Blog by Priyanka

Whether you are dreading or looking forward to starting back at university in the next couple months, planning what to carry beforehand will make the process easier! Aside from the obvious, like clothes, your laptop or books,  Priyanka is here to suggest a few additional items to start off the term right and keep you in check throughout the year…

• A Planner

Starting off with one of the most basic but also underestimated items: the humble planner. While most people use one at school, they only become more important at university, where you need to balance academics with other society and social events too. My motto for planners is the bigger the better – I like to find one which has enough space to write a schedule for each day, and also that looks fun to motivate me to use it!

• A Flask

Another fairly simple item, but again one not to be missed! Long days at the library or in lectures pass a lot quicker with some caffeine, and although Edinburgh has its fair share of nice cafes, the cost of daily coffees or teas can quickly rack up! Investing in a good quality flask can save you a latte in the long run 😉

• Tupperware

Another great way to keep your budget in check at uni is by meal prepping. Whether you stock up for the whole week or just save leftovers from dinner for the next day, both your diet and wallet will become healthier! For convenience, I’d recommend using something microwaveable, and to make it eco-friendly you could reuse old glass jars or takeaway boxes.

• A hot water bottle

This is a particularly important one when you’re covering your own electricity bills, especially as prices are on the rise and some old Edinburgh flats don’t have the best insulation. Having a hot water bottle on hand is honestly vital to making it through the long winters!

• Storage boxes

Having a couple extra spaces in your room for any clothes, shoes or random knick-knacks can quickly de-clutter it and makes it much easier to keep things tidy! If you don’t have much room for extra boxes or baskets, storage cubes that go inside your wardrobe can help to divide it up and make room for more things. Spending a bit of extra time to set up your space at the start of term could save you hours’ worth of tidying so is definitely worth it!

(From Marten Bjork on Unsplash)

(By Marten Bjork on Unsplash)

(From Marten Bjork on Unsplash)