Who’s excited to start the new venture in their life? If you’re reading this, congratulations on getting into uni and get ready for a fun-filled couple of years. 

It’s that time of year again, the countdown to freshers week is finally on. A whole load of newbies hit the uni cities, full of excitement and enthusiasm. In this week of the Bulla blog, we’re going to give you some essential tips and tricks as a fresher which will help you out when starting university. Don’t worry we will be providing more in times to come, so keep your eyes peeled 👀

1️⃣ ALWAYS ask if there is a student discount

When you first arrive at uni, you’ll get a student ID which will be a card with your student number on, your name, graduation year and your university. I can tell you now this is something you’re going to use more than you realise, it’s essential for your time at university. Heading to Urban Outfitters? Ask for a student discount and show them your card. Heading to Greggs? Same business, you’ll get a discount. On the other hand, if you’re a brand reading this, go ahead and offer a student discount. A survey shows that 83% of students are more likely to shop there if they provide a student discount. 

2️⃣ Get a Tesco’s Clubcard

Forget this one being solely a student tip, this is something everyone should have. When you arrive at uni, the first thing you should do is get a Tesco’s Clubcard. It’s completely free and using the power of technology, you don’t even need to have the physical card with you all the time, just an app. We know students have their phone on them all the time (unless they’ve lost it drunk on a night out 🤭) so this one has to be a no brainer. It’ll knock the price of your meal deals, drinks, and even a weekly food shop if Tesco’s is your local. 

3️⃣ Don’t stress if you don’t get along with your flatmates

Just remember there are thousands of other people at your university, and you WILL find your friends. Your flat is not the be-all-and-end-all, there are countless other opportunities to meet other people and make friends. There’ll be so many fun things going on in first year you won’t even spend a lot of time in your flat! Top tip; do not change your personality to try and fit in with your flatmates, be yourself and you will find other like-minded people like you. 

4️⃣ Try and find a Lidl or Aldi for your weekly food shop, you won’t be taken to Waitrose anymore 

No one can argue that there are any cheaper supermarkets than Lidl or Aldi. Yes, they might be own branded items, but we all know they taste the same. Trust me, when you’re on a weekly budget, you will not care if it is Norpak or Lurpak. The cost of living is going to hit us all, and as a student, you will need to learn to go for cheaper options, especially in areas like food. You’ll quickly learn you’d rather spend your money on going to the pub rather than going to Waitrose. Lidl and Aldi will become your best friend 🙌

5️⃣ You need to learn how to pre-drink well, you won’t be able to afford cocktails in the club

The art of having a good night out and not spending too much money has to be pre-drinks. If you turn up to the club dead sober, your bank account will take a hit the next morning. Bottle of vodka for £10 in Lidl? You’ll take that. It’s the same price as one cocktail 😱 Just another little tip, speak with siblings, friends, older people who will know some good pre-drinking games. Even have a quick Google before you arrive and have a couple up your sleeve. A few classics to search are Ring of Fire, Never Have I Ever, and On the Bus (don’t forget drinking game apps too!) Also, Google a couple of pre-drinking songs that always get people in a good mood before going out. Pack a packet of playing cards and bring them to pre’s. It’s a great way to make some friends! Please remember to drink responsibly and be careful on a night out. ALWAYS stick with your friends. 

6️⃣ Join a society or a sports team

I know this tip is cliché, but this is really important. If you don’t bond with the people in your flat, the people in your block, joining a society or a sports team is really important. Even if you think you’ve found a group of friends in halls, make sure to join one. If you’re into sports, Wednesday nights are usually the best night to go out. You go to a social dressed up according to a theme the club sets, have pre drinks and end up in usually a pretty cringey nightclub. You meet so many people there and they are A LOT of fun. Definitely recommend this one, whether you play for a social club or join a different kind of society, Wednesday night will become your favourite night. 

7️⃣ Don’t be early or late to a social (or a lecture 😉)

This is an unwritten rule of being a part of a sports team or society, something which no one ever tells you. If you’re early, you’ll get a fine (it’s usually fun but you want to avoid it!) If you’re late you’ll also get a fine. If the social secs say arrive at 8pm, make sure you get there for 8pm sharp! 

8️⃣ Respect your elders, and don’t be rude to a 2nd or 3rd year

This is once again another unwritten rule of being at uni. You want to become friends with the second and third years, you don’t want to become their enemy. They’re going to show you the best places to go, the best bars to go to, the ski trip to get on and of course they’ll look after you on tour or on a Wednesday night. This will make your university experience even better if you’ve got tips from elders in your city!

9️⃣ Beer will become your new go-to pub drink, it is cheap

Whether it is Monday, Tuesday, or any other day of the week you are bound to have spontaneous pub trips and nights out. You’re a student, make the most of not working a 9-5 job in the week! If your friend says, let’s go for a casual one tonight, you don’t want to be paying £7+ for a double vodka drink. You need to learn to like beer; it’s cheap and easy to drink. 

1️⃣0️⃣ Try not to get into an overdraft, it is a slippery slope to go down

Opening a student-friendly bank account is a must, which helps you track your spending and helps you realise when you’re going over budget. Try not to go into your overdraft, I know it’s tempting but it is also a really slippery slope one of which is hard to pay back when you’ve maxed it out. It might also be a good idea to download a money-splitting app to keep track of your spending, and make sure your flatmate pays you back for those Jaagerbombs! 

If you sign up to Bulla Co you can earn whilst you’re studying, which solves the need of even having an overdraft!

Sign up here:  https://app.bullaco.com