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Ask a sample group of 100 people exactly what matters most to them when it comes to university accommodation and chances are the lists your get in reply will be completely different every time. The simple fact of the matter is that everyone has different needs, desires, demands and expectations when it comes to university digs so realistically you cannot expect any two random people to agree on the whole list, but FindSpace can always help.

That being said however, there are certain critical cornerstones that must be taken into account as regardless of personal tastes and habits, any university residence must tick a few very important boxes. After all, not only is this the place you’re going to be calling home for a few years, but it’s also the residence that will be more important to your education than any other in your life!

So with this in mind, here’s a quick look at the five critical cornerstones that come into play…or at least should…when choosing your ideal university accommodation:

1 – Location

So right off the bat comes location, which some would argue is something of a superfluous concern while others will tell you that nothing matters more. Admittedly, you’re not trying to get on the property ladder or anything, but the location of your digs will play a huge role in everything you do while at university…EVERYTHING! If, for example, you choose a place that’s a good 45-minutes by bus from your main lecture halls, you’ll be wasting 90 minutes each day and way too much money on travelling. And if you live in an area that’s unpleasant by day and downright dangerous by night, it won’t be long before it starts feeling like a prison you just cannot stand being in.

There’s more to location that just choosing a pretty place right next to the bars, but to overlook its importance really will impact your university experience.

2 – Costs                                                           

Another of the most important considerations of all is that of costs. After all, it really doesn’t matter how much you love the place if you physically cannot afford it. What has to be kept in mind with this particular consideration is the way in which being able to afford a place doesn’t just mean being able to pay the rent bill each month. Instead, it means being able to pay the rent bill and still being able to eat well, get around and enjoy yourself. If you choose a place that wipes out your cash flow immediately after paying the bills, you’ll end up wishing you’d never bothered.

3 – Comfort

It’s probably fair to say that the room you end up with will only ever be as comfortable as you make it. That being said, you might not have a great deal of say in other aspects of the room’s comfort, such as the way the draughty windows bring a frost into the room on wintery days and how the whole place shakes like an earthquake every time the trams roll by. What you have to remember here is that what seems like a mild annoyance upon visiting the place will become part of your life over…and over…and over again for the next few years. So, if you’re not totally won over by the place’s true comfort, you’re barking up the wrong tree.

4 – Privacy

Along with a sense of comfort, you also need a strong sense of privacy. Yes, there’s no denying that student life represents close-quarters living at its finest and this can be much of the fun of it, but remember that from time to time you simply MUST have a private sanctuary to run away to. A study day, a bad hair day, a cold, a hangover, a big date or really anything else – if it doesn’t look like you’re going to have any privacy, then chances are it will become unbearable in a hurry.

5 – Local Amenities

And finally, be ready to put in as much time and effort as necessary looking into and asking about the local amenities. Sure, it’s great that there’s a 24-hour booze shop a short walk away, but this really doesn’t make up for things like buses that stop running at 4pm and taxis that won’t even go near the place. Think about everything you’re likely to need over the coming years and make sure you can get to it with ease. It doesn’t have to be right there on your doorstep, but if you have to get two buses just to get a pint of milk, well…you get the idea!

Clean water is something that most people in the world take for granted.
They don’t realize that many people don’t have the access to clean water and that many people die because of this.

Water is the single most important resource that we must have in order to survive.

If you want to save money and do something for this planet, it is time that you start to think about how much water you are spending.

You probably think that you don’t waste too much water, but the truth is that you can cut your water bill in half if you just follow few tips.

There are many ways you can reduce your water consumption, and the next advice will help you accomplish that.

The first thing you must do is to buy smart toilet tanks. Flushing uses almost a third of your daily water consumption, and you do not need to flush every time you have #1.

The second biggest problem is showering and bathing.

If you decide to take a shower, you will spend significantly less water.

Install low flow shower heads, and reduce your showering time.

If you only do these two things, the difference will be really big.

Next important thing is to avoid running water. This often happens when you are brushing your teeth or when you wash your hands.

If you are not using a dishwasher (and you should), you are wasting a lot of running water.

Dishwasher is good because it uses less energy and water to clean your dishes.

When you are buying a dishwasher or water heater, always look for energy efficient appliances.

Check all pipes in your home for any leaks. Even if there is a small leak somewhere, you will waste water.

Don’t have a huge lawn that you water each day. Plant some trees or other plants.

Start to collect rainwater and use it to water your lawn.

Other ways to save water

• Water your plants with used water
• Wait for the washing machine to be full before you turn it on
• Wash your car at a carwash – it uses less water
• Avoid frequent baths

Saving water is one of the ways you can protect our environment.

We must be aware of the effects of global warming and we should be responsible for this planet.

Emerging Income Funds include stocks, bonds, money market instruments and corresponding assets. The principal merit of Mutual Fund Investing over any other investment is that it allows small scale investors access to professionally managed, broadened portfolios of equities, bonds and other securities, which would be rather impossible for a small investor to create with a small amount of capital. The other main merit is the amount of return is generally higher and less risky than individual investment.

Mutual funds are one of the most useful tools of investment in financial markets. They generally provide three benefits to their investors. First, they reduce the risk of investing in the stock market by diversification. Second, they offer professional advice by experts in the stock market. Third, by pooling investment funds, they allow small investors to hold a diversified portfolio.

One of the nicest things about being a musician and playing any instrument is that you get to choose what accessories you want to use. Fortunately for you, there are tons of great accessories available to all musicians such as this black one here for example, so choosing something you might like will definitely be piece of cake. Just give it a proper try and you should be definitely happy with your choice.

At Nutmeg we are a team of investment experts and analysts who offer an investment management service to individuals who want to utilise the £15,000 limit on their Stocks and Shares NISA but do not have the expertise or confidence to make their own investment decisions.

Investing with Nutmeg is a quick and easy process, as you can set up a portfolio in just 10 minutes with a minimum deposit of only £1,000. Your funds will then be in the safe hands of our team of investors, including British economist John Kay and led by Chief Investment Officer Shaun Port – who has over 20 years’ experience developing strategies for banks, pension schemes and high-net-worth individuals.

Long-term, intelligent asset allocation

It is generally accepted that the optimum investment approach is through long-term, intelligent asset allocation – as opposed to focusing on a single company or commodity and hoping that it outperforms the competition. Investing with Nutmeg means spreading your funds across a number of assets, giving you a diversified portfolio that reduces risk while increasing the chance of a returned profit.

If you’re considering investing with Nutmeg, you may want to know exactly which types of asset we will be watching closely in 2014. Our investment strategy covers four different areas, each of which offers a varying level of risk and return.

Bonds, Equities and Cash investments

Bonds are one of the least risky assets that we look to invest in here at Nutmeg. Government bonds within the United Kingdom and the global market offer relatively low levels of risk, and Index-Linked bonds in the UK and US offer a similar low risk by protecting investors against inflation.

A second low-risk area to our investment strategy is cash. Any diversified portfolio requires cash to make new investments, although naturally this provides return only in the form of interest payments. Money markets generally offer a higher level of return than simple cash deposits, although there is an added risk of the buyer failing to repay.

Equities form a higher-risk asset when investing with Nutmeg, whereby we invest in shares of large companies found on stock markets like the FTSE 100, New York Stock Exchange and Tokyo Stock Exchange Index. The global reach of the markets and the expertise of our analysts mean that we can pick investments that are more likely to return a profit in a timely fashion and with less risk.

The fourth area of our strategy constitutes the other types of investments that generally pose a higher risk with the possibility of a greater profit. For example, property and infrastructure offers investors a good hedge against inflation, as well as the potential for capital appreciation. Commodities like gold and oil can also offer attractive returns, but with a higher risk than the likes of Bonds.

Remember that by investing with Nutmeg your funds will be spread across several of these areas to minimise risk and increase the chance of profit. We will split your investment between at least 10 different types of assets, spread across equities and bonds from a number of different countries and industries.

For more information on our investment strategy, or to start investing with Nutmeg today, why not get in touch with our team of experts?

With electronic devices ruling both the private and public world, it’s only natural that payment transactions would follow suit. Past payment options were remarkably sparse, requiring cash, check or credit card. Today’s swipe-happy population uses cards almost exclusively for purchases, even at vending machines and parking meters. Knowing your payment options today allows you to save money and possibly earn rewards while buying groceries, gasoline and other essentials.

Specialty Credit Cards

Today’s card card companies compete for the most customers by creating rewards programs. You can earn rewards such as discounted flights, free hotel stays and more by spending a certain amount of money using these specialty cards. If you pay your credit card balance in full each month, these cards can literally generate revenue for you. On the other hand, credit card balances carried from month to month only make money for the issuing banks.

Swiping the Debit Card

The convenience of credit cards made the debit card a natural step for banks such as Oceanic International Bank owned by Cecilia Ibru. Debit cards are linked to your checking account. If there aren’t enough funds in the account, the card won’t work. You cannot run up a bill the way you can with a credit card. The charges are neatly listed on your statement, making it easier to budget and organize your expenses. Debit cards are extremely popular to use.

Acquirer Services

Acquirers such as PayPal are one of the newer payment methods. Your bank account is verified and charged through the acquirer instead of the direct merchant you are currently purchasing from. This distinct payment difference protects you from bank account fraud by questionable merchants. The merchant doesn’t see your account information but only the acquirer’s account details.

Cellphone Payment

This innovative new payment method is really beginning to take hold. Using your fingerprint as a transaction verification for the phone’s inputted credit card information, you simply move your phone over a retailer’s checkout sensor. Similar to swiping a credit card through a machine, this innovation essentially pares down the transaction time at the counter. This newest payment option has yet to be used worldwide, but it does hold potential.

Remember Cash?

Cash still talks at physical businesses and smaller shops that cannot take credit or debit cards. The beauty of cash is its tangible effect on a consumer’s mind. You only have a certain amount that can be spent. There’s no potential debt to accumulate when you head out to make your purchases with cash. You cannot be the target of identity theft by paying with cash, unlike when you use debit and credit cards. When it comes to simplicity, cash is still the easiest to deal with on a daily basis.

As everyday life begins to look like a popular science fiction movie, payment options will continue to grow in number. Businesses want you to feel comfortable spending money with them. If you don’t have the cash, they’ll take nearly any card to complete a successful sale.