West Village Suites

You need to be saving money if you’re going to pay for your education and survive — but the last thing you want is to miss out on activities happening at your university. By saving money, you can have enough available for when something fun is going on. 1. Stick to a Budget Draw up a budget that covers your housing, utilities, food, and other essentials. It may take you a couple weeks to figure out just how much you need for each. Subtract this amount from your monthly income, along with a backup amount for emergencies. Then, figure out how much you can afford for non-essential pleasures. The trick is to never exceed that amount. 2. Cook Your Meals Meal plans are expensive, as is eating out. You can save money by preparing as many meals as possible at home. This includes brewing your own coffee instead of grabbing a latte on the way to class. Cooking meals is much easier for students living off campus than for those in a McMaster residence , but it is possible to an extent wha...

Living off campus is desirable to most college or university students. However, not everyone has the means to live off campus. For some students it’s more ideal than for others. While, every student has their reasons for moving to off-campus housing, some reasons are more common amongst them. Below are a few of the most common reasons for moving off campus. No Rules to Follow but Your Own On-campus living comes with numerous rules, including major noise ordinances, bans against or regulations on overnight guests, visitor sign-ins, curfews and more. However, the only rules you have to follow in your own apartment are those you create. Of course, you’ll need to maintain respectful noise levels, but there won’t be a curfew, you can have overnight guests or just guests as often as you like, cook at any time and so much more. It’s Truly Your Space Dorm rooms are often shared and not very private. Living on campus can be a lot like living at home in your room. However, with a ...

There are two main factors when it comes to eating at university: your meals need to be healthy and the ingredients should be inexpensive. Initially, you may find it challenging to meet this criteria , especially if you are used to your parents cooking. However, meal preparation is a critical skill — and it’s important to learn it as soon as possible. There are a few things you can do to ensure that you eat a balanced diet without spending too much. Create a Budget and Stick to It Figure out how much you can afford to spend on food and never spend more than that amount. For the first few weeks, your budget will need to be slightly higher, as you’ll need to fill your cupboards with the essentials. In this period, it is crucial to be smart about what you buy — stock up on things that will last. Write a List Before you head to the store, write a list of what you need. It may be tempting to throw appealing items into your cart (especially things on special offer), but you risk using up ...

When looking for housing near McMaster University , your main concern should be in finding a place that feels like home. Unfortunately, many places advertised as student apartments are in bad condition or are poorly run. An on campus McMaster residence isn't your only option if you want to avoid your own personal horror story — just be aware of the warning signs. Search for Reviews If you’re considering an apartment community, you may be able to find reviews online. This is also possible if the owners have multiple properties. You shouldn’t be too concerned by a single negative review along with a number of positive ones (after all, people are more motivated to leave reviews when they’ve had a less-than-great experience). However, a large amount of negative feedback for an apartment is definitely a warning sign. Research the Neighbourhood In the case that you’re unable to find reviews about housing, you should at least be able to read about the neighborhood. Plu...

Sometimes, choosing a good friend to be your roommate isn’t enough. It may be that you’re simply the type of person who prefers to live alone. The problem is that it can be difficult to know this when it’s your first time living away from home. You may decide to try one year in McMaster University housing , but if tension builds up, you should probably live without a roommate in the future. You Never Bring Anyone Home You should feel comfortable entertaining friends at home and bringing dates back. If you do neither, it may be because you struggle to feel completely at ease when your roommate is close by. You Argue About Chores It may be that one of you is messy, whereas the other is super organized. Alternatively, it may be that you are just unable to agree on whose turn it is to do a particular chore. If this is becoming a constant source of arguments, you need to consider parting ways. You Can’t Stand Waiting for the Bathroom Ideally, you’d like to be able...

Going to university and moving into off-campus student housing like an off-campus McMaster residence can be tough at first. There’s a lot of adjustment required. You’ll likely be missing the comfort and privacy of your own home as you would need to live with other student residents. You’ll be doing a lot of things on your own, too, like laundry and cooking your meals. But as you ease into school and living in your home away from home, you’ll find that your new-found freedom and independence can be a lot of fun, especially if you’re armed with the essentials. Get ready to live off-campus and ease your way into a successful year at school. Start by packing up these basics: Clothing – you might not need to bring all of your clothing from home, but a good mix of casual clothes for leisure and studying and a few dressier items for nights out should suffice. Birkenstocks or Crocs – these are generally very comfortable and versatile as slippers...

Planning your move to university is an exciting time, but it also comes with important decisions. One thing you’ll need to decide is where you want to live. There are two main options for McMaster accommodation : you can live on campus or you can look for student rooms for rent . Both have their share of pros and cons. On-Campus Living: Pros You’ll Save Time You’ll avoid wasted time travelling to and from school, grocery shopping, cooking meals, and cleaning an entire apartment. There Will Be Plenty Happening If you want to get involved in activities like clubs, sports, student organizations, and volunteering opportunities, living on campus is ideal. You’ll be right in the centre of everything. On-Campus Living: Cons You Don’t Choose Your Roommates You’ll have no choice as to who you live with or near, including who shares your bathroom. There Will Be More Distractions It’s great to live around other students when you want to socialize, but it’s problematic when y...