Student-friendly labels on ASOS

Online shopping is convenient, but let's face it, shopping websites like ASOS can be a really overwhelming experience. We've all scrolled through the black hole of fashion websites  only to find maybe one item we like (and can afford) per five pages.

How can you browse more efficiently? One way - if you're not looking for something too specific - is to find your favourite labels and browse their pieces specifically. Figuring that out been such a lightbulb moment for me! Today I thought I'd share my favourite student-friendly labels with you. The key factors that keep me coming back for these brands are affordable pricing, a good mix of trendy and classic items and (relatively) good quality materials/fabrics.

1. MONKI
This label first came to my attention on a European fashion/lifestyle blog a few years ago. I was kind of ecstatic to find Monki frequently popping up on the Australian ASOS website last year. Even better, ASOS has steadily increased its Monki stock since then. The label has been described as having a "street-style-meets-Scandi-chic", which I think is fairly accurate. It's a great brand for edgy prints and statement accessories too. I've only purchased one item from them so far, but I've had great experience with it - good quality fabric, good price... can't wait to purchase more from this label!

2. VILA
A few words to describe this Danish label: elegant, casual and not so much girly as feminine. I have to say I'm a big fan of the flowing silhouettes of the clothing - they'd be really flattering given you bought the right size. This brand boasts some fun prints too, but overall it is less edgy than Monki. Here are a few of my favourite pieces from Vila:

3. AX PARIS
AX Paris' aesthetic is a bit harder to pinpoint than the first two labels - it has the variety of a store like Valleygirl, but is curated like a boutique. The pieces are well thought out with prints are carefully chosen and cuts tending toward the classic side. Although its prices are medium-range, I've seen some great sales (one of which is happening right now!). Another huge tick for the fact that AX Paris offers plus-size pieces!

What are your favourite labels on ASOS? I'd love to know!

Back to uni on a budget: Textbook edition

Repeat after me: I will not buy textbooks full price from the uni book store. 

Please, for the sake of all the broke university students out there, don't do it! Here are some of the strategies I've learnt over the years to make sure I save as much as I can on this twice-a-year ordeal:

1. Find out how necessary it is to own the book.
Some courses rely heavily on the textbook for weekly readings and homework questions. For other classes (biological sciences is a huge culprit), the prescribed textbooks are really just recommendations because the lecture material is more than enough. If your lecturers don't indicate which is the case, ask them directly. Also, if you don't quite understand some of the material (or just want to learn more), don't forget about the campus library! There are usually a couple of copies of the book available there.

2. Go second-hand 
I personally haven't bought textbooks second-hand but I have sold some of my old books on Textbook Exchange. You can get pretty great deals from students who are desperate to get rid of their books. Don't be afraid to haggle a little. Even better if you can find a seller who agrees to drop off the book in person (no shipping costs!) Just take care that the edition you're buying is the correct one. Another thing to do is find out if there's a second-hand book shop on your campus. The uni I attended had a system where students could fill out a form to advertise their used textbooks around campus. The store may also sell books itself after buying them back from students.

Renting textbooks isn't a huge trend yet, but it's worth checking out if you don't want to deal with the hassle of selling your textbooks when you no longer need them.

3. Jump onto a price comparison website.
If you've searched everywhere for second-hand books and been unsuccessful (or if used books give you the creeps), try to compare prices for new books online. I've found booko to be a great source for comparing prices on Australian-friendly websites. After checking there, I've saved myself up to 25% off the RRP on a Biochemistry textbook!

4. When online, look for international edition textbooks.
For those of you that don't know, publishers often print two versions of textbooks: US editions and international editions. International edition textbooks are usually cheaper than US editions and the differences between them are purely aesthetic, and relatively minor. The most important thing is that the information within them is identical. What's not to like?


Hope these tips were helpful! I haven't made up my mind on the topic for the third (and possibly last) part of this series yet, so any suggestions on what you would like to see next would be much appreciated. :)

Back to uni on a budget: Stationery edition

This afternoon I wandered into my local Typo store and scored the below pictured A5 diary for 50% off the original price. Having my 2015 diary all sorted for just $8.50, I was pretty ecstatic (check out your local store to see if they have the same deal - 50% off all diaries and planners *selected styles). The result - a light bulb moment for my first blog post!

The lead-up to the uni semester can be tough on the average student's bank account. From course fees to stationery to the dreaded textbooks, it really can add up. Maybe you've spent a little too much on going out (*cough cough* froyo) over the summer, gone a bit crazy over the post-Christmas sales or splurged too much on holiday. Have no fear, you will survive the semester. Just read on.

Here are a few simple tips for cutting the costs of school supplies:

1. Ask yourself: Do I really need this?
Because at least half of the time you don't. I can't count the number of times I've forked over cash for gimmicky pens and pretty notebooks. Not only that, check beforehand that you don't already own some of the items on your to-buy list. Remember, it all adds up.

2. Keep an eye out for sales
Back to school sales start ridiculously early. I've seen back to school promotions from as early as Christmas Eve - as though the holiday period isn't hectic enough already! The immediate post-Christmas period (not just Boxing Day) might be a good day to pick up some goodies if you're looking for items from specialty stationery stores or department stores. Have your favourite stores on email alert and Instagram so you can keep track of relevant promotions. Now, this sale-oriented strategy means that you'll probably end up going shopping multiple times to pick up the various supplies, so use your own judgement to decide if numerous trips are worth it.

3. Split with a buddy
It may be worthwhile (and definitely fun!) to go shopping for school supplies with a sibling or a friend. That way you can split the value-sized packetss of highlighters, pens (who really needs 30) and such - the multi-packs, though ridiculously oversized usually make for better value.

4. O-week freebies
Chances are you'll be able to score a bunch of actually-useful freebies if you turn up to your uni's orientation week. Goodie bags almost always contain pens and you can even get highlighters, diaries and USB thumb drives in some. Get in on the action on the first few days of O-week and you might be able to knock off half of your shopping list!

5. Make use of on-campus resources
The university I attended had a stationery re-use centre where academics could drop off leftover binders and other miscellaneous stationery. The centre also received stationery donations from retailers that were trying to get rid of excess stock. This place was a great source for free stationery, so definitely find out if your campus has a similar option and take advantage of it. Supplies dwindle at certain times of the year, but drop by once in a while and you're sure to find something you can use!

Stay tuned for the next post in this series - Textbook edition!