Freshers Guide To: Living Out Of Home For The First Time

It is the moment you’ve been waiting on since you sat your first Junior Cert exam all those moons ago. You’re finally moving out and about to embrace college life.

After you’ve secured college accommodation comes the fun part, living out of home for the first time... FREEDOM!

With the new found freedom comes responsibilities. Yes the big R word, that until now your parents have been doing a great job of taking care of.

You may have taken a few of these things for granted previously, but here are some tips we have for those of you who are living out of time for the very first time. 

 

Raiding the fridge…

Who needs a supermarket when you’ve got the fridge back in your Mam’s house to raid every weekend?!

Stock up with the essentials before heading back to your digs, now we’re not saying clean your home house out of every last morsel, but take the things you know costs a few bob and no one will really notice missing. Crafty.

 

The mystery of the disappearing toilet roll

You may not have noticed it before but toilet roll does not magically find its way back onto the holder. If the roll is empty put it in the bin. The bin is usually so close to the loo that you can get this little job done WHILE sitting on the toilet.

Toilet roll is also one of those items you can ‘borrow’ from the college bar if your funds are running a little low.

 

Bin Tetris is not a sport

If the bag is full, tie it and take it our to the wheelie bin.

Rubbish Tetris is disgusting, juvenile, and in the end none of you win. Be the bigger person and take the thrash out!

 

ALWAYS replace the milk

Try not to be that housemate who always finishes the tea/coffee/milk and never, ever replaces them.

It’s a small thing, but it’s one that’s pretty much guaranteed to drive the people you share your home with demented over time. Stocking up on a few extra boxes of tea while at the nearest euro store is a must.

 

Be considerate

Just because you may have a serious love for the ABBA Gold album doesn’t necessarily mean that your housemates will share your appreciation.

Be a sound housemate and invest in some good quality headphones, then you can blare Waterloo as loud as you wish.

 

Get a kitty

Put a fiver or a tenner into a jar each month and allow that money to cover cleaning products, butter, some of the items listed above and other sundries.

A kitty jar means that one person will not be out of pocket and it is a perfectly simple system that all housemates can abide by.

 

Bank of Ireland is helping ensure that your financial situation allows you to live it up. College-goers get 20% off* lots of brands when you use your student Visa Debit card, check out their website for more details by clicking here.

*20% offer applies to student Visa Debit card only. For all retail partners promotional terms and conditions click here. Terms and conditions apply to student accounts and Visa Debit cards. You must be 16 years or over to apply for a Visa Debit card. Bank of Ireland is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland.