Right… Feeling lost? No problem. Here’s a list of Denise’s recommended places to get stuff! This is just a rough list. For specific stuff, I can recommend better places – ask me about where to get toilet paper and kitchen rolls cheaply.
Clothes:
Primark — They sell almost anything. AND THEY ARE CHEAP!!! REALLY. They have nice coats, shoes, jeans, jackets, bedsheets, etc. Most of them… For under £8. 5 pairs of socks for £1? Yes, please. Anyone who knows me knows that I live off Primark. Sadly, the most convenient one is in Leeds (which is a 20 minute train ride away) (EDIT: York now has TWO Primarks, one in the city centre and a really big one on Monk Street which is about a half hour bus ride from the Uni, go have a look! – kan ming)
TKMaxx — Their stuff might not seem cheap, but most of them are actually quite big brands and TKMaxx shaves off almost 40-50% of the RRP.
H&M — There is one in York and their clothes aren’t bad. They definitely won’t be as cheap as in Singapore, but they have a wider selection and you will want winter clothes here.
New Look — Also not as cheap. But there are 2 shops in York (I don’t know why) and the winter stuff is quite nice.
Boxing day — I don’t need to say this, but keep your calendar free! It doesn’t matter if you have an essay to rush! Buy stuff on Boxing day! Good quality coats from ZARA go on a 50% discount, and winter doesn’t actually start till around Christmas.
Items:
Bedsheets and bedding — Again, Primark is a good option. But if you’re just arriving and need sheets, there is a Home Sense just outside the city center that sells inexpensive pillows, duvets, and sheets. Duvets should be around 10.5 tog so that they will last you through winter. There is also a Morrisons a little bit outside of town and you can take SB1 (yes, that’s the bus number) there from the bus stop at the Library. The Morrisons is like a Carrefour. They sell groceries and they have a bakery and a cafe. But they also have a home section that sells cheap appliances, crockery, bathroom stuff and bedsheets.
Groceries — Morrisons is usually your first option. It’s a 35 minute walk away from Hes West, but with the weather here, it doesn’t feel like anything. You can also take the 66/44 to Heslington Road and walk a short way down the street if you don’t fancy the walk from campus. Monk’s Cross has an ASDA that is much bigger, but you have to get bus 4 to get there. ASDA sells electronics, spectacles, groceries, crockery, and student living stuff. The NISA on campus sells groceries, but they are usually a little bit more expensive so buy stuff elsewhere if you can. Poundland is a good and cheap place to get eggs by the dozen, bacon, and ham. Home Bargains is the best place to buy things in bulk and I’d recommend getting your cleaning supplies, basic toiletries (shampoos, soaps, razors, sanitary towel, etc.), toilet rolls, kitchen utensils and cutleries (they look nicer than the ones at Poundworld/Poundland/Morrisons), and snacks/bags of sweets here.
Asian food — There are a few oriental shops in York. Chi Yip and Regency are the bigger ones located in the city centre, and Oriental Mart is a smaller one about 10-15 minutes walk away from the university.
Utensils — Poundworld or Poundland sells a set of 4 for, you guessed it, £1. They also sell spatulas, wooden spoons, cutting boards, graters, whisks, peelers, sieves and other kitchen stuff. Morrisons also sells them for various prices, but the cheapest set of cutlery is £0.88, if I remember correctly.
Crockery — Morrisons and Home Bargains are your best friends. They have good quality pans, woks, baking dishes and tupperware as well. TKMaxx sells branded pots and pans (WMF pots, Tefal pans, good knife sets *ahemGORDONRAMSEYahem*) for £7-£14. They are very good quality and worth it if you cook a lot.
Stationery — The Physics bookshop sells everything. Really. Just ask them what stationery they sell. Getting there is the hard bit. The Physics bookshop is inside the Physics department. Enter the Exhibition Centre, and look for the Exhibition Centre Porters desk. Near the Porters, you will see a lounge area and a wall. Behind the wall, you will see vending machines and a set of double doors. Go through those double doors and walk straight all the way to the end of the corridor. It is a LONG WALK. Once you reach the end, you will see a set of glass doors. The bookshop is to your right.
So I hope this post gives you a rough idea of what to expect when you come here. If not, just leave me a comment or drop me an email 😀
~:Denise
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