Party season is upon us, and it’s time to get ready for the Christmas holidays! 

Now the countdown is on, you’re probably arranging some festive fun with your friends, picking your Secret Santa gift and debuting your favourite Christmas jumper. 

Before you get carried away making exciting plans, there’s a few things you need to do to prepare to head home from uni. Luckily for you, we’ve made a list of all the important stuff you won’t want to forget before you get going!

Getting your room in order before you head off for the winter break can take a bit of time, so first things first:

Turn off your heating

Leaving your heating on over the break will incur additional bills, not to mention waste a lot of heat energy while you’re away. Do your bit for the environment - and your wallet - by switching it off during the holidays.

Unplug all electrical items

There’s nothing worse than getting halfway home and realising you’ve left the straightners unplugged, right? Not only that, leaving electrical items plugged in for a long period of time unsupervised is a fire risk. So be on the safe side and make sure everything is unplugged before you head off.

Ensure all taps and showers are fully turned off

A no brainer. Saving water has never been more important and your bills will skyrocket if you leave a tap on over the holidays. There’s also the threat of a flood if the bath or shower is left running for a length of time. 

Make sure all ovens and hobs are turned off

Another huge fire risk. Gas ovens can be a bit fiddly and it’s not always clear when induction hobs are on or off, so definitely worth triple checking before you go.

Remove and dispose of all perishable goods from the fridge and cupboards

There’s nothing worse than coming back from a relaxing Christmas break to find unidentifiable food items in the fridge. Do future you a favour and clear everything out - you might even find some snacks for the journey home.

Remove or lock away all valuable possessions

Empty accommodation can unfortunately attract thieves, and leaving valuable possessions out while you’re gone isn’t the wisest idea. Lock it away, or take what you can with you for the holidays.

Close your curtains

Similarly to the above, leaving your room open for the world to see can attract unwanted attention, plus closing your curtains will retain some heat for when you return in chilly January!

Turn off all lights

No need to waste any additional energy while you’re away. Switching off the lights will do wonders for the environment and your bank balance. 

Shut and lock all doors and windows

Another obvious, but an easy to forget one. Making sure all windows are shut and securely locked while you’re away will help to prevent any unwanted intruders.

Double check there are no fire hazards

Candles, curling tongs or extension leads can all be huge fire hazards that are often missed when you’re rushing to get home for Christmas. Triple check each room before you head off!

Once your room is in order, you’ll have more time to finish any coursework before the holiday season begins, and is there anything better than coming back to a clean place and less work to do? 

Time to relax...and have fun!

Christmas is about getting together and enjoying yourself after all. It’s not too late to plan a party, cook a festive feast together or head out on the town for one last night before you all head home.

We've got lots planned in our residences around Ireland so be sure to keep your eyes peeled and if there’s anything you need over the Christmas period, please contact us.

Keep up to date with our blog over Christmas for last minute Secret Santa Gifts and Christmas recipes on a budget.