Let’s face it, university students aren’t known for their culinary skills – or their ability to manage money – but that’s not to say you should have to live off beans on toast or Pot Noodles whilst living at your student accommodation in Bolton!
If you’re staying with us at Orlando Village, you’ll be pleased to know that all our rooms come with access to a communal kitchen. Our team of foodies have a few tricks up their sleeves when it comes to cooking nutritional meals, and we’d love to share a couple of tips on how to limit your food spending.
So, read on to find out how to create delicious dishes, and get your portion sizes right, whilst being savvy with your money…
- Make sure you’re fully equipped
Leaving home for university can be both daunting and exciting. It’s more than likely your first shot at independence, but it’s probably the first time that you’ll be left to your own devices in the kitchen too. With that said, you’re going to want to make sure you have the basics – and by that, we mean things like:
- Baking trays
- Chopping boards
- Non-stick pans
- Plates
- Kitchen utensils
- Weighing scales
- Wooden spoons
- Eat with your flatmates
Think about it. You’re all going to be staying under the same roof as each other in one of our 8 blocks of flats and storing your food in the shared kitchen. Surely it makes sense to sit down with your flatmates and to all eat the same meal at the same time – instead of fighting over the microwave or waiting for someone to take their food out of the oven?
Whilst you could make it fair by rotating who cooks, who washes up and who does the weekly food shop, it’s also a good idea to split the bill and get everyone to club together for the bare essentials (i.e. loaves of bread, milk, sugar, salt, pepper, etc.).
- Follow simple recipes online
Cooking not really your thing? Relax, you’re not on your own (literally). The beauty of living at student accommodation in Bolton is that someone is bound to be a dab hand in the kitchen, or have at least some knowledge of what they’re doing.
You could either ask other tenants to help you to whip up a hearty breakfast, a quick lunchtime snack or a lovely evening meal or watch cooking tutorials online – learning from top chefs. You should be able to find cookbooks with a list of ingredients and step-by-step recipes on the internet too.
- Freeze leftovers
Uh-oh made too much pasta? Maybe you’ve got enough stew to last you a whole month? Rather than throwing it away and wasting your money, it’s worth asking your housemates if they’re hungry. Perhaps they could take it off your hands?
Alternatively, if nobody wants it, you could just put it in a container and freeze it. This way, if ever you don’t fancy slaving in the kitchen or you’re snowed under with uni work, you can simply ping it in the microwave to defrost and heat it.
- Shop at the cheapest supermarket
Only ever bought branded products – be it Heinz tomato soup, Kellogg’s Cornflakes or Robinsons fruit juice? Although some cheaper supermarkets don’t stock all branded goods, they tend to have a substitute that costs a fraction of the price and, in some cases, tastes just as good if not better.
Typically, Aldi and Lidl are the cheapest places to shop – allowing you to pick up groceries without burning a hole through your pocket. Meanwhile, Morrisons and Co-op regularly provide student discounts which is a great way to save yourself some cash. The good news is, our student accommodation in Bolton is within easy reach of Aldi and Morrisons!
Secure a room at Orlando Village today
If you’re not already staying at our student accommodation in Bolton, why not?
Orlando Village is the only Halls of Residence to be recommended by the University of Bolton – and is no more than a 10-minute walk from the main campus and the town centre. We provide 381 single study bedrooms on a self-catering basis (hence why it pays to have at least some cooking prowess).
To find out more about our Halls or to discuss your requirements with a member of the team, give us a call on 01204 903 488. Alternatively, send us an email at info@orlandovillage.co.uk, and we’ll be in touch shortly.
