future. Check out Eventbrite to see what’s going on in your area.

Do you know where you are headed after graduation? If you started your own business after graduation do you have any tips you’d like to share?

*Guest Post

Best Student Places To Live | Advice

One of the hardest things about university is deciding where to live. Do you live at home and commute? Do you live in halls? Do you live in a shared house? Or do you live on your own? Where I study is too far to commute from home, but I've given the other three a fair shot in my three years of studying. If you're a first or second year, you're probably thinking about where you're going to I've next year which isn't an easy feat, but I want to help you consider things you might’ve never thought of before. 

Halls

Most first year students end up in halls, simply because they don't know anybody. In my first year I was thrown in with five people I'd never met before and was forced to live with them for nine months. I got on swimmingly with some of them, whereas I could not see eye to eye with others. One thing I will say is for the most part, I didn't have to worry about people taking my food (everyone's biggest nightmare when they move into halls), other than in one instance and it wasn't even that big of a deal. In general, I really enjoyed my time in halls because my friends were living in the same area, and everyone was in the same boat.

Pros: You meet so many new people, most people are new to the area, usually close to uni, always somebody to talk to.

Cons: Very little control over who you live with, tends to be party central (this could be a pro I suppose)

Halls is probably your best choice if you new to the area, or want to keep lots of friends nearby. 

Shared House

This is how most people spend the rest of their university life. You often move in with people you've met in first year, whether that be flatmates or coursemates. I lived with two flatmates, one of their coursemates and a complete stranger (luckily she was lovely) in my second year. However, I was expected to be a family unit with these people and it wasn't what I wanted. Living in a house where you have equal responsibility for everything as opposed to just looking after your own things like in halls can lead to some intense arguments. 

Pros: You know who you're living with, more freedom, often the cheapest option

Cons: Bathroom sharing (most halls have an en suite nowadays), dodgy landlords, probably further from campus

A shared house is a good option for anybody looking for more freedom and wants to keep their close friends close. 

Living alone:

Due to most of my friends being on placement and leaving finding a house very late last year, I decided to look into living alone. I found a flat close to my university which is conveniently only a five minute walk from my boyfriend's so I know I always have someone to see. I love not having to answer to anybody and can go to bed at 8pm without feeling guilty for not socialising with people. 

Pros: No answering to anybody, your mess is your own mess, never being judged for weird habits

Cons: Have to make an effort to see people, more expensive, everything is your responsibility (I guess this could be a pro too)

Living alone is only good for people who like their own company. If you crave attention, don't even think about it because it can sometimes feel quite lonely. 

Your living situation is entirely down to you, and people choose different laces for a number of different reasons. My advice is to check your finances to see what you can afford, and make a judgement based on what is right for you. I know so many people who wouldn't want to live alone, but I also know people who would find living with others uncomfortable. It's a totally personal preference.

Deals Of The Week | Money Saving

Sorry it's been a while guys, I hadn't quite contemplated the amount of time of which university, looking for a part time job and running another blog would take up, but I am back and I have some amazing and exciting guest posts coming up for you in the near future. I decided to start a feature which hopefully you will find as interesting as me, and that is deals of the week. I will be searching for the best discounts (mostly on the web) of that week to help you save money. I will be sharing anything which I think people may enjoy (sorry if you end up spending more money because of this) so let me know if you like this post and if you'd like it to be a weekly thing.

The Body Shop (90% off):
The body shop currently have a massive 50% off on their sale items which in itself is beyond amazing right? But as they're so AMAZING they are allowing a 40% discount on top of that with the code '14317' and if you spend over £25.00 you get free delivery. Perfect for stocking up on those Christmas presents, their lipsticks are an amazing £1.20!

Free Nail Varnish:
When you buy a Glamour magazine this month you get a free nail varnish worth £14 on it's own, and the colours are amazing for autumn/winter so well worth picking it up.

£1 Lunch From Boots: 
From 11am to 3pm on a Monday, O2 users can get a £1 lunch with priority, which saves you on average of around £4 every Monday imagine what you could do with that spare £16 a month- booze, food or even make-up!

Free Delivery with Superdrug:
When you sign up and get yourself a Superdrug beauty card you get free delivery with every order and no minimum spend, I use it just to purchase some beauty essentials which I don't have time to pop out and get e.g. cotton wool pads and deodorant.

10% off on Boots 
An amazing perk just popped up on my unidays- 10% off online with Boots, which is an amazing deal as you can get some Christmas gifts early with 10% off.