Time to move again?
When I found out, back in September, that I'd failed my resits and would have to spend an extra year at UWE to get my degree I had mixed feelings. On the one hand, I was annoyed that I'd be stuck in the same part of my life longer than I'd originally wanted but on the other I was glad because it meant I'd be able to spend a little more time in my new house with 2 of my 3 lovely new house mates. A lot can change over a year.
Last night Jenny announced that she wouldn't be staying in the house next year, as she'd decided to move in with some girls on her course. With Adam long since gone and Hayley due to graduate in the summer, I've decided not to stay either.
Several reasons for this really. Firstly, the landlords would be expecting me to find new tennents for the other three rooms. I don't know three people who are a) staying at uni next year, b) looking for a house and c) who I'd want to live with. Secondly, I'd have to move out over the summer and move back in anyway, as the landlords won't let me keep stuff here all through the summer as they want to use the house. Thirdly, this house has many problems and although it is on a par with most student houses, I know it isn't going to improve at all if I sign up for another year. Fourthly I'm just a little bit sick of living in student housing.
The other exciting news of yesterday was that my job is no longer as secure as it once was. In fact I'm so close to being made redundant I'm not sure whether to take my coat off when I go in anymore. I'm one of perhaps only two students who still work for Catering Services. The rest just got fired on the orders of some senior manager who has decided that catering is now so bankrupt that they need to ditch as much of the staff as they can. Students, being casual workers, were of course the first to go.
I've managed to hold on (for now) by the sheer luck of working for a boss who likes me and is prepared to fight to keep me, even if only until she retires in August. I'm very grateful to her, but she and I both know that the minute she leaves I'll find myself on the streets.
So, decision time it seems. I have a few options open to me so lets have a look at what they are:
1. I can apply for a low paid part time job somewhere else, find people who are looking for a home and find a new student place to live next year, hopefully earning enough to pay my rent in full.
2. I can look for a proper job, preferably in management and maybe still in a bar, as I have experience there, find people who are looking for a home and find a new student place to live next year, earn enough to pay my rent with loads to spare and hope that I can balance the two (or more) modules I'll be doing next year with a full salary job.
3. I can look for a proper job, preferably in management and maybe still in a bar, as I have experience there, give up on student living and rent a decent house or flat by myself, have not as much money spare and hope that I can balance the two (or more) modules I'll be doing next year with a full salary job.
Lots of problems with all three options, but all three are broadly possible. Once again, all this proves to me is that I am more than ready to leave uni and that it'd be a lot more practical to get a job and all the rest of it if I wasn't still going to have to give up a chunk of my time to getting this infernal degree. If anyone has any thoughts on which option I should go for, or anything else for that matter, I'd be delighted to hear from you.
Last night Jenny announced that she wouldn't be staying in the house next year, as she'd decided to move in with some girls on her course. With Adam long since gone and Hayley due to graduate in the summer, I've decided not to stay either.
Several reasons for this really. Firstly, the landlords would be expecting me to find new tennents for the other three rooms. I don't know three people who are a) staying at uni next year, b) looking for a house and c) who I'd want to live with. Secondly, I'd have to move out over the summer and move back in anyway, as the landlords won't let me keep stuff here all through the summer as they want to use the house. Thirdly, this house has many problems and although it is on a par with most student houses, I know it isn't going to improve at all if I sign up for another year. Fourthly I'm just a little bit sick of living in student housing.
The other exciting news of yesterday was that my job is no longer as secure as it once was. In fact I'm so close to being made redundant I'm not sure whether to take my coat off when I go in anymore. I'm one of perhaps only two students who still work for Catering Services. The rest just got fired on the orders of some senior manager who has decided that catering is now so bankrupt that they need to ditch as much of the staff as they can. Students, being casual workers, were of course the first to go.
I've managed to hold on (for now) by the sheer luck of working for a boss who likes me and is prepared to fight to keep me, even if only until she retires in August. I'm very grateful to her, but she and I both know that the minute she leaves I'll find myself on the streets.
So, decision time it seems. I have a few options open to me so lets have a look at what they are:
1. I can apply for a low paid part time job somewhere else, find people who are looking for a home and find a new student place to live next year, hopefully earning enough to pay my rent in full.
2. I can look for a proper job, preferably in management and maybe still in a bar, as I have experience there, find people who are looking for a home and find a new student place to live next year, earn enough to pay my rent with loads to spare and hope that I can balance the two (or more) modules I'll be doing next year with a full salary job.
3. I can look for a proper job, preferably in management and maybe still in a bar, as I have experience there, give up on student living and rent a decent house or flat by myself, have not as much money spare and hope that I can balance the two (or more) modules I'll be doing next year with a full salary job.
Lots of problems with all three options, but all three are broadly possible. Once again, all this proves to me is that I am more than ready to leave uni and that it'd be a lot more practical to get a job and all the rest of it if I wasn't still going to have to give up a chunk of my time to getting this infernal degree. If anyone has any thoughts on which option I should go for, or anything else for that matter, I'd be delighted to hear from you.