Blog Posts

How Much Will You Need to Spend on College Supplies?

To work out a budget for your time at college, you need to know how much you’re likely to spend on supplies. Whereas this depends on a variety of factors, including where you’ll be studying, your major, and where you purchase supplies, it is possible to make a reasonably accurate estimate. What Supplies Will You Need? Tuition accounts for around one-third of college-related costs, housing about 40 percent, and food about 15 percent. After this, your biggest expense is likely to be course materials. The supplies you’ll need include textbooks, lab books, notebooks, and stationery. Depending on what classes you take, you may also need things like a calculator, art supplies, and specialist software — you can find out what expenses you’ll incur by reading more about your class requirements. All this adds up to an average of a bout $800 per year. However, costs do vary quite considerably for students taking different majors. Typically, though, the most expensive majors in terms of course materials are business, criminology, and psychology. In contrast, the least expensive majors are computer science, math, and music. Other Expenses Many college students already have a laptop when they start classes. If you don’t (or if your laptop lacks the capabilities you need for your classes), this will be another expense. You can purchase a basic laptop for a few hundred dollars, but if you need a particular model, you may need to spend up to a couple thousand dollars. How to Reduce Costs Whatever supplies you need, there are strategies you can use to reduce costs. Buy Second Hand Usually, there’s no need to buy new books. Since students who have completed a class often have no more use for their books, there tend to be many second-hand course materials available for purchase at the end of the semester. As well as buying from students at your college, you can find used books for sale online. Rent Your Books An alternative to purchasing books is to rent them. Just make sure you won’t need to refer to a book later and that you can keep it in good condition. Use Your College Computer Lab If you’re struggling to afford a laptop, software, or tech equipment, you may be able to find what you need at your college computer lab. Often, the equipment is available to use 24 hours a day. Avoid Wasting Supplies Prevent the need to purchase all new stationery and notebooks each year by keeping everything organized. If you need to move out of your housing at the end of the year, pack up your supplies to reuse them instead of throwing them out. Pick Up Items from Free Bins It’s common for colleges to set up free bins at the end of the year. Here, students can dispose of items like stationery and clothing that others may want. You’ll also spend less if you live in off-campus housing rather than in a dorm. An alternative to Niagara College residence is Foundry Lofts. We have four- and five-bedroom suites available, both furnished and unfurnished. Book an in-person or virtual tour to check out the facilities.

7 Reasons to Move Off Campus

Living on campus is often the default when you start college — but most students quickly realize that it’s far from ideal. Typically, staying in a dorm means sharing a small room with a stranger (and other areas of your housing with a large number of students), adhering to strict rules, and being stuck with a meal plan. If you’re wondering whether you should move off campus, the answer is probably yes for a few main reasons. 1. Save Money Even though you don’t receive much more than a simple room when you live on campus, dorms tend to be much more expensive than renting your own apartment. This is because you’re paying extra to be close to your classes and to receive meals. As a result, though, more of your budget goes to housing and less to enjoying student life. You can find housing to fit virtually any budget when you live off campus. To spend as little as possible, find an apartment where utilities are included and that has many bedrooms to split costs with a large number of roommates. 2. Choose Your Neighbourhood Proximity to classes does have its advantages, particularly if you’re taking many morning classes. However, there’s often no need to live on campus — you’ll find it’s just as convenient to be a short commute away. The added advantage is that you are able to choose from a variety of neighbourhoods to find somewhere safe and close to the kinds of services you want, whether that’s grocery stores, restaurants, nightlife, or your part-time job. 3. More Freedom You likely started college with ideas about how much freedom and independence you would have, only to find out that living on campus can often resemble being at your parents’ house. There are many rules to follow, including periods of quiet during the lead-up to exams and perhaps even a curfew. There are far fewer rules when you live off campus — you just need to be respectful of your neighbours and keep the apartment in good condition to avoid losing your security deposit. 4. Great Amenities College dorms are scarce in terms of amenities. For instance, you usually don’t have more than a mini fridge and a microwave. In off-campus housing, a full-size kitchen is standard. Plus, you’ll share a bathroom with far fewer people. Some buildings even have extra perks , including a gym, study areas, and lounges where you can meet other residents. 5. The Option to Have a Car It can be difficult to have your own car when you live on campus. Often, there are no reserved spaces, which is a big problem when there’s insufficient parking for everyone. When you live off campus, you may be able to request a space on site or at least find parking nearby. 6. Privacy and Personal Space Many students find making the adjustment to being around other people almost all the time quite exhausting. Plus, your personal space is extremely limited. Moving off campus will allow you to maintain an active social life, but you can also spend time alone whenever you choose. 7. Stay Over the Summer It may be more convenient to continue living in your college town over the summer, such as if you want to take summer classes, continue working, or find an internship nearby. You’ll likely need to find off-campus housing if you want to do any of these things, as dorms tend to shut for the summer. In fact, even if you want to spend all or some of your summer at your parents’ home, it will be more comfortable to leave most of your belongings behind to avoid another big move in the fall. You can find Niagara College student housing at Foundry Lofts. Receive your own bedroom in a spacious suite equipped with stainless steel appliances. In addition, you’ll have access to exclusive amenities, including fitness facilities, a games room, and a movie theatre. Sign a lease now to take advantage of the lowest rates of the year.

Affordable Travel Destinations for Students

University and college students barely get the chance to travel, thanks to the competition for better grades and budget constraints. But just because you're a student doesn't mean you can't travel. Travelling during summer breaks is your best chance to unwind, relax, see new places, have unique experiences, and create lifelong memories. The good news is that you can travel as a student without breaking the bank. Some destinations are affordable yet offer amazing experiences even if you have limited funds to spend. Thus, there’s no excuse not to rekindle your inner adventurous spirit. It's time to decide whether you'd want to spend your summer break in your Brock off-campus living facility or leave for an adventure spree. Of course, we hope you'd choose the latter! And if you do, here are the top places to travel on a student budget. Bolivia While Bolivia is a popular travel destination for everyone, its inexpensive accommodation and commuting options make it an excellent place to travel to as a student. In addition, Bolivia's marvellous landscape are sure to leave you awe-struck. You can live here for an average of $20 a day by planning your tour in advance. This amount can cover your housing, food, and drinks. Ecuador Ecuador is an excellent and affordable place for students who love seaside destinations. It’s a warm and beautiful region that welcomes tourists from across the globe. You'd love the Galapagos Islands, historical cities, lively marketplaces, and the rich heritage of Ecuador. The best part is that accommodation cost is reasonable in Ecuador, and the overall security situation has improved in recent years. So as long as you're careful with your money and travelling, you’re unlikely to face any problems. Albania If you're a fan of the Mediterranean Sea but don't have the budget to visit mainland Europe, Albania is a great alternative. It’s one of the few affordable travel destinations in Europe, thanks to lower living costs. This welcoming country will surely leave you with some incredible memories. Albania is home to some great museums and art galleries, so you'll get a chance to learn about European history and culture. Want to know the best things about Albania? Pocket-friendly accommodation and delicious gourmet meals! So, start saving money to fund for your (mini) Euro trip while you're in college or university. Panama City, Florida Soaking in the Florida sun doesn't have to be expensive. You can find some fantastic off-season deals and tick Panama City off your bucket list. This warm city by the beach has some world-class condos and resorts, but you'd want to live in one of the shared camp houses and hostels if you're on a budget. San Juan, Puerto Rico San Juan is a good place for foodies and those who love grabbing special hour deals. In addition, you can enjoy water sports, participate in boat races, have beach parties, and experience nature's travellers and students from across the world and enjoy the local rum- packed mojitos. Costa Rica Costa Rica is yet another excellent and affordable travel destination in Central America for students. You can indulge in many adventure experiences here without exceeding your budget. The cost of living in Costa Rica is low, and you can easily find some excellent and cheap hostels to live in. Or you may choose to stay at one of the many affordable BnB lodgings that offer free breakfast. Travelling to Costa Rica from Canada is also pretty inexpensive . Final Thoughts Travelling as a student isn't easy, especially when you're under the pressure of assignments, coursework, exams, and more. But since travelling re-energizes you and allows you to have beautiful experiences, consider travelling during summer breaks, if not during your semester. Since summer break is in full swing for most students, pick your travel destinations from the list above and start preparing for your adventure.

How to Prepare for Living Off-Campus

On-campus and off-campus student accommodations come with their pros and cons. Some university students choose to live on campus. They find it more convenient because they live close to classes and can easily walk to campus. While it is true that on-campus life may seem more attractive to new students, off-campus life has its own perks , which is why many students choose the latter. They do so because they feel more comfortable living away from campus and in a less restricted environment. Off-campus life gives you the chance to live on your terms and be the master of your routine. You get to enjoy more freedom living off-campus than on campus. But you have to consider many different factors before deciding to live off-campus. Here're some essential tips to prepare yourself for living off-campus: Consider the Costs How much can you afford to pay for living off-campus? That's the most important factor you must take into account . Unfortunately, students living in any type of accommodations are likely to underestimate their expenses, but setting a budget ahead of time can help you prepare. Rent is a major expense, but don't forget to consider utility, grocery, transportation, cable and internet charges in rooms for rent. St Catharines fortunately has plenty of housing options with all-inclusive rent, meaning that the cost of utility, internet, cable, and other on-site facilities is built into the cost. Consider Including Roommates While you can choose to live in a private bedroom, one way to divide off-campus accommodation costs is to live with one or more roommates. The cost of living would go down significantly when you're sharing the expenses. Of course, you don't want to keep cramming in roommates to reduce your expenses. But a few people together can help everyone stay on budget and also have some fun. Look for Accommodation Options Near Your University Once you've determined how much you need to pay for expenses and whether or not you'll have housemates, you can start looking for accommodation options accordingly. It's always a good idea to look for safe off-campus accommodation facilities near your college or university. Student housing properties near campus can cut commute time and travel costs. For example, if you're a student at Brock University, you could choose one of the nearby facilities in St. Catharines . If you need help with house hunting, you can also contact reliable real estate agencies to point you in the right direction. Consider Transportation Options In case your off-campus residence isn’t within walking distance from your university, you'll also need to consider transportation options. For some students, public transport may be the solution. But others may need their own cars or bikes. But buying a car can be expensive. Besides the upfront cost, be sure to consider insurance, registration, maintenance, fuel, parking, and more. These expenses, along with rent and living cost, may exceed your budget, so know what you're signing up for and whether you can afford it. Create a Chore Chart Living off-campus will likely mean sharing a space with others, so you won’t be able to fall behind on chores such as cleaning and grocery shopping. Also, you have a larger space to look after, such as the kitchen, bathrooms, living room, and bedroom. Fortunately, sharing a space also means there will be more hands available to help. It’s a good idea to create a chore chart to divide the responsibilities among everyone living in the apartment. Doing so will prevent conflicts and ensure that all the chores overburden no one person. Know Your Neighbours Most people living next to students expect some noise and parties. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be a good neighbor. Take some time to introduce yourself to the people living next door and give them your cell phone number in case they ever need to contact you. Putting the right foot forward will help you build a good repertoire with your neighbours .

Tips for Earning Income as a Student

Earning an income while studying can mean you’re able to maintain the lifestyle you want and keep your student loan debt low. However, if you take a job that requires too much of your time, your grades may suffer or you may lack time for a social life. With the following ideas, you can gain the income you want while having free time to spare. 1. Offer Tutoring Services Tutors are always in demand at universities, since many students can benefit from some extra help in certain subjects. If you’ve done exceptionally well in any of your past classes, it should be easy to convince students who are now taking those classes that hiring you will be worthwhile. 2. Assist a Professor If you’ve developed a great relationship with any of your professors, reach out and ask them if they need any support. There may be an opportunity for you to become a research assistant, which will be valuable to have on your resume if you want to go to grad school or enter a career in research. Alternatively, you could become a teacher’s assistant, which involves grading assignments and helping with admin tasks as well as some research. 3. Provide IT Support Students and staff alike run into computer problems all the time. Specify the hours when you’re available and allow anyone to call you. If you develop a good track record of being able to resolve IT issues, you’ll find that people will reach out to you frequently . 4. Answer Surveys Filling out surveys and taking part in market research studies allows you to earn an income from the comfort of your own room. Sign up through survey websites and take part in studies whenever you have free time. You’ll find that some surveys offer gift cards rather than cash, but if these cards are for stores you buy from anyway, it’s almost like earning income. 5. Using Your Typing Skills Put your typing skills to good use by searching for transcriptionist or data entry jobs on freelance sites. As you’ll be able to choose how many jobs you take, you never need to feel like work is taking up too much of your time. 6. Edit Student Resumes Business majors know exactly what makes a resume stand out. Use your knowledge to help students who are graduating create resumes that will impress potential employers. 7. Sell Academic Materials When you’ve finished a class, instead of throwing all your materials out, sell them to students who are just about to take the class. As well as textbooks, you may be able to sell your study notes and guides — provided they’re detailed and easy to follow. Bear in mind that you may have more success selling online than just trying to find buyers among students at your university. 8. House, Baby, or Pet Sit Use your free evenings and weekends to care for someone’s house, kids, or pets. Find opportunities online or use your contacts in the area. Housesitting is ideal if you want to make an easy income with minimal responsibilities. Babysitting can be low effort, too, such as if you take jobs late in the evening. If you love animals, you may find taking care of a pet relaxing — there could even be the chance to gain a regular job walking a local dog. 9. Deliver Food All you need is a vehicle (or perhaps even just a bike ) and you can sign up with a food delivery service. The great thing about this job is you often make extra money from tips. 10. Sell Your Clothes Instead of keeping your closet full of clothing you’ll never wear again, list items online. Ever more people are interested in purchasing quality second-hand clothing, both because of the chance to save money and because it’s better for the environment. You can avoid needing to earn an income simply by reducing your expenses. One thing to do is search for cheaper rooms for rent. St Catharines students can find affordable, comfortable housing right next to campus at Foundry Lofts. Apply today to secure the unit of your choice before it’s too late.

A Guide to Making New Friends at University

Although everyone is eager to make friends when they start university, it becomes more difficult to connect with new people as time goes on. However, it’s still possible to make new friends at any point during your time at university — all you need to do is keep some basic tips in mind. 1. Be Authentic Making friends is not a numbers game — there’s no point investing your time in someone with whom you have nothing in common. By being genuine, you’ll find friends with similar interests and ensure your personalities click. This is a key way to build friendships that last. 2. Meet Others Living in the Same Student Housing Look beyond your classes when searching for opportunities to make friends. It’s particularly convenient to hang out with people who live in the same building as you, especially if there are facilities on site like a lounge or fitness centre . The students living in the same place as you may be taking a completely different major or they may even attend another university. This will mean you’re exposed to new perspectives and ideas. 3. Join Plenty of Clubs Another way to expand your friend circle is to join clubs and organizations. Attend meetings for anything you find intriguing and explore new passions. It will be easy to make friends when you can bond over a hobby. 4. Let Your Uniqueness Shine Don’t be afraid to show the unique side of your personality. If you have an uncommon hobby or character quirk that your current friends love, embrace it. When you’re memorable, the people you meet will seek you out. 5. Ask Questions Of course, it’s also important to avoid making everything about you. Take a genuine interest in the people you meet and ask plenty of questions. If you find that the standard small talk starts to become boring, ask more original questions — without being intrusive, of course. For instance, you could try to find out what you have in common with people. You’ll immediately have something to talk about, as well as a reason to meet up again later. 6. Expect to Like People Reserve any judgement until you actually know someone. When you meet new people, always begin with the expectation that you will like them. By keeping an open mind, you’ll likely find that you connect with people who would never otherwise have become your friends. Plus, you’ll gain a reputation for being a nice person yourself, which will mean people are more willing to approach you. 7. Broaden Your Knowledge Learn about things that interest other students. For example, stay up to date with pop culture references, what’s happening in the news, and sports. Whereas no one likes a know-it-all, having a basic knowledge of a variety of topics will allow you to have conversations about anything with anyone. 8. Invite People to Routine Activities Think about all the things you do everyday anyway and consider if you could invite new friends along. Perhaps you could find some gym buddies or have a jam session with fellow musicians. You’ll find it much easier to make friends if you live in a building made up of student rentals. St Catharines students have Foundry Lofts. Our student housing has a variety of amenities that make it easy to socialize and meet new people, including a game room, movie theatre, and TV lounge. Secure your lease before spaces fill up.