Doing your own cooking/washing is fine. I'm an overworked architecture student who spends very little time in my college (and therefore miss meals in hall) but i still ahve time. its really not a big deal. i know people who go home to get their clother washed! sad, sad people.
and talking of colleges, my room balloting is this evening!! eek. there are some rooms left in old court apparantly, otherwise we'll be in a college house, which won't be bad - freezer, oven etc!