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House Hunting Advice from a Third Year - By Sarah McCann

In fresher’s you often get wrapped up in having all of these new friends and everyone wants to live together… so you rush to get the big houses all in a similar location, so you can remain BM4E’s – ERROR. Uni stress affects everyone and in a huge house tensions can rise, also can you deal with sharing 2 toilets between 8 of you? Consider this when choosing your housemates!

This brings me on to location… Make sure everyone agrees on a location before renting! If you want to live near the clubs, then find people who also want to live there… If you want to live near campus then find like-minded housemates! There is nothing worse than listening to your housemates moaning about how far away university is – ON A DAILY BASIS.

Before beginning to look at houses, make a list of everything you want in the house! I can’t stress this enough as it saves so much time only viewing the houses which meet your needs; so head down to the estate agents with your specifications and book a few viewings!

Now, when you go off to your viewings, ignore the estate agent when he suddenly states “I’ve another three house viewings here today” after you’ve expressed a slight interest in the house – it’s a classic sales trick. Don’t give in to the pressure to quickly sign!

After viewing ALL of the houses, discuss with your housemates which ones were your two favourites and take a second look around – sometimes you can get caught up and remember a house being completely different to what it actually is. Moreover, it allows you check the more specific elements of the house such as double glazing, how old the boiler is and if locks on doors and windows are secure.

In second year, house hunting was a little daunting and I didn’t really ask questions – ANOTHER MISTAKE! Write a list of questions of things you’re unsure of: when rent is due, who to call if there is a problem (the landlord or the agency), are bills included etc – parents are a great source for questions. This will ensure you don’t come away thinking “ahh I forgot to ask..”

I hope my experience help you find a house in the ideal location, with the people who’ll make your uni experience unforgettable!

Enjoy… It’s over all too soon! 

Student Nights out in Southampton

Jesters

Oh Jesters, Jesters, Jesters…. the palace of dreams. The perfect place where you want to have the most amount of fun on the smallest budget. You can get a 50p pint every Monday and taste local delicacies like Jesticles. If cheesy music, sticky dancefloors and toilet graffiti are your thing this is the perfect place. No frills fun without pretentious posers or pretentious prices, and if you’re enjoying pre-party you can get late entry through Clowns.

Sobar

Just down the road from Jesters, Sobar is pretty similar to it’s rowdy neighbor. It’s the venue for sports socials on Wednesdays, £1 drinks on Tuesdays and sometimes has a little BBQ going outside. Again, it’s the perfect night for students on a budget looking for fun. 

Oceana

Fancy getting a bit more glam? Oceana is more for your heel wearers who like bigger, ‘clubbier’ clubs. It’s one of the biggest in Southampton with different rooms, five bars and VIP rooms and closes at 3am, later than most other student nights. Compared to non-student nights out its still very cheap, but not as outrageously cheap as Jesters and Sobar. And there’s a hot dog stall outside, mm…

The Edge

The Edge is Southampton’s largest and most popular gay nightclub, which has just undergone a huge refurb. It has a jukebox, pool table, great drinks deals and is open until 4am. After winning a lot of different gay nightlife awards, it’s definitely worth a visit! Always guaranteed a fun night - a great way to socialize and discover Southampton’s gay nightlife.

Fancy a chilled one?

If you’re in the mood for something a little less crazy there’s a lot of options for a great night. We’re lucky to have Union films, one of the only student-run cinemas on campus offering tickets at a fraction of local cinema prices. Alternatively, the Stag’s Head, your union pub, is a great place to have a chilled drink without having to shout over nightclub music. It’s open throughout the week and shows live sports, has karaoke on Thursdays and 2 for 1 pizza deals. Also, every Sunday, The Bridge hosts a Quiz and Curry night, which is great fun without having to splash the cash for be home at 4am. Have a look on the SUSU website for other events on around campus, you’ll be surprised at how much is on offer!

Staying safe in Southampton!

Keeping safe should not be left to chance. Students should be aware and vigilant about the increased risk posed to them in and around the area of Southampton. The majority of students have a fun and trouble free time during University but statistics suggest that's students are one of the most likely groups to fall victims to crime.

- Be aware of your surroundings. Don't walk home listening to music or talking on your phone.

- stick to well lit busy streets and don't take shortcuts through parks / alleyways - especially the common.

- Don't advertise your possessions. However if anyone does try to steal something from you using a threatening force, let the item go. There is no shame in walking away from a fight - your safety is worth a lot more than any possession you own.

- Do not walk on you own at night time. I know walking home can seem tempting (and a sensible idea after a few drinks), but it is never the right answer - arrange to walk home with a friend or book a licensed taxi.

-West Quay cars are promoted by the University. They have got a booking app as well as the usual phone number to make it even easier for you to book a taxi. You can download the app on your phone, or call them on 02380 999 999.

- If you are strapped for cash then there's the good old SUSU Safety Bus. This bus is run by student drivers and is guaranteed to be your safest and friendliest way home after a night out. The bus runs every evening during term-time from the redbrick on campus so you can get a lift home after a night at the Stag’s, as well as from Portswood on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays. The journey will cost you an absolute maximum of £2 as long as you show your student ID!

Speed things up and keep costs low in the kitchen!

Saving time and money are essential in all areas of student life, and cooking is no exception. Here’s some suggestions on how to speed things up and keep costs low in the kitchen.

SAVING FROM THE START

If you've got a house of eight, there’s no need for eight sieves, no matter how much you love pasta. Get in contact with your housemates before you move in and fill in the gaps in your cupboards by doing a bit of swapping.

ADDING BULK

Save money on a meal without missing out on nutrition by adding veg to bulk out a meat dish.

• Potatoes, mushrooms, peppers or whatever you have spare, can be chopped up and added to curries, soups, omelettes and more.
• Make soup more filling by cutting stale bread into cubes and adding a crushed clove of garlic to some oil before frying the croutons.
• The cheapest mince is not a money saver because it tends to have a lot of fat and gristle. Save by buying the best mince you can afford but make it go further with added vegetables

STIR FRIES – THE STUDENT’S BEST FRIEND

Stir fries are a cheap and heathy meal, and can be whipped up in no time. The ingredients are cheap and they take minutes to cook. Here are some stir fry tips:

• Cut all the ingredients to the same size, things will all be cooked at the same time!
• Get the wok or frying pan really hot and add a tablespoon of oil. If using meat, stir fry it in the hot oil for two to three minutes, then add the vegetables for a further two.
• Mix the sauce, pour over and stir fry for another minute before serving.
• We know how tempting Sainsbury’s sauce sachets are, why not try your own? Basic sauce ingredients are 4tbsp soy sauce, 1 tbsp vinegar, and 1 tsp runny honey or sugar. Add chilli powder to give it a kick.

MONDAY UNIVERSITY MARKET

As you all probably know, every Monday there is a market outside SUSU (the concourse). There’s fresh fruit and veg at a really reasonable price (some things are better value than others though, so check if it’s worth buying over a supermarket alternative), there’s the famous muffin lady, fresh meat and fish, fancy bread and that stall with the olivey bits.

If you’re after a deal, try and go down at the end of the day. You’ll always hear someone shouting about some deals to try and shift the stock. And why not try haggling? What’s the worst that would happen?

COOK ON MASS

When your cupboards are looking a bit bare it’s always worth asking your housemates to see if they have the second half of the meal you can almost salvage together. It saves either of you having to go out and buy more ingredients.

If you have the bits to make more than one portion of a meal, it’s always worth cooking what you can and freezing meals for a later date. It saves you having to cook a meal from scratch and stops you binning any leftovers. This is especially great over exam period, just take your dinner out the freezer as you start your day and it’ll be ready to eat with no fuss later. Stress-free!

10 things to do when you arrive at your new student home!

1. Make sure you read the gas, electricity and water meters the day you move in, and give them to your suppliers! Keep a photo safe in case you disagree with your bills!

2. Make sure you locate the fuse box as soon as possible, you don’t want to be stuck routing around for it when the lights go!

3. An inventory is essential to make sure you get all of the deposit you deserve back!

4. Student houses are gold mines for thieves, so make sure you have some sort of contents insurance – check with your parents first, sometimes their house insurance covers you too!

5. Council tax is a pain. As students you don’t need to pay it, but it’s your responsibility to make the council aware of your student status!

6. Found out when your bins are collected! It may sound trivial, but you don’t want to miss bin day and have your rubbish piling up for an extra week!

7.  Make sure all of your doors and windows lock securely, you don’t want any intruders rummaging around your things!

8. If you want to watch TV, avoid fines and buy your TV licence! But if money is tight, just watch on catch-up!

9.  If you’re lucky enough to have a car, but unfortunately you have no drive, check with the council to see if you can buy a permit. This will save you panicking about parking tickets and stop you parking miles away!

10. It is vital you check your smoke alarms and make sure they work! If you’re having any problems, contact you landlord as they must provide you with smoke detectors!

Student loan drying up? Try this purse friendly pasta recipe at just £1 a head!

Is your student loan starting to dry up? Fear not, you can make it until the end of term without living on rice and thin air – this week we’re loving this roast Mediterranean vegetable pasta bake from http://www.beyondbakedbeans.org/ (and guess what, they cost less than £1 per portion…). Why not buddy up with a few of your housemates to really make the most of it?

Roast Mediterranean Vegetable Pasta Bake 

Serves: 4
Suitable for: Vegetarian, vegan
Time: 50 minutes - 1 hour
Cost: Under £1 a head
Ingredients:
1 medium to large onion, peeled and cut into 8
1 medium to large aubergine, cut into large chunks
1 large red pepper, deseeded and cut into large chunks
2 courgettes, cut into rounds
About 4/5 fresh ripe tomatoes roughly chopped or 1 x 400g can of tinned tomatoes
1 tbsp of tomato paste (if using fresh tomatoes)
2 cloves of garlic, peeled and crushed or finely chopped
About 3 tbsp chopped fresh parsley (optional)
Salt, pepper and sugar to taste
250g dried pasta shapes e.g. penne or rigatoni


Method:
Pour 4 tablespoons of the olive oil in a large roasting pan and add the chopped onion, aubergine, pepper and courgettes. Season with salt and pepper, toss them in the oil and bake them for 30 minutes, turning them half way through. If you're using fresh tomatoes dilute the tomato paste in a mug or jug with 225ml boiling water, stirring well to mix it in evenly. Add the crushed garlic, tomatoes and tomato stock if using to the baking dish, mixing it well with the vegetables and return it to the oven.
Meanwhile cook the pasta for a minute or two less than the time recommended on the pack. Drain the pasta, reserving a couple of spoonfuls of water, mix it into the vegetables and bake for another 5 minutes or until the pasta is cooked through.
Check the seasoning adding salt, pepper and a little sugar to taste (this will bring out the tomato flavour). Stir in the parsley, if using, drizzle with a little extra olive oil and serve.


TOP TIPS
* If you’re not vegan you can sprinkle parmesan on the pasta once you’ve served it or top the bake with some grated cheese when you add the pasta to give it a crusty topping.
* You could make it spicier by adding 1 tsp paprika or a dollop of chilli sauce when you add the tomatoes

5-6 tbsp olive oil

Preheat the oven to 190°C/375°F/Gas 5.