Staying in hotel instead of renting

greenorange

I start the final year of my degree in September. I have labs/lectures from the end of Sep to first week of Dec (4 day timetable), then independent dissertation work from Jan to May (1 lecture, 1 tutor meeting every 2 weeks).

Instead of renting and dealing with a 6 month tenancy, deposit, bills etc, I'm thinking of just staying in a hotel for 3 nights a week from end of Sep to first week of Dec, going back to my parents for the other 4 nights (2 hour journey) and then just travelling to uni for a day every 2 weeks from January onwards.

I have a family member who lives near my university, so I could also stay with them if I unexpectedly have to stay a few more days, however I wouldn't stay with them the entire few months.

Doing the sums, it should save me quite a bit of money which I could use to pay off my student overdraft, however my parents think it's a bad idea as it'll be a lot of travelling.

Just to get an outsiders view, is this realistically a good idea, or am I just being silly?

jacques_chirac

Cheap hotel? Does it have reliable wifi? What are you going to do for meals? How much will travel home cost?

I looked into doing the same thing but it was not cost effective. However the cheapest hotel acceptable to me was £80 a night

McKneff

Any cheap B&Bs

greenorange

jacques_chirac wrote: »

Cheap hotel? Does it have reliable wifi? What are you going to do for meals? How much will travel home cost?

I looked into doing the same thing but it was not cost effective. However the cheapest hotel acceptable to me was £80 a night

There's 3 Travelodges in the area. The closest to my university is £28 a night from 1st October onwards, and £15 (I think it was) for a months internet.

Meals I eat at university whether I'm renting or not. It's so cheap that it's much more cost/time effective just to grab food in the student union/bar/restaurant.

Return coach or train is £19 roughly with student card.

McKneff wrote: »

Any cheap B&Bs

It's in one of the seaside resorts, so loads of B&Bs and hotels. I just need to have a good search online. Shouldn't be a problem to find somewhere under £30 a night.

Even if I spend £600 a month for 2 months on hotel and travel, it works out cheaper than 6 month tenancy at say £300-£350 + bills, and less hassle with deposit/credit searches and guarantors.

The travelling back and forward doesn't bother me too much, as I can always use the time to do work. My parents seem to think it's a bad idea, but I'm all for it.

I'm not interested in the partying, socialising this year. I'm basically doing all I can to save/earn money and get this final year over with.

jacques_chirac

You've clearly done your maths, but if it was me I would not be able to spend three nights a week in a Travelodge. For that length of time you need somewhere homely and comfortable. Even putting aside my high standards (snobbery!) with regard to accommodation, I think you'll be fed up after a few weeks.

greenorange

jacques_chirac wrote: »

You've clearly done your maths, but if it was me I would not be able to spend three nights a week in a Travelodge. For that length of time you need somewhere homely and comfortable. Even putting aside my high standards (snobbery!) with regard to accommodation, I think you'll be fed up after a few weeks.

Good point. I'm hoping between being at university, the library and the occasional night out with friends, I can bare it for 2 months.

I'll have to have a think. Thanks for the reply.

silvercar

If your term time address is your parents' home, this may effect the amount of student loan / grant you are eligible for.

comeandgo

I would certainly give it a try, you will have no electricty bills, tv licence, (if you need one) bedding to find and wash. I have to stay away a lot with my work and Premier Inn's are the last on my list of ideal places to stay but there is absolutely nothing wrong with them.

agrinnall

comeandgo wrote: »

I would certainly give it a try, you will have no electricty bills, tv licence, (if you need one) bedding to find and wash. I have to stay away a lot with my work and Premier Inn's are the last on my list of ideal places to stay but there is absolutely nothing wrong with them.

Did you mean Travelodges, which is what the OP is considering? Premier Inns are in general a decent step up from Travelodge (although there are some TLs that seem to be of a higher standard than in the past, but the best PIs are a lot better).

Noctu

Sounds like a good idea, you're also going to benefit from avoiding horrible student landlords - and one year tenancies (which were the norm in my uni city, not 6 month tenancies, they were only really available to working people). There are so many horror stories out there!

I did something similar but with no hotel, I commuted to Uni in my 2nd and final year and lived rent free with then-boyfriend (now DH!). I had my group of friends at home and wasn't fussed about socialising with Uni people, I did a lot of travelling before Uni and had a large social group at home so I didn't miss out. My uni was an hour's commute away and I got a lot of work done on the train.

If you find a nice enough B&B you may be able to negotiate a lower rate with the owner, especially if you pay up front and specify which days you'll be staying there.

Also if internet access is going to be an issue you could just buy a dongle.

I would add that many working people do exactly what you're doing right now, i.e. to live away and work for a few days in the week and come home for the other days.

The terms are so short especially in the final year that it's a no-brainer! Let us know what you decide!

greenorange

comeandgo wrote: »

I would certainly give it a try, you will have no electricty bills, tv licence, (if you need one) bedding to find and wash. I have to stay away a lot with my work and Premier Inn's are the last on my list of ideal places to stay but there is absolutely nothing wrong with them.

The Premier Inn near my university is actually lovely, but it's also one of the most expensive, at around £69 a night cheapest. The travelodge is £28/£29 a night, and there are hundreds of B&B's so hoping to pay no more than £30. Thanks for the reply.

Noctu wrote: »

Sounds like a good idea, you're also going to benefit from avoiding horrible student landlords - and one year tenancies (which were the norm in my uni city, not 6 month tenancies, they were only really available to working people). There are so many horror stories out there!

I did something similar but with no hotel, I commuted to Uni in my 2nd and final year and lived rent free with then-boyfriend (now DH!). I had my group of friends at home and wasn't fussed about socialising with Uni people, I did a lot of travelling before Uni and had a large social group at home so I didn't miss out. My uni was an hour's commute away and I got a lot of work done on the train.

If you find a nice enough B&B you may be able to negotiate a lower rate with the owner, especially if you pay up front and specify which days you'll be staying there.

Also if internet access is going to be an issue you could just buy a dongle.

I would add that many working people do exactly what you're doing right now, i.e. to live away and work for a few days in the week and come home for the other days.

The terms are so short especially in the final year that it's a no-brainer! Let us know what you decide!

There are plenty of short term tenancies near my university, however they are all usually higher priced and I would require a guarantor, large deposit etc, which I just don't want to get involved in again.

There are many B&B's so I think I'll start calling around soon and see if any want to take me in. I'm hoping to find somewhere for £30 a night. Just got to wait for my timetable to come out so I know which days I have.

Have looked into the internet. My iPhone contract is with EE, and I have 5GB internet and am allowed to tether to my laptop, so that should be fine hopefully!

Thanks for the reply. Going to have a chat with the parents tonight and hopefully start sorting this out.