When you first move into student halls, report any damages to walls or furniture that you see in your room immediately. This way, there’s a record of these problems so they can never accuse you of causing them. Taking pictures of the damages at the start of the year will also prevent endless and tiring arguments when you move out, and are unable to get your deposit back.
If you can, ask a parent or guardian to withdraw all of your student loan money as it comes through so you aren’t tempted to treat yourself to some ‘retail therapy’ that you know you definitely don’t need. They can then give you an agreed amount of that money each week for you to live off of. Not only will this teach you important budgeting skills that’ll prove to be valuable when you’re living only off of your own pay check, but you’ll never be the friend that’s starving, counting down the days until the next loan instalment because they bought themselves a new games console.
Do not buy your books at the start of the year. About a month in you’ll realise your teachers are only using three out of the fifty books that they put on the reading list, saving you a lot of time and a lot more money. On top of this, check your local library (the one in your home city), for the books you need. You’ll be able to borrow books for much longer at those libraries than you can at your library on campus.
Student halls are notorious for their late night/early morning fire alarms. Make sure you have your dressing gown and a pair of shoes within arms reach so you’re not the last person to exit the building with your pyjama top inside out… it happens.
