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Showing posts with label 2018. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 2018. Show all posts

Eating out in Bristol on a budget

Monday, July 2, 2018





Okay so, a little while ago (and by a while I mean 6 months oops), I showed you 5 useful ways that you could do uni on a budget Part 1 and Part 2. A recent article that I wrote for Uwe Hub Voice called "Eating out in Bristol on a budget"  prompted me to delve deeper to explore my culinary taste buds. 

Admittedly, I don't exactly have the best diet (granted) but I figured why not turn these university posts into a series and (try) to write them as regularly as possible. So far, I have covered uni fashion on a budget, my top 10 things to do in Bristol, and an overview of my first year at UWE. 


So here I give to you a compilation of my favourite cheap places to eat out in Bristol. 


1. Pizzarova 

I mean, are you even a UWE student if you haven't heard of Pizzarova before?; situated amongst the hustle and bustle of Gloucester road, Pizzarova is home to the pengest pizza in Bristol. It is known for miraculously curing hangovers and with 20% off for students, you can't really go wrong! The cheapest pizzas range from £5 (with fewer toppings) to £10 (with more toppings). 

And if you find that you cannot eat a whole pizza to yourself then you can go halves with one of your house mates and it will be even cheaper. This makes eating out in Bristol on a budget   even more desirable. 


2. Three brothers 

Maybe you're on the go and want a quick bite to eat in between shopping or on your break from work? Well pop down to Three Brothers at Welsh Back for a spectacular £5 lunch deal where you will get a burger and a portion of chips! Additionally, if you download their app Zapper , first time users get £5 credit which means you can eat for free! 

With riverside views that you cannot beat, you should definitely hurry down to Three Brothers to dine in style and eat out on a budget. 



                                        3.  Yakinori

Japanese food lovers look no further! I give to you..... Yakinori! Situated on lively Park street, this vibrant, quirky restaurant is complete with an open kitchen and amazing lunch time deals. If you need something quick and on the go then you can grab a chicken katsu or terriyaki box from just £3.99. 

For those of you who are too lazy to leave your student houses, you will be happy to know that Yakinori is also available on the Deliveroo app and they also offer Vegan and Vege options too! 
Maybe student life on a budget isn't so bad after all? 



4.  Pieminister 

Picture this, you are out for dinner with 6 of your house mates for one of their birthdays, you happen to pass Pie Minister but the
powdery aroma draws you back in. Then you find out that you will receive a cheeky 10% off with your student card, surely this can't be true you ponder?

Yes folks, you have heard it here first... classic pies will cost you a minuscule £5.95 served with gravy! And that my friends is how you do uni on a budget. 


  Did someone say pies? 


        5. The Canteen 
Arguably, with two food awards beneath their belts, it can be said that The Canteen is the bee's knees in Bristol! Their menu includes a range of vegetarian, gluten-free and vegan options.

The Canteen is one of Bristol's most vibrant meeting places as it is situated amongst the energetic Stokes Croft area. Prices at this quirky setting range from £5-£10 and include free soup and crusty bread too! Not to mention The Canteen also host's regular live music from many local and creative geniuses. 



Recommended apps 

What better way to check out what your local restaurants/bars and coffee shops have to offer than to use Wriggle! My favourite thing about this app is that it automatically updates with deals closest to wherever you are, so imagine you're strolling down the road with your girls and you see loads of cheap food deals flash up! Absolute heaven. The best thing about Wriggle, is that you can visit the creme de la creme of Bris but on a budget.


Another app that we all know and love is Groupon, the infamous app for last minute birthday presents and food deals! We all love a good bargain and if you're planning to go out for food in large numbers then you may want to consider Groupon where you can save yourself some serious £££. 

Groupon has some serious offers right now, like Time Out Kitchen's Two Monster Freakshakes for only £7.50 and


Thank you all for the support and for reading my blog posts, I really appreciate it! 

Love Leah xx 


Letter To My Future Self

Thursday, February 1, 2018






Do you ever wish that you could teleport back to the past and wave red flags in the air whenever a negative person enters your life? Almost give yourself a heads up and an insight into what is in store for you if you take a certain path? Many of us want to go back to the past to dwell on our situations and try to change our outcomes, although this isn't always the best idea. 

2018 is going to be the year for fresh starts, improved mindsets and better self-care. This year is for forward thinking and focusing more on the future rather than overthinking what cannot be changed from the past.  Last year, I compiled a list of 16 things that I would tell my 16 year old self and to this day, I still take advice from it, and maybe you could too. 

Even though I cannot change what has already occurred, I still have control over what is to come, so without further ado, here is my letter to my future self. 



Dearest Leah, 

How are you doing? How is life in the big ol' corporate world treating ya? You've graduated university now, all of that silly stressing about assignments and a grade on a piece of paper, now means nothing (even still, let me know how you did I am very nosey). I am very proud of you for sticking it out, even when you were at breaking point and rang your parents crying saying you wanted to drop out for doing badly on an assignment. Hahaha, it is all meaningless now, I bet you feel relieved that all that pressure is over! 

Right now, whenever I picture graduation day, I envision it to be one of the greatest days of your life.. a day full of celebration, happiness, and achievement. You did that sis, you did that! Did you cry joyfully when you walked down the aisle of screaming parents? I bet. Right now, you feel negative about how things are going at uni, but hang in there! You will smash it, you always do. 



Do you still keep in contact with the friends that you made at uni?  (I hope so), have you gone down to visit any of them yet? And did you ever go travelling with Em and Lauren after uni, like you said you would?. I know you always wanted to go travelling and visit Bali, so I hope that you had sufficient funds to do so. If not, then what are you waiting for?? Let's get planning.



How are Mum and Dad doing? Oh wow, they must be getting on a bit now, I hope that you look after them when they need you to, like they have for 20 years of your life. Ever since you started Uni Dad has been giving you lifts back and forth to Bristol, whilst occasionally (during 1st year I might add) driving 40 minutes just to bring you clean washing and a food shop.

Appreciate your parents, they won't be around forever, tell them that you love them at the end of every phone call - as you're writing this you're cringing at the thought of having to show any affection in the slightest. Drop this facade right now, it's not cute at all, when you are older you will realise just how silly this sounds. I want you to ring them at least once a week, no matter where you are in the world you must make an effort to contact them regularly. And if you do end up living nearby then I expect you to visit them once a week, minimum. I wonder if Mum will still have a cup of tea and a bowl of mangos waiting for you when you arrive, will she still have her meditation room in the house and will you two still practice it with each other as much as you do now?



Now the big burning question that we're all wondering here is...are you still single? Have you finally managed to find a lucky (or unlucky) guy who can handle you? Have you found someone who doesn't bore you after 5 minutes of conversation and is mentally stimulating enough?  Whether you're in a relationship, married or still single by the time that, you eventually get around to reading this again, I want you to remember that you are complete on your own, you don't need someone else to make you feel whole. Any lucky guy who gets the pleasure of dating you is an accessory. They are an addition to your life (major emphasis on addition), not something that your life should revolve around. Remember who matters most to you - your friends and family and keep them close.



How is the writing coming along sis? Are you reading as much as you should be? Granted, you're currently at uni and you already have loads of assigned readings to do, but once you've graduated, there's no excuse! I want you to set yourself a goal, I know it may seem stupid but I want you to read a book a month...  do you think you can do that? It doesn't have to be 500-page books or massive sequels; it can be a simple poetry book that you finish in one sitting or a 300-page book that takes you a few days to complete. 

You know as well as I do, that the best way for a writer to improve on their writing and really grow as much as possible is to read!. Since you re-launched your blog some months ago and finally dared to share it with the world, you have received an overwhelmingly positive response from friends, family and acquaintances. If that is not proof enough that you are a good writer then I am not sure what else will be. 

Keep at it, stop putting yourself down and don't feel arrogant for admitting that you are good at something, you have met enough arrogant people in your time and you are certainly not one of them. Give credit where it is due, compliment other writers on their work and do as much writing for your Uni newspaper and the Tab Uwe newspaper as you can. Trust me it will really pay off in the future! I one day look forward to stumbling across one of your published books in the shelves of your favourite bookstore, hold onto that feeling you get when you get told that your work is being published. Nothing in life will quite compare to that feeling of fulfilment. 



Now sometimes things can't be as rosy as we want them to be, you will have good days and bad days. Take the bad days as they come and use them as fuel to reflect on in the future. Utilise the good days by documenting them and creating memories. Go outside more, the world is too extraordinary to see from the confines of your 4 bedroom walls. 
Are you still attending meditation classes every week? I know that recently you have been going twice a week, this can be incredibly hard with a busy schedule but I want you to set some time out for yourself, "me" time as they call it. My precious piece of advice for you here is to make time for the things that you love, don't waste your time and energy on people/situations that you don't want to be in. As cliche as this may sound...life is way too short Leah and you never know what could be around the corner for yourself or your friends/family, don't make the terrible mistake of not making enough time for people and then regretting it in later life. 

I hope that you continue growing as a person and moulding into the best possible version of yourself. I hope that you remember me, the younger version of yourself, and smile whilst reading this because you know exactly what is in store for your future.

You've got this!

Love from your slightly naive, immature, younger self

Leah xx

How To Do Uni On A Budget Part 2

Saturday, January 20, 2018






Okay so in my latest blog post, I showed you 5 useful ways that you could do uni on a budget (Part 1) . Since then, I have been thinking a lot about my tips and tricks that I have implemented to live as freely as possible as a student. I know that budgeting at uni is extremely difficult to stick to and many of us cannot say no to a night out, that is why I decided to make a Part 2 that will hopefully help some of you to ditch your bad spending habits.



So here is a compilation of 5 effective ways to do uni on a budget.


Does your best friend go to uni 3 hours away? Has she been pestering you to go and visit her for months now?. Oh and let me guess you said you couldn't go because "you didn't have enough money", well buying a railcard will save you 1/3 off your train ticket (which means more money to spend on drinks and partying), aka you have no more excuses and you should definitely go!. A railcard will cost you £30 for the year and if you regularly get trains to go home or see friends then it's a no brainer. 

Having a railcard will definitely allow you to do uni on a budget and make some huge savings. 





When you're not in lectures or out getting drunk with your friends, what are you doing? Probably feeling sorry for yourself for having such a horrific hangover and binge watching Black mirror on Netflix. Yes, we've all been there and there's no problem with doing this from time to time. But what's the point in living in a city for 3-4 years and not ever really exploring it?

Go fetch your house mates and explore the many wonders of the beautiful city that you reside in, most cities will have free entry to attractions such as museums and cathedrals which can take your mind of the 2,000 word essay that is due next week, which you haven't even looked at.





Another way that you can do uni on a budget is pre drinking, I mean, are you even a student if you don't pre drink before you go on a night out? and inevitably pass out in the taxi back home?. Pre drinking is the easiest and quickest way of getting drunk without having to break the bank. For me, I could buy a £7 barefoot pink moscato rose and forget the entirety of the night but have the best time ever, for others with a higher tolerance you may need a couple of bottles to sort you out. 

Back in first year, I hated the concept of pre-drinking and could never keep up with anyone so I would wait until I got to my student union and would just shot straight vodka until it hit me. I don't think my liver has been the same since to be honest so now I take it a lot slower with pre drinks. Drinking games can also be a lot of fun too, I mean why wouldn't you want to find out your house mates deepest, darkest secrets? 




So obviously you can't do this all of the time because sometimes it could be too late to get the bus or there isn't a nearby bus stop, in which case you should share Ubers between your friends or even if you happen to meet people outside of the night club that are going back to campus/the same area as you, it makes sense to share a ride. 

Otherwise if you get the bus to uni everyday and you live off campus then it would make sense to purchase a bus pass. For me as I live in Bristol, I use an app called "First Bus M-Tickets" where you can buy 5 single student bus tickets for £5.00 and they're valid for a year which is so so good if you don't usually carry change on you and decide to get a bus somewhere last minute!


Catching buses instead of Ubers/taxis has definitely helped me to do uni on a budget and has given me extra money in my pocket which I can save for future nights out. 




 You've just started your course and your lecturer has given you a reading list of "essential" books for the year, there are about 5 books on this list and to buy them new would be £50 each. You know from your second year friends that you will probably only use them once or twice throughout the year so you're stuck on what to do?

First of all, if you want to actually buy the books you could have a quick search on Ebay or Amazon and see if you can find any used ones for sale that don't cost too much.  Otherwise, if you're not too bothered about keeping a book for good then try searching the name of it on your University library website and renting it out for a few weeks. I know a lot of books tend to get recalled quite quickly, so if you are able to get your reading list early then do this asap to save yourself some money.


I want to start writing a "University series" on this blog, where I give my advice and my anecdotal life lessons on a range of different topics, if there is anything in particular that you would like me to write about then comment below!


Thank you for reading, as per usual I really appreciate it!

Love Leah xx


How To Do Uni On a Budget Part 1

Wednesday, January 10, 2018





Okay so maybe you've just got accepted into university for this coming September ? or maybe you're already a uni student who can't quite tighten your purse strings?

It is no joke when they tell you that going to uni will make you broke and when I say broke I literally mean broke. The kind of broke where you can no longer afford fancy lunches out with your friends every week and the kind of broke where you decide to have a nap for dinner. Well folks, when I tell you that all is not lost would you believe me? Yes it is possible to do most (but not all) of the things that you want to do at uni if you budget more strategically, this means ditching M&S for Aldi and getting more for your money. 

So here is a compilation of 5 useful ways that you can do uni on a budget. 


1.  Finding cheaper alternatives

This can include anything from the likes of changing your regular expensive supermarket to shopping online and splitting the costs with your pals. If you find that you're an impulse buyer, like myself then this might particularly benefit you as you will not be tempted to grab loads of random items (that you don't need) from the till point. Sometimes you may find that you only need a few little bits, in which case clubbing together with your housemates to split the delivery costs may work in your favour. 

The way that I see it is if I budget around £30 for a week's worth of food then I can spend any additional money that I have left over on going out and doing fun things with my friends.


2.  Saying "No" 

Another way that you can do uni on a budget, is by simply saying "no" to plans that maybe you've been forced into going to and at the time you politely agreed but you don't actually want to go. I think this is a big problem with people at uni because many of you have only just settled in so you're still trying to "find your feet" plus you're lumbered with the struggles of moving away from home and being pushed out into the big wide world by yourselves. Some of you may want to impress your peers and be well-liked, this is fine but you should feel comfortable enough to say no to things without worrying about what the other people may think of you for not going. 

At the end of the day it is for you to weigh it up and make your own choices but for me I would much rather go to an event that I actually want to go to rather than going to something that I won't enjoy just to impress other people, plus you will save sooo much more money just by simply saying "no". I remember when I first started uni, I was a little bit like this because I struggled to say no to plans and went to everything just because everyone else was! Now, I will say no to a lot more events and not care about missing out at all. 



3. Depop, Depop, Depop!! 

Okay so lets suppose that your loan has just dropped and you have a dnb event on Friday that you still need to find an outfit for, what are you going to do? Well.. obviously head to Depop and spend the majority of your loan on some wavey garms.

Depop is one of the best apps for selling and purchasing quirky clothes at a discounted price. If you're looking to make some money fast and have a few key designer pieces in your wardrobe then you should definitely consider using Depop because you don't have to go through the whole auction process like Ebay and it is geared more towards younger people so you're more likely to get a response quicker! Alternatively, if you're looking for a few bargains and won't max out your overdraft then cop a few Depop garms and do uni on a budget. 


4. Pre-paid cards

Alright I will be honest, I am yet to try one of these bad boys but so many of my friends at uni have one and they say that it makes budgeting 10x easier. If you don't already know a pre-paid card is essentially a top up card and means you will always stay within your budget. The best thing about them are that you have no interest to pay back and no "unexpected" charges to catch you out. If you're wondering about going into your overdraft too much then a pre-paid card might be the solution for you. 

If you decide to go on a night out and don't want to spend endless amounts of money that you don't have on drinks for yourself and other people, then you can just take your pre-paid card along with you and then use the Uber app for taxis to get home. 


5. Sign up for UNiDays

So it is inevitable that by the time you finish reading this that you're thinking "I have a job or I have more money than the average student so I don't need to budget" or  even "I just really like eating out". Well if there's one thing that you should take from this blog post on how to do uni on a budget, then it's that you should all download the app UNiDays (unfortunately this isn't sponsored btw) but you can get so many good restaurant deals from the likes of Zizzi Italian, Ask Italian and Chiquitos.  It also means that if you're saving between 25%-40% off the bill that you can spend on some cool clothes or event tickets! 


My final piece of advice is not to restrict yourself from everything, if you want to spend half of your overdraft on a new coat and then not be able to pay your rent for the next month then you do that, just don't blame me when it goes wrong. Have fun and enjoy yourselves whilst you still can but don't over do it!

Do any of you go to uni? And if so do you have any useful methods of how to budget and most importantly do you stick to them? I would love to hear back from you in the comments below. Thank you all so much for reading, I appreciate it! 

Love Leah xx







Top Things To Do In Bristol

Friday, January 5, 2018




 

Ah Bristol! The creative hub for the likes of Banksy and Isambard Kingdom Brunel. The city that you will never get bored of, the city that should be on your top places to visit in the UK in 2018. It is not a coincidence that this unique city has been voted by The Sunday Times as the UK's best place to live in 2017.

So here is 10 things that you must do and see when you visit Bristol. 


1. Clifton Suspension Bridge 

With excellent views across the whole of Bristol, you would be silly to not visit one of the cities most talked about landmarks, situated in Clifton you can go for a leisurely walk across the bridge and then return to the White Lion for a pint with magnificent views across Bristol. 


2. Bristol Balloon Fiesta 

If you're looking for a family, friendly day out or just something to do with your friends; then you should definitely check out Bristols' Balloon Fiesta Festival, which runs from the 9th August-12th August. The best thing about this festival is that it is FREE! Yes folks, it is free so if you're not looking to break the bank then this unforgettable day out would be perfect for you. 

3. Motion

Are you looking to wind down and let loose? And are you into drum & bass?, techno?, disco? or grime ?, If you answered yes to all the above then Motion is the place for you. Being named as the 19th best nightclub in the world, Motion really does not disappoint and should definitely be at the top of your lists for things to do in Bristol.


4. Bristol Zoo Gardens

Go and explore the zoo gardens in Bristol, the fifth oldest zoo in the world! For only £10 per adult and £5 per child, you can explore nature and the wildlife without breaking the bank. And this is why Bristol Zoo Gardens are in the Top 10 Things to do in Bristol. 



5. Stokes Croft 

Famously known as Bristols "cultural quarter", the vibrant, cobbled streets of Stokes Croft represent the cities most artistic talents. If you're searching for quirkiness then look no further, Stokes Croft will provide. Be sure to stop off for a bite to eat at The Crafty Egg where you can enjoy an array of hot drinks and brunch favourites. 


6. Bristol Cathedral

Why don't you revel in the great architecture that fills the Bristolian streets? In particular Bristols historic Cathedral stands at the very heart of the city and is located on College Green in the West End of the city. The Cathedral is free to visit and is open to the public 365 days a year from 8am to 6pm (Monday - Saturday) and 7:20am - 5pm (Sundays).




7. Bristol Harbourside

Fancy a drink after exploring the lively streets of Bristol all day? then head down to the harbourside where you'll find a selection of restaurants, bars, shops and hotels. Whilst you're there why don't you visit The Apple  where you can socialise with friends over a pint of cider and tuck into a well-deserved lunch. Why wouldn't a sociable, drinking activity be top of your list for things to do in Bristol?



8. At Bristol

The famous At Bristol, now classically referred to as "We the Curious" is one of the UK's biggest science centres. With hundreds of exhibitions to discover, live shows and a Planetarium, your children will never get bored. With lots of laughter to be had and many memories to be made, you would be silly not to put this on your list of things to do in Bristol. 



9. Bristol Museum & Art Gallery

With 19 breathtaking galleries across 3 floors, Bristol Museum & Art Gallery tells the story of the beginning of time to the present day. With exceptional collections of art, archaeology, geology, and natural history you will be in awe from start to finish. I mean who visits Bristol the hub of creativity and does not visit an art gallery anyway?.



10. The Dower House

Many of you will drive past it on the motorway and will admire it, but how many of you will actually stop by to marvel at all of its beauty? Commonly referred to as "the yellow house" situated in Stoke Park, The Dower House makes a stunning summers, brisk walk with great views of the whole of Bristol. Rumour has it that the yellow house is haunted, but why don't you just see for yourself?. Stop by on your way in or even on your way out, but this for me has to be one of the best things to do in Bristol. 



Have any of you visited Bristol before? If so what were your favourite things that you did there? If not, where would you really like to visit?  I would love to hear back from you in the comments below. Thank you all so much for reading my latest blog post, I really do appreciate it!


Love Leah xx



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