I didn’t really want to live off campus this year. I mean who in their right mind would want to give up the convenience of living on campus where you can roll out of bed into your lectures? But my mind has been changed for a number of reasons.
Firstly, my work has improved massively – I actually do it now! It was so easy to go back to my on-campus room last year after a lecture and chat in the kitchen/snooze/generally do nothing until my next lecture. Now that I don’t have a cosy room to go back to in-between lectures, I am forced to sit in the learning zone and study. This is great for my sleep patterns too! It means I have most of my nights free to actually sleep instead of doing all nighters!
My health has definitely had a turn for the better as a result of living off campus. This may seem odd at first, but seriously, the fact that I am not a 2-minute walk away from Pizzetta and Sultans means I am not a pimply ball of fat anymore. I can’t say I have stopped snacking, but a packet of crisps is nothing in comparison to a greasy, cheesy, fatty pizza.
One thing I love about living in a house instead of flats is having a lounge. And by lounge I mean sofas and… a TV! The kitchens on campus aren’t exactly what I would call a cosy place to socialize. It is so nice to come home after a long day, plonk down onto a comfy sofa and chat or watch mindless TV- you’ve got to love a good TV dinner.
A big plus point for living in town is the cost. Yes, you have to pay bus fare money which isn’t cheap, but in the long term due to the difference in accommodation cost – living in town is cheaper. If you are a fitness freak you could also cycle into uni ,which would reduce the cost even further.
I have already started thinking about accommodation next year and I will be looking for a house in town. Not only because is it better for my work, health, comfort and bank account – but it also prepares me for the big wide world outside of Lancaster. We can’t live on campus for all our lives; so living in a house in Lancaster town is good preparation for the future.
