Student Rooms

  When I first got my offer letter for Newcastle, I was buzzing with excitement! Of course , until I opened up the accommodation listings. Let’s just say the prices almost gave me a heart attack. I remember thinking, “How do students actually afford this?” I didn’t want to spend my entire budget on rent and then survive on instant noodles for the rest of the year. So, I made it my mission to find a decent place. It ha d to be affordable, safe, and not miles away from campus.   Here’s the story of how I did it, with all the little hacks, mistakes, and lucky breaks along the way. Starting the Hunt Too Late (Big Mistake)   Like a lot of students, I thought, “I’ll sort my housing after exams.” Bad idea. By the time I seriously started looking, many of the obvious (and affordable) spots were already gone. The good thing about that? It pushed me to explore less “obvious” neighborhoods and websites I wouldn’t have checked otherwise.   Tip from experience: start bro...