Money saving tips # 4: Train tickets

For most students the train is the way to get home for the weekend. Trains aren't cheap, just like any other means of public transport, but there are a few tips and tricks to bag yourself cheaper tickets.

1. Get a rail card.
•  As a student you can nab yourself a 16-25 raiilcard costing £28 a year.and bagging you a whole third off most journeys.
• However....Natwest usually give them away with their student bank accounts BUT these are usually only given to existing customers so if you don't have a bank account with them currently, it might be worth opening and account with them now just to qualify for their free rail card when the time comes.
2. Don't buy your tickets on the day at the station
• You will save a fortune buying in advance, advance tickets are usually released 12 weeks in advance although I have never booked that far ahead, I usually go for about a week in advance. I would however, recommend booking as far in advance as you can.
3. Shop around
• Have a look online there are loads of websites offering discount rail tickets. Some good ones are...
• The train line- Their app is great, so easy to use. I have never used their e-ticket option but I have never heard anything bad about it either. The only down side of the trainline is they have a booking fee (£1 on the app and £1.50 online)
• Redspottedhankey - basically the same as the train line, they recently released an app BUT these little beauties don't charge you a booking fee! 
• Both of the websites allow you to choose what kind of seats you like 
4. Book your journey as 2 singles not a return.
• 2 singles in almost always cheaper although this does restrict the times you can travel
5. Don't travel at peak times
• Who would want to travel at rush hour anyway, stay in bed and get the later train (or get up stupidly early and get the earlier train). It does tend to be cheaper to travel off-peak
6. Split your journey
• If you travel from London to Edinburgh check if it is cheaper to change train somewhere, splitting your journey up into smaller ones might seem like a pain in the ass but it could save you a small fortune. There are apps and websites about that can do this for you.

My train journey - With rail card

Bangor-Crewe =£6.90

Crewe-Bangor=£6.90

It takes about 2 hours to get home for me, I just get on the train and relax all the way to Crewe  sometimes I have to change at Chester but I usually travel with Virgin trains so go direct to Crewe.

Keep it scrimpy
Laura.

Student finance GO GO GO!

Okay you guys, remember this post?

 Well they finally opened their doors for applications about 2 weeks ago (yes I know think post seems a little late but I wanted it to act as a reminder for you all). This now means that anyone applying to university for entry in 2013/14 can now complete their application online. 

ALSO

Students currently at university can reapply for academic year 2013/14

Don't worry if you haven't done it yet you have until 31st May.

BUT

Don't wait around. Get it done ASAP because then if you do encounter any niggling problems you can get them sorted nice and easy. 

Head over to https://www.gov.uk/student-finance and get started. No time like the present eh?

Keep it scrimpy

Laura.

What's in my graze box?

Okay, so I jumped on the Graze wagon, I was given a code for a free box from a friend and as a student I couldn't say no to a freebie.As a student I have found myself snacking a lot more, even now I have a little bowl of Wonka Nerds (thanks  PoundLand) and some rice crackers at my desk. Graze seemed a brilliant way to make the most of my snacking habits and get some extra goodness in my snacks. Plus getting post really brightens my day (how sad is that!) so getting food in the post is even better!

Graze is  a brilliant little company who send out snack boxes to your home/office/farm where ever the postie will go, so will your graze box. Plus, because it's so snug and cute you don't even have to be in when Mr Postman delivers. Each box contains four little punnets of snacks, you can go online and tell them what food they should never send you and what foods you wouldn't mind trying.

I have so far had 2 boxes 

Box 1 contained...

mississippi bbq pistachios

herby bread basket

pumpkin and ginger cake with an afternoon infusion

chocolate orange granola

The pumpkin cake in this was by far the best thing in the box and adding the little tea bag in there is so sweet, the cake was so beautifully made, writing about it is making me want another one. I enjoyed this sat in our sunny kitchen with my kindle. 

The bread basket and the pistachios were both really nice, although I did find their flavors a little on the strong side I had some major herb breath after the bread one.

The Chocolate orange granola wasn't nice at all. It just really wasn't my cup of tea. I ate the raisins then I think the rest got donated to my flatmates.

Onto box 2...

Box 2 contained...

bonnie wee oatbakes

tutti frutti

summer berry flapjack

toffee apple

This was by far my favourite box, switch the tutti frutti  for the pumpkin cake from the last box and I would be a very happy bunny.

I don't think I can pick the best one from here. The bonnie wee oatbakes were lush! The onion chutney was to die for! The summer berry flapjack was eaten for breakfast one morning when I was running late and they were amazing. I have always loved the toffee apple since my sister gave it to me over summer from her graze box so was super happy when I opened the box and saw it there.

The tutti frutti on the other hand really let the box down, dried fruit isn't really my thing but I thought I would try this anyway. I was so disappointed it was all just a little too sweet for my liking.

Overall I do really love Graze, however I have had to cancel my subscription, I can't really justify nearly £4 a week. Although I will be treating myself to one every now and again and I am considering picking up my subscription again over my exam period.

If you guys fancy a free graze box head over to... http://www.graze.com/uk/p/91DNZQ9 or enter the code 91DNZQ9 when you order your first box

Have/would you tried Graze? If you have done one of these posts link me, if really quite nosy!

Keep it scrimpy

Laura.

University Interviews

It's getting towards the time now when universities are sending out invites for interviews, now while non of the courses I applied for needed interviews I've been picking the brains of my fellow students to bring you this blog post. ENJOY!

Top tips for interview survival

Remember that they aren't trying to catch you out, if you have been invited to an interview it's because they are interested in you be confident in your abilities.

Know your personal statement, this document got you the interview, it's likely that they will want to ask you some questions on what you wrote

Practice some generic questions- 'Why do you want to study this course at this particular university?' 'Why did you pick this course?' that kind of thing

Wear something smart. Creating a good first impression is important, looking scruffy makes it look like you aren't bothered about getting the place on the course.

Be early and in the right place.
Cornelius Fudge: Oh! Albus... I see you got our notice about the time change of the hearing... 
Albus Dumbledore: I must have missed it; but by a happy mistake, I arrived at the Ministry three hours early. 

Okay so arriving three hours early might be a little too much but get there early and familiarize yourself with the environment and relax, arriving late will look very bad and cause you very unnecessary stress

Practice a mock interview with your friends, if you're lucky your school/college/sixth form might run a class.

Take everything with you- If you have been asked to take some work to show them, take it! Take sometime to organize a portfolio if you need it. Pack any important documents you might need to take with you, letters, and ID, that kind of thing, if you aren't sure if you will need it then take it anyway.

Breathing- please remember to do this, you won't survive your interview if you don't.

Anyone who has got interviews good luck, go kick ass! 

Keep it scrimpy.
Laura

p.s Thanks to all my friends that contributed to this. X

Long time no blog!

If feel like such a long time since I blogged and I'm really sorry that I haven't but I have had a rubbish week and haven't felt like doing much at all. So since I have been gone for so long I thought I should update you on what I have been doing all this time.

I got a job offer- exciting stuff I know, I would be working as a magazine distributor for Cosmo here in Bangor. I'm putting a lot of thought in before I decide what to do with this though as I would need to store about 1,000 magazines, not easy in my tiny halls.

I'm applying for another Job- I would really like to be a warden for Halls next year, I'm currently in the process of writing a cover letter (I've never done this before, any tips would be much appreciated) . Some people think I'm crazy wanting to be a warden, maybe I am, but hey, who isn't just a little crazy?

I ate a whole Banoffee pie, yup a whole one. Not even ashamed of it.

Made the most amazing Sunday lunch- We introduced Epti (My friend from Paris) to the wonders of a great British Sunday lunch.

Had a four course meal- Cooked for us by they lovely Epti. Starter, main and dessert THEN a Cheeseboard!

I made things- I can't say too much yet because they have been sent off to Lora who I got in the valentines blog swap/present swap I am taking part in I shall blog about it soon

I forgot a lot of things-My Uncle Darren's birthday, My dad's partner's birthday, posting Lora's card today and I'm sure there is more but I just forgot.

I went to PoundLand- Somethings never change 

I got my first ever graze box!

This past week has been very food based from these pictures, I have done other things other than eat, promise! 

Keep it scrimpy
Laura.

Clearasil seal to clear. Review.

Over the past few weeks my skin has been a pain in the arse! To be fair I have very good skin, it is VERY rare for me to ever get spots but since coming to uni I've had about three (major shocker!). Usually when I get red blotches, I whack on some tee tree cream and then they are gone in about half an hour but every now and then one of those really painful red, under the skin spots come up. My latest appeared right between my eyes! Imagine my horror when I saw that beast in the morning!

So off I popped to my beloved Poundland in search for something to get rid of it.

I came out with Clearasil seal to clear gel for just £1. 

What it claims to do

1-provide an invisible seal that protects the spot as it clears

2-Reduce redness in 4 hours

What it actually does

Before

After (4 hours later)

Please don't judge me by the state of my eyebrows or the massive bags under my eyes.

So you can all judge for yourself if it reduces redness in 4 hours or not. although one word of warning...

This stuff massively dries your skin out. I ended up with dry skin all round that area,although this was quickly fixed with a bout of body butter.

Round up...

Plus points

I don't have the spot anymore

Negative points

Leaves skin feeling a little worse for wear

Overall I wouldn't buy it again, it just does too much damage to my skin, I shall stick to my tee-tree cream thank you very much.

Do you guys have any home spot remedies? Feel free to share!

p.s This stuff is £6.99 in boots so well done to Poundland for giving such great value for money!

Keep it scrimpy.
Laura.

My Liebster Award nomination.

It has been an exciting few days in Bangorland. Yesterday I went back to 'lookachu' (the vintage/retro shop where I got this dress) and came away with a new blog post (more on that soon) and a whole new outfit (oops) I'm officially in love with the place. Then today I was studying hard in one of my lectures when I got an email telling me the lovely Helen from Treasure every moment had left me a comment. It turned out she had nominated me for the Liebster Award.

The Liebster Award seems to have been going forever, I can't find who started it. It seems to have appeared in about 2010 from what I have Googled  Anyway, it is an award given to a blogger who has less than 200 followers, they follow the rules, you guys find out some things about them then they nominate some more blogs that they love.

I had seen these of a few other people's blogs and I quite enjoyed reading them, so now it's my turn, so here I go.

Rules of the Liebster Award:

1. List 11 facts about yourself.

2. Answer the 11 questions given to you.

3. Ask 11 new questions for the bloggers you nominate for the award.

4. Choose 11 bloggers with 200 or less followers to nominate.

5. Go to each bloggers page and let them know about the award.

  6. Thank the person who nominated you and link back to their blog.

Facts about me.

1-It took two cars to get all my stuff to uni

2-I don't drink that much

3-I am currently drinking a sex-on-the-beach

4-I have a dog called Lucky and I miss her more than anything when I'm at uni

5-I paint my nails almost every night 

6-I can't deal with the people I love when they are drunk, it's like the person I love isn't really there anymore. If I don't really know them then I'm alright with it.

7-I don't wear make-up everyday or even most days

8-I own a singed picture of Matt Lewis 

9-I was sorted into Hufflepuff on pottermore and I'm proud of it

10-I watched all 10 seasons of friends in under 10 weeks

11-I'm currently watching sex and the city for the first time ever

My questions from the lovely Helen

1) Who/what made you want to start blogging?

Everyone seems to have the misconception that all students are always skint even students themselves. I decided that I wasn't going to be one of these skint students, so after being inspired the Thrifty ways of athriftymrs and seeing my friend Becca's blog grow from humble beginnings (seriously this girl is amazing) I decided to jump in feet first .

2) How long have you been blogging for?

Only since September 2012, my blog is only a baby but I'm so proud of it. 

3) What's your best piece of advice?

In blogging-There is always someone out there who wants to read your work so keep writing!

In life- Don't take your education for granted

OR

Stay classy

4) What's your best attribute?

Apparently my legs, although I like my smile

5) What's your worst habit?

Picking my nail polish off when I'm bored

6) High heels or flats?

Flats! Have you ever been to Bangor!? (oh the hills!)

7) What's your favourite small business?

A shop called lookatchu located in upper Bangor I may have mentioned it EVERYWHERE! I am totally in love with the place, check out the website or if you are in Bangor please call in and say hi.

8) What/who inspires your blog posts?

My experiences as a student mostly, although my need to save money and get a bargain helps

9) If you had a time machine where would you go?

Somewhere warm and sunny, the weather here is grim at the moment.

(there were two nines) 9) What would your top 5 beauty products be?

-Pantene Smooth Vitality leave-in conditioner 

-Pantene Ice shine serum

-Pure revitalising facial cleanser toner and moisturiser 

-Tea Tree cream 

-Body shop body butter passion fruit 

10) Favourite meal?

Baked Camembert cheese with bread, olive oil and balsamic vinegar.

11) Favourite memory?

The moment my UCAS status changed and I knew I had got into uni

My questions for my beautiful winners

1-What's your favourite TV series and which character do you think you're most like?

2-If you had to buy clothes from one shop forever more, what would it be?

3-What's the weirdest food you have ever eaten?

4-Sex or chocolate?

5-What is your favourite item of clothing?

6-Any plans for a holiday this year?

7-What is your favourite season?

8-How's life going?

9-What is your biggest achievement so far?

10-If you could have a dinner party with 5 people of your choice (dead, alive or fictional) who would you choose?

11-If you could have a magical power for one day only, what would it be?

I nominate...

Sadie-http://www.ladie-sadie.com/

Lauren-http://lookinglikeamillion.blogspot.co.uk/

Lora-http://loralovessequincoats.blogspot.co.uk/

Sam-http://sammuses.blogspot.co.uk/

Becky -http://beckysboudoir.blogspot.co.uk/

I'm afraid I'm going to have to break the rules here, that's all the people I follow who have less than 200 followers 

A massive thank you to Helen for nominating me, please pop over to her blog and have a read, it's a great blog find her at http://treasureeverymoment01.blogspot.co.uk/

Everyone who I nominated, if you post your questions let me know I would love a nosy!

Keep it scrimpy.
Laura.