How to prepare for uni life/living alone?
My parents never really taught me basic skills like washing dishes and now I'm panicking because I don't think I can survive alone.
I've been asking my parents and helping out with chores, but I'm really bad at scheduling/remembering to do chores unless someone tells me to do it.
So, what should I do to prepare to live alone?
I've been asking my parents and helping out with chores, but I'm really bad at scheduling/remembering to do chores unless someone tells me to do it.
So, what should I do to prepare to live alone?
Scroll to see replies
Reply 1
Original post
by dragonflight350My parents never really taught me basic skills like washing dishes and now I'm panicking because I don't think I can survive alone.
I've been asking my parents and helping out with chores, but I'm really bad at scheduling/remembering to do chores unless someone tells me to do it.
So, what should I do to prepare to live alone?
I've been asking my parents and helping out with chores, but I'm really bad at scheduling/remembering to do chores unless someone tells me to do it.
So, what should I do to prepare to live alone?
Maybe start a timetable of daily chores? Start with washing up after meals, emptying bins, cleaning communal areas? Start cooking a few basic meals for the family? But hey I’m sure if you don’t remember these things in uni, your flat mates will absolutely remind you…
Reply 2
Original post
by dragonflight350My parents never really taught me basic skills like washing dishes and now I'm panicking because I don't think I can survive alone.
I've been asking my parents and helping out with chores, but I'm really bad at scheduling/remembering to do chores unless someone tells me to do it.
So, what should I do to prepare to live alone?
I've been asking my parents and helping out with chores, but I'm really bad at scheduling/remembering to do chores unless someone tells me to do it.
So, what should I do to prepare to live alone?
Hi @dragonflight350
Don't worry! You will definitely learn along the way and google will be your best friend
In terms of remembering to do your chores maybe try and just do them as you notice they need doing, for example if the bin is full take it out, once you have cooked wash up after yourself and I agree your flat mates will remind you but better to try and do it before they do
I hope this helps!
-Grace (Kingston Rep)
Reply 3
Use item, then wash up item. It isn't that difficult. If I could manage this stuff anyone can.
The biggest pro-tip for washing up is to part fill the sink with steaming hot water and premium washing up liquid (very important) and then put items in it for a time before trying to scrub them clean.
Hot items like things you put in the oven or on the hob, don't let them cool before washing, put them into hot soapy water also and they begin to self-clean whilst you eat.
I never used to bother with breakfast so that solves that problem. Instant coffee and coffee mate will live in a cupboard for months if necessary.
The biggest pro-tip for washing up is to part fill the sink with steaming hot water and premium washing up liquid (very important) and then put items in it for a time before trying to scrub them clean.
Hot items like things you put in the oven or on the hob, don't let them cool before washing, put them into hot soapy water also and they begin to self-clean whilst you eat.
I never used to bother with breakfast so that solves that problem. Instant coffee and coffee mate will live in a cupboard for months if necessary.
Reply 4
Hi 😊
It is completely normal to feel like this. A lot of students come to uni without knowing the basics so it great to see you're getting ahead and try to plan for when the time does come.
Don't overwhelm yourself all at once - start small maybe do the dishes, then the following week add laundry.
Using reminders on your phone so you building this habit early on means that by the time you get to uni, you would have installed great time management.
If your parents are cooking a meal you enjoy maybe stay and learn how to cook it. Write down the recipe so when uni does come you have a bank of all your favourite meals and makes buying groceries easier.
I hope this helps and all the best for uni!
University of Bath
It is completely normal to feel like this. A lot of students come to uni without knowing the basics so it great to see you're getting ahead and try to plan for when the time does come.
Don't overwhelm yourself all at once - start small maybe do the dishes, then the following week add laundry.
Using reminders on your phone so you building this habit early on means that by the time you get to uni, you would have installed great time management.
If your parents are cooking a meal you enjoy maybe stay and learn how to cook it. Write down the recipe so when uni does come you have a bank of all your favourite meals and makes buying groceries easier.
I hope this helps and all the best for uni!
University of Bath
Reply 5
Original post
by dragonflight350My parents never really taught me basic skills like washing dishes and now I'm panicking because I don't think I can survive alone.
I've been asking my parents and helping out with chores, but I'm really bad at scheduling/remembering to do chores unless someone tells me to do it.
So, what should I do to prepare to live alone?
I've been asking my parents and helping out with chores, but I'm really bad at scheduling/remembering to do chores unless someone tells me to do it.
So, what should I do to prepare to live alone?
Hi there!
I was in that same exact position when I started my first year. In fact, I can proudly say that the first time I washed my own clothes was when I moved out to study at DMU 😂
Firstly, I would advise you to not be too hard on yourself. You will be surprised how quickly you can learn to do those small basic things. The main thing is to not give up when something doesn't happen exactly as you wanted from the first attempt. For example, it took me a few months to finally learn how to cook a few basic dishes properly.
Secondly, I do advise you to learn how to cook a few simple dishes. It will be an invaluable skill when you move out. I can't stress enough how much money you can save by cooking instead of ordering takeaways.
In terms of scheduling and remembering things, you may start using something like Google Calendar, and save all your lectures and planned activities there. It will provide you with a view of your week, and it will be much easier to plan things that way. It sends reminders too!
Let me know if you have any questions,
Ilya,
Cyber Security student at De Montfort University
Reply 6
Original post
by dragonflight350My parents never really taught me basic skills like washing dishes and now I'm panicking because I don't think I can survive alone.
I've been asking my parents and helping out with chores, but I'm really bad at scheduling/remembering to do chores unless someone tells me to do it.
So, what should I do to prepare to live alone?
I've been asking my parents and helping out with chores, but I'm really bad at scheduling/remembering to do chores unless someone tells me to do it.
So, what should I do to prepare to live alone?
Hey hey! I hope you are doing well 🙂 Honestly, this is so valid so thank you for asking this. This is way more common than people admit, and the fact that you actually want to do something about it is a great position to be in! As someone who has been living alone for a while now, I think I can definitely help and a lot of this will just be elaborating what others have already touched on.
Try, try, try again system
Firstly, being good at chores is absolutely subjective! So, I would say having a system is far much better than trying to be "good." When you rely on routines, reminders, doing things badly at first then seeing what works best for you.
No one wakes up knowing how to do everything. We try, we mess up, we run to Google then we learn!
Learn the minimum viable skills instead of everything at once
Starting with bare minimum survival skills absolutely helps. I did this by focusing on:
•
Washing dishes as I cook and straight after eating (prevents 80% of problems)
•
Deep cleaning is not an everyday thing but sweeping/vacuuming around to avoid dust is always great
•
For laundry, it is worth separating lights and darks but if you do not, it is not the end of the world
•
One basic laundry setting works for almost everything
•
Take the trash out when it smells or is full
These are the key things to learn for now, everything else is literally just perfecting these skills.
Externalising your brain
If you are bad at remembering, use tools. Things that help me a lot are phone reminders (take bins out), a simple chore checklist on my wall, linking chores to existing habits so eating means rinsing the plates, showers mean quick bathroom wipes and laundry day is the same day every week.
Practice
The fact that you are already helping out at home is great! You are doing the right thing. You can further perfect this by asking to have one chore you are responsible for, doing it on the same day every week and setting reminders for it.
Consistency is way better than quality.
Living alone will actually make all this easier!
This might seem strange but I found chores easier when I started living alone. This is mostly because mess is predictable, no one changes your system and fewer dishes magically appear 😂
You will be able to develop habits because you need to and at your own pace.
I really hope this was helpful and remember, being bad at something new to you at first is absolutely okay! You will survive alone and figure it out. I remember feeling exactly how you feel but it definitely got easier. I wish you all the best 🙂
Ru
BCU student rep.
Reply 7
Original post
by dragonflight350My parents never really taught me basic skills like washing dishes and now I'm panicking because I don't think I can survive alone.
I've been asking my parents and helping out with chores, but I'm really bad at scheduling/remembering to do chores unless someone tells me to do it.
So, what should I do to prepare to live alone?
I've been asking my parents and helping out with chores, but I'm really bad at scheduling/remembering to do chores unless someone tells me to do it.
So, what should I do to prepare to live alone?
I think start by learning those basic skills, it may seem intimidating at first but it's really not that bad. start by learning to clean and for cooking watch youtube videos, e.g. cook basic food for survival and eventually you will be able to make complicated dishes. In terms of washing clothes, just search up which colour clothes can and cannot be washed together and also learn your washing machine settings and the machine does rest of the job. It can be nerve wracking to become independent but it all works out in the end.
Reply 8
Original post
by dragonflight350My parents never really taught me basic skills like washing dishes and now I'm panicking because I don't think I can survive alone.
I've been asking my parents and helping out with chores, but I'm really bad at scheduling/remembering to do chores unless someone tells me to do it.
So, what should I do to prepare to live alone?
I've been asking my parents and helping out with chores, but I'm really bad at scheduling/remembering to do chores unless someone tells me to do it.
So, what should I do to prepare to live alone?
Hi @dragonflight350👋
Hope you are well. I would suggest that you just help out more at home like set up weekly chores and start doing them so you can practice. At university, you can learn to cook and clean such as washing dishes and hoovering your room and so but there is not a lot anyway. Best advice is to practice and you should be alright.
Essex Student Rep- Lavanya 💜
Reply 9
Original post
by BCU Student RepHey hey! I hope you are doing well 🙂 Honestly, this is so valid so thank you for asking this. This is way more common than people admit, and the fact that you actually want to do something about it is a great position to be in! As someone who has been living alone for a while now, I think I can definitely help and a lot of this will just be elaborating what others have already touched on.
Try, try, try again system
Firstly, being good at chores is absolutely subjective! So, I would say having a system is far much better than trying to be "good." When you rely on routines, reminders, doing things badly at first then seeing what works best for you.
No one wakes up knowing how to do everything. We try, we mess up, we run to Google then we learn!
Learn the minimum viable skills instead of everything at once
Starting with bare minimum survival skills absolutely helps. I did this by focusing on:
These are the key things to learn for now, everything else is literally just perfecting these skills.
Externalising your brain
If you are bad at remembering, use tools. Things that help me a lot are phone reminders (take bins out), a simple chore checklist on my wall, linking chores to existing habits so eating means rinsing the plates, showers mean quick bathroom wipes and laundry day is the same day every week.
Practice
The fact that you are already helping out at home is great! You are doing the right thing. You can further perfect this by asking to have one chore you are responsible for, doing it on the same day every week and setting reminders for it.
Consistency is way better than quality.
Living alone will actually make all this easier!
This might seem strange but I found chores easier when I started living alone. This is mostly because mess is predictable, no one changes your system and fewer dishes magically appear 😂
You will be able to develop habits because you need to and at your own pace.
I really hope this was helpful and remember, being bad at something new to you at first is absolutely okay! You will survive alone and figure it out. I remember feeling exactly how you feel but it definitely got easier. I wish you all the best 🙂
Ru
BCU student rep.
Try, try, try again system
Firstly, being good at chores is absolutely subjective! So, I would say having a system is far much better than trying to be "good." When you rely on routines, reminders, doing things badly at first then seeing what works best for you.
No one wakes up knowing how to do everything. We try, we mess up, we run to Google then we learn!
Learn the minimum viable skills instead of everything at once
Starting with bare minimum survival skills absolutely helps. I did this by focusing on:
•
Washing dishes as I cook and straight after eating (prevents 80% of problems)
•
Deep cleaning is not an everyday thing but sweeping/vacuuming around to avoid dust is always great
•
For laundry, it is worth separating lights and darks but if you do not, it is not the end of the world
•
One basic laundry setting works for almost everything
•
Take the trash out when it smells or is full
These are the key things to learn for now, everything else is literally just perfecting these skills.
Externalising your brain
If you are bad at remembering, use tools. Things that help me a lot are phone reminders (take bins out), a simple chore checklist on my wall, linking chores to existing habits so eating means rinsing the plates, showers mean quick bathroom wipes and laundry day is the same day every week.
Practice
The fact that you are already helping out at home is great! You are doing the right thing. You can further perfect this by asking to have one chore you are responsible for, doing it on the same day every week and setting reminders for it.
Consistency is way better than quality.
Living alone will actually make all this easier!
This might seem strange but I found chores easier when I started living alone. This is mostly because mess is predictable, no one changes your system and fewer dishes magically appear 😂
You will be able to develop habits because you need to and at your own pace.
I really hope this was helpful and remember, being bad at something new to you at first is absolutely okay! You will survive alone and figure it out. I remember feeling exactly how you feel but it definitely got easier. I wish you all the best 🙂
Ru
BCU student rep.
You are so kind, I feel like everyone around me knows what to do, which I know is not true. But hearing that other people struggle with the same thing is so helpful. I do help out, and I think I can beat myself up for not doing 'enough'.
All of this to say thank you so much for the advice! I will definitely start incorporating things like reminders into my life to get a head start.
Reply 10
Hi @dragonflight350 👋
I’m currently studying at Essex university!
I would carry on doing chores around the house as the more you do the easier it will become.
But also maybe write done the chores you have to do that week so you’ve got it down and hopefully that will help you remember to do them !
Hope that helps
Essex student rep - Hannah ⭐️
I’m currently studying at Essex university!
I would carry on doing chores around the house as the more you do the easier it will become.
But also maybe write done the chores you have to do that week so you’ve got it down and hopefully that will help you remember to do them !
Hope that helps
Essex student rep - Hannah ⭐️
Reply 11
Original post
by dragonflight350My parents never really taught me basic skills like washing dishes and now I'm panicking because I don't think I can survive alone.
I've been asking my parents and helping out with chores, but I'm really bad at scheduling/remembering to do chores unless someone tells me to do it.
So, what should I do to prepare to live alone?
I've been asking my parents and helping out with chores, but I'm really bad at scheduling/remembering to do chores unless someone tells me to do it.
So, what should I do to prepare to live alone?
Hey!
There’s some really good advice already on this thread, but just to add, there’s a really good YouTube channel called “Dad, How Do I?” (https://m.youtube.com/channel/UCNepEAWZH0TBu7dkxIbluDw) which posts lots of videos on how to do things that your parents would typically teach you! For example, it covers how to iron a shirt, how to tie a tie, how to use a can opener etc.
I hope that helps, and good luck!
UEA Rep Rosie
Reply 12
Original post
by dragonflight350My parents never really taught me basic skills like washing dishes and now I'm panicking because I don't think I can survive alone.
I've been asking my parents and helping out with chores, but I'm really bad at scheduling/remembering to do chores unless someone tells me to do it.
So, what should I do to prepare to live alone?
I've been asking my parents and helping out with chores, but I'm really bad at scheduling/remembering to do chores unless someone tells me to do it.
So, what should I do to prepare to live alone?
Hello,
When I moved out for uni I also did not know how to do anything but I learned with time. If you’re struggling with schedule then you can make your own cleaning and chores timetable and hang it in your room. But in general, you will be more initiative and proactive with chores because it’s your own space and you’ll be personally bothered if it got too messy.
-Sarah (Kingston Rep)
Reply 13
Original post
by dragonflight350My parents never really taught me basic skills like washing dishes and now I'm panicking because I don't think I can survive alone.
I've been asking my parents and helping out with chores, but I'm really bad at scheduling/remembering to do chores unless someone tells me to do it.
So, what should I do to prepare to live alone?
I've been asking my parents and helping out with chores, but I'm really bad at scheduling/remembering to do chores unless someone tells me to do it.
So, what should I do to prepare to live alone?
Hi there!
Try not to worry too much - you won't be the only one in this position and you will pick it up easily once you are at uni! You also have lots of time to prepare before you go so you will be fine 🙂
Here are some tips I have in terms of general life skills:
Cleaning:
•
It is generally better to clean as you go, so if you use something try and clean it up or after you have eaten try and clean your things up as soon as you can so you don't leave lots of things around the flat which could annoy yourself and your flat mates.
•
I like using a dishmatic or similar as this means you don't have to run a whole bowl of water if you only have a couple of things. This is when you run hot water and the dishmatic has soap in so when you scrub the dishes under the water it cleans them at the same time. However, you can also run a washing up bowl with hot water and some fairy liquid (or supermarket alternative) and once it is bubbly and as full as you need it you can wash your plates. I would recommend rinsing them first so you don't make the water dirty straight away!
•
I would use either washing up water, or if it is too dirty after washing the pots an antibacterial surface spray, and a cloth to clean the surfaces after you have cooked too so that everything stays tidy and clean.
•
You will need to hoover/mop and clean your room and bathroom too, and I like to try and do a clean once a week as well as cleaning bits as I go if they are dirty. Get some bleach and bathroom cleaners and some cloths and some dusters and surface sprays for your room.
Cooking:
•
Cooking is important too and if you can it may be worth trying to practice cooking some basic things now so that you have an idea of what to do once you get to uni. I like to have a few easy meals that I can cook easily so if I have had a long day I know what to make that won't take long but will taste good.
•
Freezing food is a good idea too, and if you have any leftovers put them in a tub and freeze them for another day!
Some of my easy meals are:
•
Jacket potato
•
Pesto pasta
•
Spag bol
•
Stir fry
•
Tomato chicken pasta
•
Fajitas
•
Sausage and mash
Some things I like to make and freeze are:
•
Soups
•
Spag bol
•
Chilli
•
Curries
I hope some of this helps 🙂
Lucy -SHU student ambassador.
Reply 14
Original post
by dragonflight350My parents never really taught me basic skills like washing dishes and now I'm panicking because I don't think I can survive alone.
I've been asking my parents and helping out with chores, but I'm really bad at scheduling/remembering to do chores unless someone tells me to do it.
So, what should I do to prepare to live alone?
I've been asking my parents and helping out with chores, but I'm really bad at scheduling/remembering to do chores unless someone tells me to do it.
So, what should I do to prepare to live alone?
Hello.
Firstly, I'd like to reassure you are not alone in feeling this way. I remember feeling so scared about the idea of living on my own. It's a lot of responsibility to be suddenly thrown upon you, and the thought can be scary. What I would say is that so many others are going to be in the same boat as you: moving to university is often people's first experience of living on their own, so please don't panick!
I would practice making some easy meals that you could use in rotation for your first few weeks, and keep them simple. As your confidence grows, you can start learning more complicated recipes!
In terms of chores, I find it helps to get them finished as soon as they come up. For example, if you have just eaten your dinner, perhaps you could go to your kitchen and wash up your dishes as soon as you've finished. This way, the chores won't build up and become an overwhelmingly big task.
For laundry, I recommend setting a specific day of the week as 'laundry day'. I'm sure your accomodation's laundry room will give clear instructions on how to use the washing machines. I remember being scared about this part, but when I moved in I found the machines very simple and intuitive. This could be something that you also practice before moving.
I think it's good that you have recognised these things now, rather than moving to uni and realising that you can't do them! I'm sure you'll surpise yourself with how much you are truly capable of doing!
Good luck, and I wish you all the best in your future at uni!
Joe (2nd Year Film, ARU)
Reply 15
Original post
by dragonflight350My parents never really taught me basic skills like washing dishes and now I'm panicking because I don't think I can survive alone.
I've been asking my parents and helping out with chores, but I'm really bad at scheduling/remembering to do chores unless someone tells me to do it.
So, what should I do to prepare to live alone?
I've been asking my parents and helping out with chores, but I'm really bad at scheduling/remembering to do chores unless someone tells me to do it.
So, what should I do to prepare to live alone?
Hi,
It’s completely normal to feel this way, I can relate as I was the same before starting university.
It’s great that you’ve already started helping out at home, that’s the best place to practise. Try focusing on key things like washing dishes, doing laundry, basic cooking (using online recipes), and cleaning. You don’t need to be perfect at them, just familiar.
If scheduling and remembering tasks is something you struggle with, setting reminders can really help. Simple things like phone alarms, a notes app, or a weekly checklist for chores (e.g. laundry day or cleaning day) can make a real difference.
Hope this helps,
Tayba
Student Rep
Original post
by dragonflight350My parents never really taught me basic skills like washing dishes and now I'm panicking because I don't think I can survive alone.
I've been asking my parents and helping out with chores, but I'm really bad at scheduling/remembering to do chores unless someone tells me to do it.
So, what should I do to prepare to live alone?
I've been asking my parents and helping out with chores, but I'm really bad at scheduling/remembering to do chores unless someone tells me to do it.
So, what should I do to prepare to live alone?
Hi
I understand the panic as someone who swaps between everything has a place and it must go in it and chaos tornado.
My controversial tip. Only have one of each thing. One plate, one fork,one knife, spoon, glass, mug. One Sauce pan, one frying pan, one oven tray, one kitchen knife or a pair of kitchen scissors.(You can cut up pizza, chicken and a good variety of veg with kitchen scissors). It’s impossible to be a mess when you physically can’t eat or cook without washing up after yourself.
It makes for some imaginative drink containers if you have guests. I had three friends round once. One got a mug the other a glass, one had a cereal bowl and I drank out of my oven proof baking dish. Not my most put together moment
But my flat mates all considered me the tidiest resident, even if sometimes my room was a tornado. Plus once I moved in with my friends in second year they all had their own glasses and mugs, so only having one was not a problem. It also makes it really easy to move in and out of your accommodation.
Controversial take, but I hope it makes you think. At least about what is actually necessary and what’s just for aesthetics or because you think you need more than you do.
As for other chores, we used to do Laundry as a flat. This meant our most organised person set the schedule and we all just followed along. We also took out our bins then. As you have to wait for laundry, we’d take the laundry down to the washer then return to the flat for 30 minutes, then on our way to move our laundry from washer to dryer we’d take out the bins. In fancy Psychology terms we did ‘habit stacking’ and it is very useful for chores.
Hope this helps,
Eleanor
University of Salford Student Rep
Reply 17
Washing clothes is a doddle. Once clothes have been washed a few times they won't generally bleed colours so dark and light colours need not be separated. Simply don't buy white underwear or T shirts are they can be a devil to keep white anyway during normal use.
Unless clothes are visibly soiled (i.e. sunscreen got on them, mud or grass/blood stains) then use a modest amount of washing detergent (use liquid, it's more expensive but gentler on your clothes) because all you need to remove are the usual body oils from your skin. Wash at 30 degrees and don't use too much washing detergent (it's expensive and it's also bad for the environment).
Whack straight into tumble drier. Smaller loads wash and dry a lot better/faster because they can move around in the drum more readily.
Cooking, rice and pasta are your friends. They are cheap to buy in bulk and can be stored in ambient conditions indefinitely without turning into a biology experiment if you disappear for 3 weeks over the holidays. Vegetables are perfectly nutritious even if frozen: buy pre-prepared/packed veg, brocolli, carrots, peas etc from the freezer isle and leave in the freezer, simply boil the required amount you need as and when.
Ask your parents to bulk buy a heap of multivitamins for you at the start of term. One a day and you'll cover the basics even if you merely live on pot noodles.
Avoid adding salt to food, just don't do it. Same with sugar. Neither are healthy and should be avoided as far as possible when cooking anything. Same with lots of saturates and trans-fats. They are in a lot of processed foods which are calorie dense and also quite expensive (foods are processed to make them more profitable, not to benefit the consumer).
Porridge oats are a sound meal to get you going first thing in the morning and a good source of fibre. If you buy Cravendale milk it will keep longer because it is carefully filtered as opposed to regular cow juice. Failing that, soya milk keeps for ages in the fridge even if opened.
Fizzy drinks are just a no-no and are a habit you don't want to get into. Same with energy drinks which are all rammed with sugar anyway.
Stick with basic foodstuffs and you will get more for your money. Fruit and vegetables, especially bought loose are usually dirt cheap. Even frozen veg is reasonable value.
Unless clothes are visibly soiled (i.e. sunscreen got on them, mud or grass/blood stains) then use a modest amount of washing detergent (use liquid, it's more expensive but gentler on your clothes) because all you need to remove are the usual body oils from your skin. Wash at 30 degrees and don't use too much washing detergent (it's expensive and it's also bad for the environment).
Whack straight into tumble drier. Smaller loads wash and dry a lot better/faster because they can move around in the drum more readily.
Cooking, rice and pasta are your friends. They are cheap to buy in bulk and can be stored in ambient conditions indefinitely without turning into a biology experiment if you disappear for 3 weeks over the holidays. Vegetables are perfectly nutritious even if frozen: buy pre-prepared/packed veg, brocolli, carrots, peas etc from the freezer isle and leave in the freezer, simply boil the required amount you need as and when.
Ask your parents to bulk buy a heap of multivitamins for you at the start of term. One a day and you'll cover the basics even if you merely live on pot noodles.
Avoid adding salt to food, just don't do it. Same with sugar. Neither are healthy and should be avoided as far as possible when cooking anything. Same with lots of saturates and trans-fats. They are in a lot of processed foods which are calorie dense and also quite expensive (foods are processed to make them more profitable, not to benefit the consumer).
Porridge oats are a sound meal to get you going first thing in the morning and a good source of fibre. If you buy Cravendale milk it will keep longer because it is carefully filtered as opposed to regular cow juice. Failing that, soya milk keeps for ages in the fridge even if opened.
Fizzy drinks are just a no-no and are a habit you don't want to get into. Same with energy drinks which are all rammed with sugar anyway.
Stick with basic foodstuffs and you will get more for your money. Fruit and vegetables, especially bought loose are usually dirt cheap. Even frozen veg is reasonable value.
Reply 18
Original post
by ErasistratusVWashing clothes is a doddle. Once clothes have been washed a few times they won't generally bleed colours so dark and light colours need not be separated. Simply don't buy white underwear or T shirts are they can be a devil to keep white anyway during normal use.
Unless clothes are visibly soiled (i.e. sunscreen got on them, mud or grass/blood stains) then use a modest amount of washing detergent (use liquid, it's more expensive but gentler on your clothes) because all you need to remove are the usual body oils from your skin. Wash at 30 degrees and don't use too much washing detergent (it's expensive and it's also bad for the environment).
Whack straight into tumble drier. Smaller loads wash and dry a lot better/faster because they can move around in the drum more readily.
Cooking, rice and pasta are your friends. They are cheap to buy in bulk and can be stored in ambient conditions indefinitely without turning into a biology experiment if you disappear for 3 weeks over the holidays. Vegetables are perfectly nutritious even if frozen: buy pre-prepared/packed veg, brocolli, carrots, peas etc from the freezer isle and leave in the freezer, simply boil the required amount you need as and when.
Ask your parents to bulk buy a heap of multivitamins for you at the start of term. One a day and you'll cover the basics even if you merely live on pot noodles.
Avoid adding salt to food, just don't do it. Same with sugar. Neither are healthy and should be avoided as far as possible when cooking anything. Same with lots of saturates and trans-fats. They are in a lot of processed foods which are calorie dense and also quite expensive (foods are processed to make them more profitable, not to benefit the consumer).
Porridge oats are a sound meal to get you going first thing in the morning and a good source of fibre. If you buy Cravendale milk it will keep longer because it is carefully filtered as opposed to regular cow juice. Failing that, soya milk keeps for ages in the fridge even if opened.
Fizzy drinks are just a no-no and are a habit you don't want to get into. Same with energy drinks which are all rammed with sugar anyway.
Stick with basic foodstuffs and you will get more for your money. Fruit and vegetables, especially bought loose are usually dirt cheap. Even frozen veg is reasonable value.
Unless clothes are visibly soiled (i.e. sunscreen got on them, mud or grass/blood stains) then use a modest amount of washing detergent (use liquid, it's more expensive but gentler on your clothes) because all you need to remove are the usual body oils from your skin. Wash at 30 degrees and don't use too much washing detergent (it's expensive and it's also bad for the environment).
Whack straight into tumble drier. Smaller loads wash and dry a lot better/faster because they can move around in the drum more readily.
Cooking, rice and pasta are your friends. They are cheap to buy in bulk and can be stored in ambient conditions indefinitely without turning into a biology experiment if you disappear for 3 weeks over the holidays. Vegetables are perfectly nutritious even if frozen: buy pre-prepared/packed veg, brocolli, carrots, peas etc from the freezer isle and leave in the freezer, simply boil the required amount you need as and when.
Ask your parents to bulk buy a heap of multivitamins for you at the start of term. One a day and you'll cover the basics even if you merely live on pot noodles.
Avoid adding salt to food, just don't do it. Same with sugar. Neither are healthy and should be avoided as far as possible when cooking anything. Same with lots of saturates and trans-fats. They are in a lot of processed foods which are calorie dense and also quite expensive (foods are processed to make them more profitable, not to benefit the consumer).
Porridge oats are a sound meal to get you going first thing in the morning and a good source of fibre. If you buy Cravendale milk it will keep longer because it is carefully filtered as opposed to regular cow juice. Failing that, soya milk keeps for ages in the fridge even if opened.
Fizzy drinks are just a no-no and are a habit you don't want to get into. Same with energy drinks which are all rammed with sugar anyway.
Stick with basic foodstuffs and you will get more for your money. Fruit and vegetables, especially bought loose are usually dirt cheap. Even frozen veg is reasonable value.
Thank you for the specific advice! One of the few meals I can cook is mushroom pasta, and I have plenty of experience eating rice so I should be ok on that side.
Additionally, I have never liked fizzy or energy drinks so I am also good there.
I will definitely keep all of your advice in mind! I just want to say thank you for the lifesaving advice, I really appreciate it!
Reply 19
Hello,
This may sound crazy but YouTube has videos for everything now, so you can search up anything you want while attempting the task or before even.
A great tip is to tackle chores right away – like washing dishes immediately after eating, so they don’t pile up.
Setting regular phone reminders for tasks like laundry, vacuuming, or taking out the bins can really help build a routine until it becomes a habit. You have your phone on your person most of the time, so this is really practical.
Finally, give yourself some grace. What’s important is that you are trying.
Best of luck. You will smash it.
Malak
This may sound crazy but YouTube has videos for everything now, so you can search up anything you want while attempting the task or before even.
A great tip is to tackle chores right away – like washing dishes immediately after eating, so they don’t pile up.
Setting regular phone reminders for tasks like laundry, vacuuming, or taking out the bins can really help build a routine until it becomes a habit. You have your phone on your person most of the time, so this is really practical.
Finally, give yourself some grace. What’s important is that you are trying.
Best of luck. You will smash it.
Malak
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