Best Student Deals This Week #2 | Money Saving

When I first did my 'best student deals post' I never expected it to be the most popular post on my blog, so I thought I'd bring you another one. Although it's been many months since my last one, you can feel free to read it here. Being a student money can often be tight, so finding ways around this is always fun and I enjoy being savvy. Often clothes aren't a top priority but with one of the amazing things in this post you may be able to change that this month. If you guys like this post, please let me know in the comments and I'll happily bring you another sooner than the last one I promise.

ASOS 20% off with UNiDAYS: 
For 48 hours only, UNiDAYS are bringing students 20% off on ASOS.com which is perfect for those looking to update their winter wardrobe with new staple items like coats and bags. I treated myself to a bag already, this ends on Friday 21st so make the most of this today!

Free Amazon Prime For 6 Months: 
There is absolutely no catch with this perk, you get six months free next day delivery with Amazon, which is awesome right? Forgotten that family Birthday, Amazon have you covered! You can also get 50% off Prime for the following year at only £39 a year which in my opinion again is totally worth it, even I did pay it by accident.

35% off Domino's when you spend £20:
You read this right, I couldn't believe I didn't know about this deal sooner! But with Student Beans you can get 35% off Domino's for the foreseeable future, which can either mean one of two things. The first being the money can be spent on sides like cookies and wedges OR you save money, either way win win! Get the deal here.

12% off 12-25 Railcards: 
Railcards are totally worth while discounts anyways, saving you up to 1/3 on your fares and if you travel a lot or even if you don't in my opinion it is totally worth having. For a one year card it is £30 and with the discount it is a further £3.60 off. If you want to save even MORE money it's worth investing in the three year rail card which is £70 and you can get the 12% off again.

50% off Spotify Premium for a year:
As much as I LOVE Spotify their adverts annoy the hell out of me, with premium you can listen to songs on the go *saving you having to buy the albums* and all music is advert free all day everyday for only £4.99 a month, can't really argue with that price.

I hope you like reading these posts, and I hope to get a weekly one out to you all!  

10 Ways To Spend Less Money On Food At University | Tips and Tricks

Guest post by Bronni from Student Money Saver

University is expensive, after you’ve factored in rising rents, travel costs, government cuts, textbooks and everything else you’re expected to pay for as a student, buying food can seem almost unaffordable. But you don’t need to deprive yourself, if you follow these tips you should be able to eat well and have a bit of money left over to have fun with.

1. Eat breakfast

Nobody wants to get up any earlier than they absolutely have to when they’ve got a 9am lecture, but if you’re someone who likes to grab a mid-morning pastry before your next seminar it can add up to a fair bit of money over time. If you can, eat before you leave so you won’t be as hungry, or just throw a cereal bar in your bag.

A box of six Special K bars costs about the same as a single Costa croissant, and that’ll sort you out for a whole week!

2. Bring a packed lunch

If you’re super prepared, bringing a sandwich can mean serious savings at lunchtime. Even though a Tesco meal deal or a hot lunch from the canteen isn’t that expensive, it’s always cheaper to bring something in. If you get access to a microwave saving leftovers from the previous night makes a change to sandwiches and further cuts down on waste.

3. Don’t shop when you’re hungry

This is an easy one, it’s been proven that shopping on an empty stomach means that you’re more likely to buy food that’s less healthy, AND spend more! Grab a snack before you leave to cut down on junk food and save yourself a bit of cash.

4. Make a list (and stick to it)

Sit down to make a list before you go to the supermarket, it’ll help you not to forget what you actually need and stop you picking up the little ‘extras’ that can end up costing you. I like the app Keep (Android or iOS) for keeping all sorts of notes and lists on your phone.

5. Don’t buy too much

The fact is that most packets of food at the supermarket are designed to feed a family of four, which is probably why it always seems like you’re throwing mouldy food away. By choosing loose fruit and veg or smaller packs of meat you will save money, despite not being as good ‘value’.

If there’s a special offer on a 1 KG bag of carrots, it’s still not going to turn out cheaper than buying the two loose carrots you’re likely to eat in a week.

6. Buy frozen

Where these rules don’t apply is on frozen food. It’s amazing value for students because it saves time, doesn’t go off, and you’ll know you’re going to eat it all eventually. A bag of potatoes the same price as a bag of Aunt Bessie’s mash will make a lot more mash, but by the time you get to that point those potatoes will have all grown eyes and be getting a bit mushy. Yuck.

7. Try couponing

Couponing is amazing, see that smoothie and quiche? Totally free. I’ve written an absolutely massive guide to couponing, and it really isn’t difficult to get into if you’ve got a bit of time. It’s amazing for picking up the little luxurious things you can’t really afford. I 100% recommend giving it a try, you’re not going to come away with trollies full of freebies like they do on TV, but a free bar of chocolate every now and again is definitely realistic.

8. Yellow stickers

There’s nothing I love more than a yellow sticker reduction, and there’s definitely a knack for hunting down the best bargains - they’re all explained in my article on supermarket reductions tips & tricks if you want to find out how.

9. Make sure you always have food in the house

It’s always tempting to buy a takeaway when there’s no ‘easy’ food in your kitchen, which is why I recommend ALWAYS having an emergency ready meal or some pasta sauce in the freezer. When you want a Chinese you’re probably just going to do it, but sometimes you only make an order because you’d rather spend £20 than walk in the cold to Tesco.

10. Use cashback and discount codes

I’m not going to advise you not to buy takeaways, they’re DELICIOUS and sometimes nothing else will hit the spot. But if you do, try and remember to look up a discount code and get cashback. You can get 50% off at Pizza Hut and Domino’s quite often, so it’s always worth keeping an eye out.

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