Staying in hotel instead of renting

Ms_Chocaholic

Have a look here https://www.airbnb.co.uk
You might find a more homely place to stay within your budget.

Naf

If the cost does, indeed, add up then I say go for it. I am, however, sure you could get a better deal than a Travelodge at a local B&B - go round & talk to some of them and I'm sure they'll give you a good rate. For regular custom like that I'd expect a good discount. My in-laws would probably go down under £30 a night including breakfast for that...

w211

Travelodges are good value if you can book in advance with them, which as you know your timetable you should be able to. As mentioned, if you stay there more than one night in a row, you don't have to worry about washing your bedding etc., and they'll make your bed up for you, clean the room, fresh towels in the bathroom, toilet roll etc.. (which will bring laundry costs down a bit)

You can sign up to their newsletter which they e-mail every now and again with their offers and promotions.

I'd much rather stay in a Travelodge rather than a B&B, since you don't have to interact much with the staff and you can come and go anonymously. In a B&B, you're in contact with the owner for much of the time you're there, who may be friendly, are likely to engage in conversation and know about your business. Depends on your preference.

Wine_of_the_World

I have done similar for work rather than commuting. I booked travellodges in advance - they have desks in the rooms so its possible to work in the evenings (which is what I needed to do). I have tried B&B but found I wanted to be more annonymous so a travellodge worked best. One thing though I didnt tell the B&B I was staying for more than a week in the area so I didnt need to worry about offending them by not staying longer.

One thing I found really helped me was the lack of distractions meant I got a lot more done in the evenings - its not possible to be distracted by washing up / cleaning etc. I had to be 'creative' with food and even considered staying over with a microwave, but as you wont have this problem so much the better.

angelsmomma

Have you thought of looking on spare room for a Monday to Friday lodger let?

bitsandpieces

It can be a way to save money, though if you can find something with airbnb or a room as a lodger that might be more homely.

With your dissertation work, will you not need to be into uni to use labs or library more often?

glider3560

In my final year, I rented a flat for 6 months (£525 pcm back in 2010). Then stayed in hotels as required for the rest of the year and during exams.

I also discovered the "Freedom of Severn and Solent" rail rover, which provided 8 days of unlimited travel in the mapped area (bounded by Portsmouth, Cardiff, Tiverton and Weymouth) for about £40.

Worked really well and I saved an absolute fortune.

I'm now commuting 2 hours a day each way to work, just to save rent in London. It is tiring but certainly worth doing. And I stay in cheap hotels when I need to be there late or want to go out.

laurel7172

How easy would it be to commute back and forth with all your books?

(Or am I just showing my age?)

Excited13

In my final year I commuted to uni as I was living with my then boyfriend in my home city after two disastrous years of student landlords. I think from my door to the uni took about 2 hours and buying advance train tickets helped.

As someone has mentioned what will you do about text books? I do think if you are doing 3 nights a week a Monday to Friday room may work better for you as you might be able to leave some stuff.#

Good luck

joolsybools

It might be worth looking into Air B&B too https://www.airbnb.co.uk/

ETA - oops, someone has already recommended this!