When coming to university as a first year, it\u2019s easy to have a vision in your head of what it will be like. Deciding on which university to attend is a tough decision but researching Cardiff beforehand paints a picture of academics, an affordable and beautiful city, and exciting nightlife. All of this is definitely part of life here, however there are still some things that your research won\u2019t teach you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
1. Budgeting<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Freshers\u2019 week feels like the best time. You\u2019re out almost every night with your new friends, spending at least \u00a35 on a double vodka and coke (multiple times). Then, during the day, you\u2019re spending as much time as you can exploring your new home. Having a shopping spree in the St David\u2019s Centre feels like retail therapy was just what you needed. However, once you\u2019ve spent that week living lavish, you check your bank account and realised that you\u2019ve actually spent quite a lot. So, while Cardiff may be one of the most affordable cities for students, managing your money well is still a challenge. I\u2019d suggest using a card that allows you to split your money up into pots, like Monzo, so that you can monitor how much you\u2019re spending on what. Be responsible with your spending so you don\u2019t end up eating super noodles for every meal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 2. This brings us nicely to another difficult part of university living \u2013 eating well. Perhaps your parents taught you to cook while growing up, or maybe they gave you a crash course in the summer before you came and now you know four basic meals to get you through three years. Cycling through the same meals every week gets boring really easily. This leads to eating out more, buying easy meals to cook quickly, frozen processed foods. And, while these can be a good meal for a student every so often, eating too much of this is not good for you. You should try and learn to cook a good selection of meals for breakfast, lunch, and dinner that will sustain you all year and keep your diet balanced.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 3. Join a Society<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Cardiff University is home to 200 societies and 65 sports teams. So, while it might feel obvious that you should join at least one, I\u2019m here to tell you that its imperative that you do. When adjusting to your first year, your flatmates might be your closest friends, or perhaps your course mates that you met in the first lecture. You might find halfway through the year that you have less in common with your flatmates than you think \u2013 so it\u2019s a good idea to join a society or sports team with people who have similar interests. Who knows \u2013 the people you meet at their events might turn out to be your best friends.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 4. Explore the City<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Cardiff is a beautiful city. With over 330 parks and gardens, hundreds of shops, the beautiful bay and so many gorgeous surrounding suburbs there\u2019s something new to discover every week. Some of the best advice you can receive is to familiarise yourself with the new city you\u2019re staying in. From knowing the basics to then discovering hidden gems by the end of your first year, you should know your home for the next three years well. Take walks in Bute or Roath park, see a show in the Bay, and then sift through charity shops in Roath. Or even take a bus to the nearby castles like Castell Coch or visit St Fagans – the open concept museum of Welsh history. If you don\u2019t take this opportunity from the start then before you know it three years will be over and you will have missed so much that Cardiff has to offer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n