Summer Holiday Ideas for Students

Summer is here and in full swing, which means while you're on your holiday break, you should be making the most of this time to enjoy yourself. In this blog, we look at some tips and recommendations for making this summer one to remember!

Well done to all the first years who are experiencing their first summer holiday as a university student. While you may have some work to complete over the summer, it's time to enjoy yourself and relax before things ramp up in the second year. While you may be tempted to find a job or get an internship to improve your CV, you'll be much better off enjoying yourself and using your newfound independence to discover some of what the UK has to offer.

At this point in the year, it might be difficult to find short stay holiday lets in some of the more popular locations. Because of this, we recommend taking day trips instead; you can still explore much of what the country has to offer, without breaking the bank on staying somewhere. Bus or coach companies will be the cheapest way of travelling, but it may be easier or more preferable to catch the train. If you've read our money-saving guides, you should now have a 16-25 Railcard to make travelling by train much cheaper, and if you don't: get one!

We are lucky in the UK to never be too far from the seaside, nor one of the many resorts dotted along it. If you're sick of the city, a day trip to the coast could be a lovely idea, giving you a great opportunity to enjoy the weather on a beach, grab some drinks, go clubbing, or visit one of the piers or vintage markets. Because many of these coastal towns are geared towards catering for tourists, it's unlikely you'll be disappointed by the transport links or amenities there. However, for the same reasons they can be quite crowded, and could require a bigger budget.

If the thought of big crowds is a turn-off, but you'd still like to get to the coast, you could try a more rustic setting with a seaside village. This would be a great destination for those who enjoy long walks along the coast, or in a charming village, before enjoying something from an honest local business, such as a cream tea or fish & chips. Whether you find something more traditional or upmarket is heavily dependent on where in the UK you're looking. This can be a more budget-friendly option than the more tourist-focused resorts and can allow you to enjoy delicious local food. The downside is that reaching these places can be much more difficult, and they don't have quite as many things to do.

An old faithful for days out is the good, honest hike. With major locations across the UK such as the Lake District, New Forest, and Cotswolds, along with some smaller and more local options, you're never far from a lovely walk in the countryside. There are many apps and websites which can provide walking, hiking and cycling routes, so you'll always be able to mix it up. This is a great option for getting some exercise, without breaking the bank, and giving you some time in nature. The downside is that it can be tricky to get to some trails using public transport only, and those you can get to may be either too easy or too difficult.

Of course, your university town or city will likely have plenty to see and do as well, and now you don't have any studies it's a great opportunity to go out and experience all of these. Some ideas for places to visit include galleries, museums and restaurants. There may even be a particular part of town that you haven't had a chance to visit yet. You also have a chance to take part in some new activities around town, such as local board game meet-ups, climbing or dancing! The major problem with sticking to your local town or city is that you're not experiencing what the rest of the country has to offer.

If you're a little low on funds over the summer, it's not a bad idea to get a job in the local area, especially one that is customer facing such as a bar, pub or cafe. While the pay won't be incredible, you'll meet interesting people and learn a lot of important transferrable skills, including developing soft social skills for talking to customers. This isn't exactly a relaxing way to spend your summer though, so it's important to weigh up the different factors to decide what's best for you.

Looking for Student Accommodation? Unihousing Can Help!

Unihousing is a student accommodation provider near the University of Birmingham, operating since 1984. All of our accommodation in Selly Oak is owned by us, so we can respond quickly to any requests using our qualified team of tradesmen. Our property office is located on Bristol Road, only a short walk away from all of our accommodation. This means we can deal directly with our tenants.

Unhousing was selected as the Number 1 Student Letting Agent in Birmingham by the UK's biggest fresher community, Unifresher.

Contact Unihousing today to find out more!

4 Things to Look Out For When Moving Into Private Accommodation

Moving into private accommodation can be a great solution for students who are wanting to have a bit more control of their living situation. Some students will be looking for shared accommodation, while others might prefer solo living. Regardless of what you decide is the best fit for you, there are a few things you should keep in mind when moving into private accommodation.

Make the Location Your Priority

Although you might be debating whether you need to live close to your university, the further you live from it, the harder it will be to travel there and back each day. Particularly in your second and third years, you will likely be at your university for longer hours throughout the week, so adding long travel on top of that will just make your life more difficult.

Sort Out Council Tax

Unlike student halls, when you move into private accommodation like shared houses, you will start receiving council tax bills through your letterbox. The good news is, if you are a full-time student, you are likely exempt from paying council tax. Unfortunately, you still have to prove this to the council.

If you are living solely with other full-time students, as long as each of you can show that you are enrolled at university, you will not have to pay any council tax. If you are living with both students and professionals, you will still get a tax break, and the amount will really only apply to the individual who is not the student.

Check the Inventory at The Start of Your Tenancy

Before moving into any private accommodation, it’s important that you thoroughly look through the inventory for the property and take pictures too. This way, if there are any errors you will find them now, so they don’t cause you grief when you move out. You can also ensure you know what the property looked like when you moved in, which will save you the hassle of fighting with estate agents before you move out in the future.

Be Mindful of The Prices of Bills

Many student studios will have bills already included in the rent, so you might not need to worry about paying extensive amounts for heating. But, if you are moving into a house share, it will likely be your responsibility to handle bills. In the long run, gas central heating will work out cheaper than electric heating, so when looking for properties be mindful of what the heating set up is. All of Unihousing’s studios come with bills included in the rent, while our shared houses come with gas utilities included in rent. This will save students time, effort and money when they move in.

Student Accommodation with Unihousing

Unihousing is a student accommodation provider near the University of Birmingham, operating since 1984. All of our accommodation in Selly Oak is owned by us, so we can respond quickly to any requests using our qualified team of tradesmen. Our property office is located on Bristol Road, only a short walk away from all of our accommodation. This means we can deal directly with our tenants.

Unhousing was selected as the Number 1 Student Letting Agent in Birmingham by the UK's biggest fresher community, Unifresher.

Contact Unihousing today to find out more!

Boost Your Student Finances by Cutting Back on These 12 Things - Part 2

Welcome back to part 2 of this blog on how to boost your student finances. Check out the remaining 6 things to cut back on to get more money as a student.

7: Buying Brands

Many supermarkets and shops will stock their own unbranded items, which are often only slightly worse in quality, but much cheaper. As an example, unbranded tomato sauce can often be picked up for £1 a jar, whereas a branded jar is likely to set you back £2 or more. While this doesn't seem like much, little savings like this can make a huge difference over time.

8: Gym Memberships

When searching through your bank statements for things to cut back on, make sure to check for anything that isn't a necessity, or that you've forgotten about. For example, gym memberships are a great expenditure to cut back on to save your student finances. Even without a gym membership, you can keep fit by going on runs or following home workout instructions on YouTube.

9: Excessive Drinking

This may seem sacrilegious to some, but going out most nights to get hammered is a surefire way to lose all your money. Especially if you are the sort to buy a round of drinks for the group. Either accept that you should be saving money and let others buy drinks for you, or limit the amount you can take out each night by not taking your card, so you don't overspend.

10: Hunger Shopping

Most people will have heard of the phrase "don't go shopping when you're hungry", the reason for this is because you'll be much more likely to pick up snacks and sugar-rich food. By having a meal before you leave the house, you'll be much less tempted to buy these things so you can save money. 

11: Disorganisation

Being disorganised can often lead to you spending more money. For instance, if you forget or run out of time to make yourself lunch, you'll have to buy some from the shop. If you don't bring your own water bottle or coffee flask, you'll probably buy a plastic water bottle or coffee from the cafe. Get organised by planning your day, so you can avoid unnecessary expenditure.

12: Non-reusable Items

Investing in reusable goods is a great way to save money. While the initial cost may be higher in some cases, over time you'll save a lot of money. You'll also be doing your part for the environment, as disposable items are often full of plastic. Once you've finished using your current plastic razors, invest in a bamboo or steel razor, meaning you only need to buy interchangeable heads or blades. There are also reusable options for makeup remover, drinking straws, and batteries. One last note; don't forget your reusable grocery bag when going to the shop, so you don't get stung for extra plastic bags!

What is Unihousing?

Unihousing is a student accommodation provider near the University of Birmingham, operating since 1984. All of our accommodation in Selly Oak is owned by us, so we can respond quickly to any requests using our qualified team of tradesmen. Our property office is located on Bristol Road, only a short walk away from all of our accommodation. This means we can deal directly with our tenants.

Unhousing was selected as the Number 1 Student Letting Agent in Birmingham by the UK's biggest fresher community, Unifresher.

Contact Unihousing today to find out more!