Blog Posts

How to Save Money in Shared Accommodation: Oshawa Student’ Guide

The Best Budgeting Strategy for Your Personality Everyone needs to learn how to budget, but you may find that some budgeting tips just don’t work for you. The solution is to match a strategy to your personality. Here are some different options to explore. 1. The Record-Keeper Some people think they’re sticking to a budget — only for them to realize they have nothing left before the end of the month. If you find yourself in this situation often, you may benefit from taking detailed records. This is an ideal strategy for those who struggle to remember where their money went. For this strategy to work, you need to track every expense down to the smallest purchase — after all, small things can add up quickly. Make a spreadsheet or use a note-taking app to write down exactly how much you spent and what you bought. It’s important to do this the moment you make a purchase or pay a bill, including monthly subscriptions. It’s best to keep the record in your phone, as that way there will be no need to remember to update your record later. After a month (or perhaps even just a couple weeks), you’ll have a much better picture of how you’re spending money. You may discover that far more of your budget is going to certain activities than you realized. For instance, you may have developed the habit of buying snacks when you walk through a particular area of campus. Cutting out such expenses could lead to big enough savings that you’re able to save up for something you’ve wanted to buy for a while or have more spending money for fun. 2. The Envelope Strategy You should use the envelope strategy if you’re trying to pay off debt, you want to pay more of your tuition now to reduce your student loan balance, or you’re prone to making impulse purchases. Originally, the strategy involved placing amounts into physical envelopes and assigning each envelope a different type of expense, such as debt, housing, food, or entertainment. You can adapt the amounts over the months after you gain a better idea of how much you need for each category. Today, you can do everything digitally with a budgeting app. However, you may like to give the physical envelopes a try first — if this proves too inconvenient, you can switch to the app version. 3. The Zero-Sum Budget The most complicated strategy is the zero-sum budget. Instead of spending money from this month, you rely on your earnings or allowance from last month. This is a great strategy if your income varies each month. To use the zero-sum budget strategy, you need to assign every dollar you earn to a category, either using a cash envelope or a spreadsheet. As you’ll need to make sure you always have enough for the essentials, you may need to move money from one category to another if your earnings are lower one month or you have an unexpected expense. The trick is to only touch the money you earned from the previous month — not the current month. By using this strategy, you should find you avoid money problems and even build up some savings. You’ll have more money to spend if you reduce your housing costs, such as by moving into shared accommodation. Oshawa students can find the perfect housing at Foundry 1805. We have various floor plans to suit all budgets, ranging from four to six bedrooms and with the option of either a private or semi-private room. Book a tour to see our suites and onsite facilities.

Exam Prep in a Room for Rent: Oshawa (Near OTU) Students’ Study Tips

7 Strategies for Acing Your Finals Even if you’ve attended all your classes and studied hard throughout the semester, it’s normal to feel a bit stressed right before finals week. Now you’re in the home stretch, but there are still a few things you can do to ensure you ace your finals. 1. Create a Study Schedule It will be easier to stay on track if you create a schedule for yourself. Block out time each day for preparing for finals and make a note of exactly what you’ll be doing. For instance, instead of writing that you’ll study for a particular exam, specify an activity or section of the material. Be realistic when creating your schedule — both in terms of how much time you’ll need for each task and how long you can reasonably study without needing a break. 2. Prioritize Difficult Classes There’s no need to divide the time in your study schedule equally between classes — if there’s an exam you know will be particularly difficult, make it your priority. Having a study schedule will help ensure you dedicate enough time to your most difficult classes, whereas if you only decide what you’ll do when you sit down at your desk, there’s a risk you could end up devoting too much time to the classes you like the most. 3. Study Without Distractions Make every minute you dedicate to studying count by putting away anything that could be a distraction. For instance, keep your phone out of reach and don’t allow yourself to check anything unrelated to schoolwork on your laptop. 4. Come Up with Practice Questions Come up with questions similar to those you may encounter in your exams and add them to flashcards. As well as creating your own questions, you may also find some you can use in your study guides and the quizzes in your textbooks. 5. Rewrite Your Notes You’ve taken valuable notes, but simply rereading them won’t benefit you much. Instead, rewrite them into a condensed version with just the key facts. This will help you solidify terms and ideas in your mind. 6. Explain Concepts to Someone Else Have a study session with a friend who is taking different classes than you and take turns explaining key concepts to each other. If you’re able to teach someone else, you can be confident you understand. You can also use this tactic on your own — you’ll just need to think about how you would explain. Whatever method you use, try to avoid looking at your notes when coming up with the explanations. 7. Focus on Your Health You’ll feel ready to take on any exam if you maintain a healthy lifestyle leading up to your finals. Sleep enough, eat a balanced diet, and take regular breaks that involve some movement, even if it’s just a short walk to get some fresh air and sunlight. Whatever you do, avoid all-nighters — cramming tends to be ineffective and leaves you exhausted on exam day. Having somewhere you can study in peace will make a big difference to your grades. Whereas your university may impose silence in dorms during the days leading up to finals week, you need to be able to study without distractions all semester. The solution is to move into an independent apartment, such as a room for rent. Oshawa, near OTU, has Foundry 1805. You’ll be living just steps from campus, but you’ll have a private or semi-private bedroom as well as the option of a study room in your suite. Apply now to take advantage of our lowest rates of the year.

11 Experience Gifts for Students in Durham College Residence

The Top Experience Gifts to Give a Loved One Some people are notoriously difficult to buy for. It may be they have everything they need already or they may not be particularly interested in material possessions. For these loved ones, nothing is better than an experience as a gift. Besides, experiences are far more memorable, they’re easier to personalize, and they can be affordable even for college students on a tight budget. Here are a few options to consider. 1. Be Tourists in Your Hometown When you live in the same place for many years, it’s common to neglect some of the top tourist destinations right on your doorstep. Dedicating the day to being tourists can be great fun. Research activities to do together, such as museums and landmarks to visit, a new restaurant to try, and anything else that’s popular with visitors. If your hometown isn’t a big tourist destination, you could also do this in a nearby city or your college town. 2. Take a Class Has your loved one always wanted to learn a particular skill or try a certain activity? Search for classes in your area or online and book one to take together. For instance, you could learn a craft, take a photography workshop, or try improv. 3. Have a Home Spa Day There’s no need to spend a huge amount on a trip to the spa — you and a loved one can pamper yourselves at home. Purchase everything you need for a DIY kit, such as face masks, foot soaks, scented candles, hair masks, and more. 4. Go to a Concert If your loved one likes many of the same bands as you, search for tours over the coming months to see if there’s a concert you could attend. You may find there’s a good option a few hours away, meaning you can turn the experience into a weekend trip. 5. Cook a Meal Preparing a full-course dinner could be the perfect gift for a couple people, such as your parents. Create a menu for the evening that contains all their favourite dishes, including dessert. 6. Send Letters It’s always a pleasant surprise to receive a handwritten letter in the mail. You could even make this gift extend for a few months by sending your loved one a series of letters, each of expressing your feelings or sharing memories. You may also like to ask your loved one to reciprocate, starting a letter exchange. 7. Read Your Birth Charts If your loved one is interested in astrology, you may find it interesting to read your birth charts. This is a particularly good choice for a partner, as you can find out more about your compatibility. With just your birth date, time, and location, you can receive a reading from a professional or use a free resource. 8. Gaze at the Stars Another way to involve the stars in a gift is to plan an evening of star gazing. Download an app to help you identify the constellations. 9. Bake Together Purchase all the ingredients you need to bake cookies, cakes, or other sweets and bake with a loved one. You could use the opportunity to share recipes and techniques or have a competition to see who can create the best treat. 10. Go to a Comedy Club Check tour dates for your favourite comedians or visit a local club to check out the up-and-coming talent — you may even discover the next big name in comedy. 11. Organize a Scavenger Hunt An experience that works best with a group of people is a scavenger hunt. Create clues to send your loved ones all around your neighborhood. Lead them to a prize at the end, such as a lunch together at your favourite local spot. Give yourself the gift of a better college experience by moving into off-campus housing. An alternative to Durham College residence with everything you’re looking for is Foundry 1805. Located just steps from North Oshawa campus, our student housing has spacious suites and study lounges. You’ll be able to relax, socialize, study, and live comfortably. Book a tour to check out the facilities before you sign a lease.

Life After the Student Rental: Oshawa Students’ Popular Career Options

The Most Popular Careers for 2023 University Grads If you’ll be graduating in 2023, you need to start thinking about what career to pursue. A good place to start is by considering the most popular choices for university grads. 1. Machine Learning Engineer Ever more businesses need to implement some kind of machine learning into their operations to stay competitive. This is leading to big demand for machine learning engineers. As the work is all about finding solutions to problems, it tends to be particularly rewarding. If you’re interested in artificial intelligence, have a knowledge of programming languages, and are good at statistics, this could be the career for you. 2. Data Scientist Another big concern for businesses is data. It’s easy to collect a huge amount of data, but this is useless if no one is available to analyze and explain it — this is where data scientists come in. Working as a data scientist requires many of the same skills as you need to become a machine learning engineer, although you only need basic coding skills. Plus, you should possess data visualization skills and know how to give compelling presentations. 3. Marketing Analyst A specific application of data is in marketing. As a marketing analyst, you’ll use data about campaigns and market segments to guide the strategy for your company going forward. To succeed in such a role, you’ll need to be able to identify future trends, know how to test ideas, and understand data in dashboards. 4. Digital Marketer If you have an interest in marketing but want to work in a more creative role, consider becoming a digital marketer. This career is particularly popular among young people who grew up in a time when digital marketing began replacing more traditional forms of marketing. Other reasons it tends to appeal is that jobs are often remote and you can choose to work for a company in an industry you’re passionate about. 5. Human Resources Professional If you’d prefer to work directly with other people, human resources may resonate with you. Becoming a human resources professional gives you the opportunity to make a difference in the workplace, be part of a team, and use your problem-solving skills. Plus, the challenges around managing remote, contract, and gig workers will only make your daily tasks that much more interesting. 6. Nurse Practitioner You can also help people by working in healthcare. Nurse practitioners are in especially high demand, making this a popular option for recent grads. After you become a certified nurse, you can build on your skills and earn more qualifications to continue advancing in your career. 7. Financial Manager In 2023, there are many exciting opportunities for finance majors. More businesses and individuals are seeking advice with their investments. Financial managers provide them with advice about the best ways to diversify their portfolios by considering a variety of options and carrying out risk assessments. You still have some time before you graduate. Make these last semesters count by living your best life in the ultimate student rental: Oshawa has a brand new student community at Foundry 1805, featuring fully-furnished apartments, wellness centers, study lounges, and much more. We’re now leasing for 2023. Book your tour.

How to Spend Winter Days in Durham College Student Housing

8 Ways to Spend Winter Days Even if you’re not a fan of the cold and are looking forward to when the days turn warm again, you have to admit that winter can be a great time of year. This is especially true while you’re at college because you’ll be surrounded by friends, meaning you’ll always have someone to hang out with. Plus, if you have your own room, you can use a cold winter day to relax or focus on yourself. In particular, there are a number of fun and productive ways to pass your winter days. 1. Enjoy the Snow Have an old-fashioned snow day with a snowball fight, sledding down a hill in a nearby park, or building snowmen. Make sure you wear plenty of layers to avoid feeling chilled later. 2. Rediscover the Joy of Reading College students often neglect reading for pleasure because they spend so much time with their textbooks. Pick up an old favourite or a book you’ve been meaning to read for a while to remind yourself of how reading can also be fun. This is a great way to escape reality while you forget about all your responsibilities. 3. Catch Up on Homework Don’t forget about your academics for too long, though. A winter day when you have no plans is ideal for making progress on some of your assignments. You’ll thank yourself later when you’re busy again. 4. Have a Movie Marathon If you can afford to take some time off or you just need a break, consider hosting a movie marathon. Stock up on snacks, invite some friends over, and pile the couch with blankets. You could watch old favourites, new releases, or stick to a theme. 5. Take a Nap Another way to rest and recover is with a nap. You should be at least trying to sleep enough each night, but sometimes it’s just not possible. Catch up on the sleep you’ve missed to recharge. 6. Clean Your Apartment Once you’re feeling refreshed, put that energy to good use by cleaning your apartment. While doing a load of laundry, you could declutter your desk, take out the trash, or do all the chores that fall to you that week. If you play some music or listen to a podcast while cleaning, it won’t even feel like much effort. 7. Video Chat with Your Friends or Family Check in with someone back home through a video call. You may realize weeks have passed since you had a proper chat with someone important in your life. 8. Do Some Baking Experiment with a new recipe for cookies or cupcakes to share with friends. You could enjoy your creations during a movie night, bring them to your next club meeting, or offer them to your roommates — this is sure to make you extra popular. You’ll have a better time during winters at college if you live close to other college students but also have your own space. An alternative to living on campus is to move into a student community. For Durham College student housing, there’s Foundry 1805. You’ll be able to meet new people in places like the wellness center and study rooms. Plus, when you want to spend time alone, you can retreat to your private or semi-private bedroom. Book a tour to see the suites and facilities for yourself.

Working in a Room for Rent: Oshawa Near OTU Remote Work Guide

A Guide to Finding the Best Remote Work Opportunities Searching for remote work can open up a huge number of opportunities for jobs while you’re still at university. You can work for a company based anywhere in the country (or the world), fit your job around other commitments like classes, and even continue working when you return home at the end of each semester. Despite the increase in remote work, though, it can be difficult to find the best opportunities. You need to know where to begin. 1. Search for Fully-Remote Positions Check job descriptions for indications the position is fully remote. Since some jobs may be categorized as remote when they’re actually hybrid, you need to read the wording in the job post carefully. 2. Consider Working with a Recruiter Working with a recruiter can help you filter out positions that are not right for you. As well as specifying you only want remote jobs, you can mention any other preferences you have. For instance, there may be certain times of day when you’re always unavailable or you may be looking for work in a particular field. 3. Ask at the Interview If you decide not to work with a recruiter and are unable to determine whether a particular job is remote from its description alone, make sure you ask at the interview. Some employers may be willing to make a job remote if they feel a candidate is a great fit and would carry out the work to a high standard without supervision. Bear in mind the interviewer may ask to hear your reasons for wanting to work remotely. You also need to make it clear how this setup would benefit the company. As well as talking about your need for flexibility, explain how the lack of a commute, better job satisfaction, and a greater work–life balance would result in higher productivity. 4. Decide if an In-Person or Hybrid Position Could Be Worthwhile You may find a job that sounds perfect for you — perhaps it’s part-time, involves interesting work, and would help you develop skills that will be useful after you graduate. However, the employer may want an in-person employee or only be willing to make the job a hybrid position. In this case, you need to decide how important it is for you to work remotely. If you’re unable to make the job fit around your classes, you’ll have to rule it out. However, if it comes with a number of perks that outweigh the downside of needing to commute to work, it may be worth considering. If you land a remote job, it’s crucial to have a quiet place where you can focus as well as a fast internet connection. Relying on the campus library or a café is no good because these places may not always be available. A far better option is to find student housing that offers everything you need. Consider a room for rent. Oshawa, near OTU, has Foundry 1805. You’ll be able to work comfortably in your private or semi-private bedroom and can take advantage of our high-speed internet. When you want a break, head to the onsite wellness centre or one of the restaurants just across the street. Book a tour now.