Finishing First Year

It feels like I blinked and I’ve managed to finish first year (sort of). Honestly, I’m really surprised I made it this far and how quickly it all finished, and I feel quite nostalgic and even a bit sad. It’s weird, because for the most part I didn’t enjoy the year and came veeeery close to dropping out and moving back home a lot of times. But I didn’t (go me!), and I’m really glad I’m still here, because even though I didn’t settle in until March, maybe April, I would be so upset if I had left.

So, I thought I’d share what I’ve learned this year and what I would do differently if I could restart.

1. Don’t start uni with a boyfriend.

A classic. Everyone who starts university in a relationship thinks the same.

”We’ll make it work, neither of us are going to cheat, we love each other, we’ll see each other every weekend!”

Hard pill to swallow- you probably won’t make it work. In my experience, coming to university with a boyfriend who I’d previously spent every day with was a mistake. Don’t get me wrong, we’re still on good terms and I don’t regret my relationship, but it definitely made the move harder.

I was so used to being around him that it was a huge shock to the system, and all I really wanted to do was facetime him etc, so I was quite antisocial and not myself at all.

When we broke up, I became really depressed. Let me tell you, moving to university and then going through a breakup is absolutely not it.

Maybe I’m bitter that my relationship ended, but it’s so much easier to start uni completely free and single!

2. Don’t be upset if you don’t click with your flatmates!

Everybody talks about how you make lifelong friends at uni and in your flat etc, but nobody really talks about what happens if you don’t click with your flatmates.

When I first moved to uni I moved into a flat with my friend from home and 7 others. Though they were all really nice & funny, I didn’t really feel like I could be myself around them. I felt pretty shit to be honest, because I’d expected to make so many new best friends and have a proper uni experience and I just knew I wouldn’t get that. I definitely could have made more of an effort, but when I fell out with my friend from home, I decided to move flats.

Best. Decision. Ever.

I remember feeling a bit like a pussy & like I was running away, but I ended up making some amazing friends in my new flat.

Moral of the story, don’t be disheartened if your flatmates don’t end up being your best mates, there are so many places to meet people and you don’t even need to move.

Join a society, go to your lessons, go on nights out & maybe even get a part time job. Trust that you’ll find your people eventually.

3. Don’t waste your money on the freshers wristbands.

I didn’t go to a single one of those freshers events, the queues are always super long, they aren’t that good & you can always buy tickets on the door. Obviously if you want too you can but I wish I didn’t waste my money haha.

4. Talk to your personal tutor.

My attendance this year was absolutely atrocious, I think I went to maybe five seminars and one lecture! But, I spoke to my personal tutor regularly and updated him on how I was and what was going on, so even though my attendance and work ethic hasn’t been amazing (or even okay) I can still go straight to second year. Don’t be afraid to reach out for help, it will only do good things for you!

5. Budget properly & freeze your bread

I completely forgot you could freeze bread, seems obvious, and is obvious, but freeze your bread and you’ll save money and always have a meal 🥴

Also, budget your student finance properly and pay your rent and bills as soon as it comes in. As soon as!!!!

I didn’t do this and am having to move out of my accommodation a month early because I can’t afford my rent, which is shit but also definitely a life lesson!

On top of this, remember your overdraft is not free money. Again, this sounds obvious but I had used up my £1500 overdraft by the end of September. Tragic.

Plan out your meals and shop at Lidl, don’t live off meal deals because that all adds up. Go out on student nights for the £1.50 drinks and always pre-drink otherwise you’ll be broke!

You can budget properly and not be poor, you just need to plan everything and always be ahead of bills.

There’s definitely a lot more I could say but the most important thing is to just say fuck it and do first year how you want too.

You live and you learn, and I have definitely learned a lot.

Next year, I’m going to make better choices with money and actually attend my lessons.

Just kidding, that’s a big dream and probably won’t come true because I’m me, but I’m still going to have fun, and it definitely can’t get worse than this year has been (touch wood)! Upwards, always.

See you soon,

Beth xo