6 Winter Warmers: Cold & Flu Busters

You beat freshers flu, you've tackled your first assignment and finally cracked how to cook without setting fire to everything in a small radius. But the sickness is coming back... no not hangovers! Cold & Flu!! The reduced number of fruit and veg in your new student diet, the increased number of walks home at night, and the money saving housemate who keeps turning your radiators off all contribute to your house and body becoming a hot-bed of bacteria. Laughter is the best medicine, but when all else fails, give these helpful tips a try!

1. Actually turn on your radiators!
They are there for a reason - to keep you warm! You may think you're saving money, but it most likely is less than the money you'll spend on warm clothes and medicines.

2. Buy own brand medicines.
They are the same price as the big brands, and do exactly the same job. You may not think it, but remember - they can't legally sell it if it doesn't do the job.

3. Wear several thin layers rather than one large one
The more layers you have on, the more warm air gets trapped in-between your clothes. You'll be as snug as a bug in two t-shirts and a cardigan :3

4. Invest in a onesie
With lots of designs and colors, you may aswell look fashionable AND be warm! Here's my Stich onesie! :D

 

5. Close doors and curtains

Trapping heat inside the house and not letting it escape into other rooms or out the drafty window will help keep you nice and toasty.

6. Honey & Lemon Tea
This cheap little hot beverage not only warms your insides, but helps to calm that nasty cough and scratchy throat.

 

Twitter: @PikaJules @Accomforstudent @GlideStudent

Instagram: @RaiJules @Accomforstudent

www.accommodationforstudents.com

The Lesser of 10 Evils: Who could YOU live with?!

Searching for you first set (or brand new set!) of housemates to live with at university is very exciting! You want to live with everyone because everyone is your friend! But this is a very important decision you will have to live with, LITERALLY, for a whole year! Which of the following could you handle?!

The Clean One

The "clean-as-yougo-along please!" housemate! Cups and plates must be washed IMMEDIATELY.... and don't you DARE think about "leaving it to soak overnight"... the clean housemate can ready your messy thoughts!

The Messy One

The exact opposite of the clean one. They embrace mess, and almost thrive in it. Plates will often sit for days on end until it starts growing fluff.


The One Who Likes to "Borrow"

"Can I borrow some milk?" "Can I borrow your jumper?" "Can I borrow the notes you took?" These guys inevitable forget to return or repay you back, and if uncontrolled often forget to even ask. Sharing is caring though, right?

The Grumpy One

Never happy. Never satisfied. Never enjoying themselves. Nothing is ever good enough. If you see this person smiling they've either had a mental breakdown or they've got some ;)

The Recluse



 Always at home, but never at "home". The recluse spends most of their shut away in their room. They reject social interaction like the plague. You may mistake the recluse for a ghost - always heard, but never seen.

The one who is never there
 
Not to be mistaken for the recluse - the "never-there" is not actually in the house. They spend their time at home, out with other friends, at lectures, or who knows where! But definitely not in the house,


The Substance Abuser
 
 Whether it be alcohol, drugs, or something a little weirder, the substance abuser will not only practice their hobby, but may try and recruit you too. Also be prepared to hear some questionable music choices and the occasional midnight forage.

The Gym Nut

 Always in the gym, or working out at home. Dinner is a protein shake and the day is filled with comments such as "I need to bulk up"... whatever that means! Everything becomes a competition on who can bench press the most.


The Lovebirds


Showing off in front of all singletons with their PDA, The Lovebirds love spending every waking second together. Prepare yourself for the noises of the "conjugal visit"

The Stud / Studette

Very similar to lovebirds, but without the PDA. Regular noises from various visitors, almost guranteed when this person goes on a night out. Prepare yourself to be making cups of tea for strangers for their long walk of shame, or stride of pride depending on their outlook :)

Twitter: @PikaJules @Accomforstudent @GlideStudent

Instagram: @RaiJules @Accomforstudent

www.accommodationforstudents.com

PHinisheD!! 10 Dissertation Writing Tips

Dissertations - the dreaded word we spend sure it will never happen, then 3rd year happens and it catches us off guard. It may be the biggest part of work your have ever faced in education, but that doesn't mean it has to be the hardest. Here are 10 tips to hopefully ease the dissertation blues.

1. The Rule of 8!
This golden tip was given to me by friends of mine who have already graduated. To ensure you get enough work done, sleep and other activities done in a 24 hour period - break your day down into 8 hour periods. Get 8 hours sleep so you have 8 hours in your day to write and research, this means you will have done a sufficient amount of work to justify 8 hours of food shopping, socialising and procrastination.

2. Structure
Set yourself a plan for what you are going to write, where in your dissertation each paragraph will come, and what the content of each paragraph will be. This means you can dip in an out of various subject matters if you get too bogged down.

3. PEE all over your work!
No, not literally. PEE stands for "point, evidence, explain". Its a writing technique that was taught to me by my year 9 English teacher, and I changed my writing style forever. Whenever you make a POINT in your dissertation, makes sure you back it up with EVIDENCE, and EXPLAIN why that point is relevant to your study.

4. Talk to your personal tutor
That's their job - to help you! They can help refine your ideas, give you suggestions on journals to cite, and even critically analyse any draft you have done.

5. Give it to someone outside the subject matter
I find giving essays I've written to my dad for proofreading works wonders! He doesn't know anything about Marketing or Business Ethics - if HE can understand my essay, anyone can! Use your housemates to get an outside perspective that doesn't end in "oh, well i wrote this.......".

6. Set small goals
Set yourself a mini deadline to help ease the load. "Today I'm going to write 1,000 words" or "I'm going to finish this paragraph before I can go to McDonald's" work. Incentive is your friend.

7. Don't burn yourself out
The optimum time to write continuously and still produce high quality stuff is 45. At the end of this time, stop away from the computer screen and make yourself a cup of tea. Your eyes and brain will thank you for it!

8. Do Something dissertation related every day
Your deadline may be months away, but that doesn't mean you should put it off until the last minute. Whether is content writing, research, or even adapting your plan or structure, it will make the final panic process a little easier knowing you've done SOMETHING.

9. Don't Panic!
Keep a level head and don't lose it - that's just what the dissertation wants! Show it what you're made of and finish it!

10. PARTY!
Once you've written, finalised, bound and submitted your dissertation - let off all that steam! You've earned it!

Twitter: @PikaJules @Accomforstudent @GlideStudent

Instagram: @RaiJules @Accomforstudent

www.accommodationforstudents.com

Bills, Bills, Bills - 6 ways to reduce utility costs

As winter sets in and the temperature drops, it can be unbelievably tempting to turn up the thermostat and blast the radiators.... until the bill plops onto your mat and you're throwing away what little student loan you have left. But there's no need to let icicles form on your face, these simple tips have comfort and money saving in mind!

 

 

 

 1.  Keep your thermostat at a comfortable level - the Government recommends a level of 21 degrees is sufficient for a comfortable level for healthy living, but if you can pull on a jumper and knock it down a few degrees you will only save more!

 

2. Turn the heating right down when no one is home - who are you wasting that heat for?!

 

3. Use the Time - Set the heating to turn on half an hour before you wake up, and to turn off when you are all dressed. Then later in the day, set it to turn on half an hour before dark and turn off when everyone is in bed.

 

4.  Timed Showers - Don't forget that water is considered a charged utility aswell. Do all life's decision making on the toilet instead of in the shower.

5. Communal meals - eating together as a house not only is a great social activity, it uses less gas and electricity than if you all cooked seperately.

6. Turn off appliances when they are not being used - it seems simple, but you'd be surprised how much an idle appliance uses simply by being plugged into the wall.

 

Being sensible with utilities is not only good for saving you money, it is also good for the environment. That is something we should all care about as it affects us all, you, being young, more so than the older generations!

 

If utility bills really worry you, why not have a chat with AfS bezzie mates over at Glide? They're job is to help students out with their utility bills!

 

Twitter: @PikaJules @Accomforstudent @GlideStudent

Instagram: @RaiJules @Accomforstudent

www.accommodationforstudents.com

 

9 Ways To Stop Mould Taking A Hold!

 

Every landlord will tell you they receive a number of calls each year regarding mould, especially around windows and in bathrooms; and if the mould is REALLY bad, you could face a charge for cleaning or re-painting!

 

 

The Cause – mould occurs when moist air is allowed to build up in un-vented spaces and especially when moist air comes into contact with a cold surface such as an outside wall or window. Water vapour turns to water in the form of condensation causing damp patches where mould spores will develop and grow.

 

 

Tips to Help Avoid Mould.

 

1              Make sure you open your curtains every morning and leave them open until dark falls;

 

2              Open all of your windows and internal doors (especially bedroom doors) every day, all at the same time and for a reasonable period (at least half an hour), to allow a change of air throughout the house. Do this even in cold weather. Fresh air is important anyway for maintaining good health;

 

3              Open the bathroom window after every shower/bath. You need to get rid of any steam that has been released into the air;

 

4              Leave the shower door/curtain open after use to allow air to circulate easily within the shower;

 

5              Don’t have the shower or bath water too hot. The hotter the water, the more steam released into the atmosphere; 

 

6              If condensation builds up on your window sill, mop it up every day. This is a household chore we all need to do in our homes every day during autumn, winter and spring months;

 

7              Where possible, don’t put furniture, especially beds, on an outside wall. Warm moist air will get trapped between the cold wall and the furniture and mould will inevitably form. If you have to put furniture on an outside wall, regularly put the nozzle of the vacuum cleaner behind the furniture to replace the air there. If it’s your bed against the wall, move it out a couple of times a week; 

 

8              If you dry your clothes on the radiators, make double sure you open your windows that day; 

 

9              Finally, at the first sight of mould appearing, clean it off with an anti-mould cleaner available cheaply from any supermarket. Don’t let it take a hold!

You can find me in the club, bottle full of bub... or not! 10 Alternatives to clubbing!

You can find me in the club, bottle full of bub.... or maybe not going clubbing at all! Maybe the clubs at your Uni just don't do it for you. They're too crowded, too expensive, too sticky & smelly - or maybe you just want to do something else? If this is the case, Accommodation for Students brings you alternatives!

 

House Party

 

(I found this pun far funnier than I should have!|) Cheaper than going out, and no walk of shame aftwards! Plus you get to keep any alcohol people leave behind - whats not to like?!

Karaoke

Can you handle the inevitable shame??

Sports bar

 

Football, Rugby, Formula 1, Boxing and Wrestling are just some of the sports your local bar could be showing - nothing says good night like your team winning whilst you and your mates have a good old fashioned boat race.

Societies

You prbably signed up to every single one - try them out!

Date Night

Wether it's with your other half, or that person you've had your eye on since freshers - a dinner, a movie and maybe more (if it goes well!) could mean a good night!

Game Night

Board or Console, it doesn't matter - Just don't be a sore loser.

Bowling

There's alleys all over the place. PLus it's one of the only sports where its fun if you suck :)

Cinema

 

Students normally get discounted tickets, and there's so many two-for-one deals out there there really no excuse to miss anything.

Actually Study

Hahahahaha...... no.

Twitter: @PikaJules @Accomforstudent @GlideStudent

Instagram: @RaiJules @Accomforstudent

www.accommodationforstudents.com

 

Baby, Baby, Baby, NOOOOOOO! - A quick guide to contraception

"EEEWWWW WHY WOULD YOU WRITE ABOUT THIS?!" you're probably screaming! But it recently came to my attention that not many girls know about the multiple methods of contraception available to us! I have a contraceptive implant in my arm, and so many people touch it and scream about how disgusting it is without knowing the benefits of other contraceptive methods other than the pill. Nobody wants an unwanted infection from a sexual encounter, or a little version of themselves to look after 9 months afterwards...
So AFS is here to shake loose all shame and get you informed, so you can make the safest and best suited choice for you!

NOTE: please not that there is no form on contraception that is 100%. Please use caution and good judgement when making decisions regarding your sexual health . 




Condoms:


Like a little rubber hat for the male in this equation, condoms work by catching sperm as it is released and stopping it from entering the baby making engine of the female.

Pros:

• 98% effective. 
• Available in almost every supermarket or drug store.
• You can pick up free condoms from most sexual health clinics. 
• Protects against STI's if used correctly. 
• No advanced preparation needed to use.
• Various choices. (Latex free, flavored, ribbed... you know!)

Cons:

• 2% ineffective
• Risk of splitting of tearing, rendering the whole thing useless
• Some people are allergic to latex. (Best to ask first to avoid embarrassment later!)
• Damage can occur when used with oil-based lubricants

The Pill

 

The pill uses synthetic versions of the female hormones to prevent your ovaries from releasing an egg. They can come in packs of three weeks to allow you time off for your period, or as a running cycle.

Pros:

• 99% effective
•  Can help regulate and even lighten your periods
• Reduces risk of ovarian, colon and womb cancers
• Can help reduce symptoms of PMS, acne and polycystic ovarian syndrome

Cons:

• 1% ineffective
• Does not protect against STI's
• The pill must be taken at the same time each day, otherwise an egg may be released and your contraceptive cover is gone.
•  May increase blood pressure
•  Has been linked to increase risk of thrombosis and breast cancer

 Contraceptive Implant

 

This is what I have! The implant works by inserting a small flexible tube under the skin of your upper arm (inserted by a professional of course!), and slowly releasing progesterone into your body. This hormone things the lining of your womb so a released egg will not fertilize. 

Pros:

• 99% effective
• Lasts for 3 years
• Can be easily removed if you are not comfortable with it
• Periods may stop altogether

Cons:

• 1% ineffective
• Effectiveness varies between people. Periods may stop completely (as in my case), but may infact make them heavier and more painful (as in a friends case)
• People always want to touch it!!
• Needs to be inserted by a needle (but they numb it first so just don't look!) 

The Injection
We all know what injections look like, and mot people hate them! So instead, here is a gif of pandas on a slide!

 

This method involves being injected in either the bottom or the upper arm with progesterone. This treatment can last between 8 to 12 weeks, depending on the type of injection - all which will be clarified by the administrating healthcare professional.

Pros:

• 99% effective
• 8-12 week working period
• Not affected by other medication

Cons:

• 1% ineffective
• Not always viable to get an injection every 2 months
• side effects may include weight gains and irregular bleedin
• Fertility may take up to 1 year to return after last injection wears off
• Does not protect against STIs

For more information about any of the mentioned contraceptives and many more methods, visit http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/contraception-guide/Pages/what-is-contraception.aspx

Twitter: @PikaJules / @Accomforstudent / @Glidestudent

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