Is the physicality of everyday money about to disappear forever?

Having stumbled across numerous articles about the end of cash last week, I can see that there is an ever so growing curiosity about the point of having cash in your pocket. The unattractive, physicality of money that has been around for thousands of years could now be replaced by none other than cash cards.

Yes, the seemingly easy process of literally taping your card for that cup of coffee rather than tearing through your pockets for the correct change is a hassle-free process, and one of delight; my main concerns however is whether the disappearing physicality of cash could affect our opinions on cash itself. Many people may feel uncomfortable about using technology as a source of their money, others may feel that their money could feel ‘worthless’ and not as appreciated as it is with physical cash. Not to also mention that if cash was to disappear, would we find it hard to keep track of our spending on nights out? How can you trust that every merchant is genuine and not a card cloner? Its only a matter of time before this idea will see the end for cash, but are you really ready for it?

Top 10 Tips for University

Here are my 10 tips to making your University experience fun and useful:

1. Do your work when you get it – There are times where I’ve heard the same stories from people leaving their work til their 11.59pm deadline. My advice to you is to start work on it as soon as you are set it. If you don’t, your work will pile up over time and you will enter panic mode when you have 4 assignments to write in one week!

2. Budgeting – Always remember that when living on your own, it is vital you budget your money. There have been times where I admit I have spiralled out of control with my money but you can easily learn from this mistake over time. You can get a free overdraft with many student accounts which you can use as buffer just in case.

3. Referencing using the Refme app – Time and time again you will use some sort of referencing in your assignments whether its Harvard or Oxford or even worse. This unbelievable app is a free tool that will allow you to record all your sources into a nice, tight nit format that will be ready for your essay! It is definitely worth a download!

4. Free stuff in McDonalds – Yes that’s right, free stuff! Buy any meal in McDonalds and you have the choice of getting an extra burger, fries or even a McFlurry absolutely free by simply showing your Student ID! Wicked, right?

5. Don’t buy every book on your reading list – Upon seeing your massive list of books, you wonder “how will I pay for all these?”. Well, the answer to that question is you don’t necessarily need all the reading list. The reading list is just a list of sources that will benefit your type of course and most the time you may only refer to that book once. The solution to the problem is take the books you need out the library… it’ll save you a tonne of money!

6. Have second thoughts about going out the night before a 9am lecture – This has certainly happened to me. You will always say on the night out that “oh, I better go soon because I have a lecture”, but in the end, if you get in a drunken state, you will not make it in the morning. This can prove fatal to your learning at uni too!

7. Keep a jumper and tracksuit bottoms at the bottom of your bed in an event of a 2am fire alarm – You will certainly without fail encounter a fire alarm when staying in halls of residence, so by leaving these items on standby, you can easily grab them on and get out the door in 30 seconds.

8. Never go shopping when you’re hungry – We have always been tempted to get a takeaway of some sort as a quick solution to hunger, but it can certainly cost a fortune. The solution to this problem is refrain; grab a slice of toast and add to it to make it filling. Also, by freezing your bread, it will last a lot longer than the usual 4-5 day life span, so bear that in mind.

9. Drink tap water instead of fizzy – Swap that nice bottle of pop for a more healthy, clean and intelligent alternative; water. Water is the perfect alternative because it is free; by drinking it all the time in lectures, at the halls and at meals, it will save you an absolute fortune. Water is also very good for stimulating your brain too so bear that in mind when studying for your dream first class degree.

10. Always appreciate the people you live with – Moving in to the halls of residence can be a daunting experience to some, but as you will be meeting your flatmates from all different backgrounds, you should accept them all the time and refrain from arguing. When someone has a point of view that you don’t agree with, you should refrain from bickering because it will, if it escalates, make it awkward for you.

My new found addiction

Ever since starting the blog the other night, I have turned into an addict. I just can’t get enough.

The concept of blogging may seem dull to few, but it can in many ways improve the way you live your life. My days of having low esteem to the extent where I sit in my room everyday and play games can be seen as the past; and blogging has made me a changed man; taking my imagination out of my brain that is rarely showcased, and sharing it with the world.

Late nights

Late nights are the norm for me at this time. No reason to get up early, and no motivation. The 10pm bedtimes of the school days are long gone and now my days are finishing in the morning; and my days starting in the afternoons. I always tell myself to change… “Ryan you must get up at 9am for a workout” – doesn’t happen; “Ryan you must go to bed earlier to achieve the 9am get up” – doesn’t work either. I can’t help myself but enjoy the addictions of playing games and browsing the Internet to the ridiculous hours. A teenage thing? I think so, but for my self esteem to improve, and my general well being to improve too, it has to be a thing of the past.