The summer holidays should be a time for students to relax, unwind, and enjoy time away from lectures, workshops, labs and assignments; however it doesn't always work out that way. Summer can be a stressful time for many students, especially if they're living in term-time only student accommodation. Lugging all of your worldly possessions back and forth between home and college isn't a lot of fun, and it's definitely not the way you'd want to start your holiday. Fortunately, there are things that you can do to make life less stressful.
That's What Friends are For
Not all students choose to travel to an entirely different town to go to university. Some students already live in the areas where they go to study. Those students might be willing to offer storage for personal items if you're in a pinch; especially if they're planning on spending their summer backpacking or exploring cheap holiday options, so they won't mind their spare room turning into a warehouse.
If that's not an option, there are lots of self storage companies that will take boxes of possessions for a couple of months. Many of those self storage companies have generous student discounts, so storing your stuff until the term starts again shouldn't break the bank.
Saving Money During The Holidays
IF you aren't going to be using your student accommodation during the summer months, it doesn't make much sense to be paying for gas, electricity, Sky TV and your phone and broadband. It's well worth calling up those companies and seeing what deals they offer for students. Usually, you have to tell the companies that you're a student when you sign up, but sometimes they'll be willing to help at a later date by changing the contract to a student one. IF they won't help this academic year, be sure to try to work something out for the following year; the savings can be quite substantial.
Student Holidays
The student loan doesn't stretch very far, so it's common for students to work during the summer to save up a bit of money to make things easier the following academic year. However, if you do happen to have some cash left over, there are lots of student travel companies that offer good deals. It pays to shop around for budget holidays, though. You might find that a coach trip, budget airline (especially if you travel light and don't pack a bag) and a quality hostel works out even cheaper than a normal student package. Building your own holiday has a lot of other benefits too - you choose the destination, itinerary, and focus of the holiday, so you can spend more in the areas you care most about, and pinch pennies on the bits that don't matter to you.
Most people only have one chance at being a student, so it pays to make the most of it. Take this opportunity to have fun, explore the world, and explore your personal passions and interests.
About the Post
This article was written by James Harper on behalf of Bingham Self Storage, a self storage company and experts in storage. For more information on the storage this self storage company offers, take a look at their website.
Photo: Murray State