Moving into accommodation on campus is an exciting step – whether you’ve come from across the state, across Australia, or across the world. It might also be your first real taste of independent living. Suddenly you’re the one cooking your meals, managing money, paying bills and sharing a space with other people. It can feel like a lot at first. But here’s the good news: you don’t have to figure it out alone. With a few simple life hacks, you can save time, stretch your budget and make your living quarters feel like home.
Skip ahead to any section for our top tips:
- Eating well on a student budget
- Budgeting and money-saving hacks
- Sharing a home successfully
- Wellbeing and finding balance
- Financial support
Eating well on a student budget
Whether you love splurging on fancy ingredients, swear by Uber Eats, or are still learning the mysteries of a tin opener, these hacks can make cooking simple and cheap.
1. Plan ahead and batch cook
Meal planning is your secret weapon. Choose a few recipes you enjoy – like stir-fries, curries, or pasta – and cook extra portions. Freeze them in containers so you’ve got quick meals ready for busy nights.
Hack: Rotate cooking with your roommates. If everyone takes turns making a group meal once a week, you’ll all save time, effort, and money.
2. Shop smart and local
Living on campus means you’re close to a wide range of affordable options. Tucker IGA is a centrally located supermarket in the Curtin Exchange precinct and offers a delicious range of ready-to-eat meals. The Village Green Shopping Centre in Karawara is also just a short walk from campus. Don’t forget to check out local Asian grocers for cheap and fresh ingredients, as well as weekend farmers’ markets. The Manning Road Farmers’ Market is on every Saturday morning and is a great way to get to know the local community.
Hack: Head to supermarkets first thing in the morning or later in the evening to score a bargain. You can find discounts and markdowns on items like bread, meat, and fresh fruit and veg.
3. Keep it simple
You don’t need a massive recipe book. Start with three to five go-to meals you know how to cook and enjoy eating. Once you’ve mastered those, you can add more variety.
Hack: Keep staples like rice, oats, pasta, canned tomatoes, and frozen veggies on hand. They last for ages and form the base of heaps of easy meals. If you’re rotating cooking with housemates, see if you can build up a collection of communal herbs and spices that can add affordable depth and flavour to your meals.
Budgeting and money-saving hacks
Managing your money is a key part of independent living, but it doesn’t have to be complicated. On campus, it’s easier to keep your budget on track because your rent includes essentials like gas, electricity, water, and even Wi-Fi. With fewer bills to juggle and a bus station on campus, plus classes, shops, and restaurants all within walking distance, you can keep transport costs down and free up time and energy for the things that matter most.
Here are a few practical hacks to help you make the most of your money, enjoy student life without overspending, and take advantage of the perks of living on campus.
1. Use budgeting apps
These days we use apps for everything, but have you considered using an app to help you budget? Some of the more popular apps include Splitwise, Pocketbook, or Frollo to help you track expenses and split costs with roommates. Even a basic spreadsheet works – the key is to know exactly what’s coming in and what’s going out.
Hack: If you need help setting up a budget or working out how to determine your expenses vs discretionary spending, MoneySmart is a great place to start. Or you can book an appointment with Curtin’s support services to discuss your financial situation and get tailored advice.
2. Take advantage of student discounts
Always ask if there’s a student rate before paying full price. Chances are, there is one. From discounted movie tickets to concession transport, being a student can have big financial perks. Don’t forget to make sure your Transperth SmartRider is set up for concession fares.
Hack: At Curtin, you’ll automatically be a student Guild member, ensuring you have access to discounted rates across a wide range of food, retail and entertainment outlets on campus and across Perth.
3. Find free or cheap fun
You don’t need to spend big to enjoy Perth. Check out Kings Park, the beaches, free community events, or Curtin’s on-campus activities. Student clubs and guild events often throw in free food and entertainment too.
Hack: Watch out for sneaky expenses. Buying coffee every morning or grabbing Uber Eats regularly can eat into your savings fast. Set yourself a weekly “fun budget” so you can enjoy small treats without blowing your finances.
Discover cheap eats on campus:
Sharing a home successfully
Sharing a home is one of the biggest adjustments when you move into student accommodation. Your roommates may have completely different habits or expectations – but with the right mindset, shared living can be one of the best parts of uni life.
1. Set clear expectations early
Have a chat with your roommates right at the start. Agree on cleaning rosters, noise levels, and how to split bills. Having these conversations early saves awkwardness later. You can also use apps like Trello or Google Calendar to keep track of chores and shared expenses. Everyone stays in the loop and knows whose turn it is to clean the bathroom.
Hack: If you stay on top of the chores, you might win UniLodge’s monthly cleanest room comp and win a special hamper!
2. Respect each other’s differences
Living with roommates means you’ll probably notice differences in everything from sleep patterns, study habits, and food preferences to bigger things like cultural traditions, values, or worldviews. Rather than seeing these differences as challenges, try to view them as opportunities to learn, grow, and broaden your perspective. You might pick up handy habits, discover new ways of thinking, or even meet your best friend, future travel buddy, or life partner along the way.
Hack: Respecting and appreciating what makes each person unique is the key to keeping your shared space harmonious.
3. Make time for fun
Don’t let shared living be only about chores. Cook dinner together, watch a movie, or explore Perth as a group.
Hack: Take advantage of free events and heavily discounted excursions just for students living on campus. From welcome parties, study week picnics, BBQs and movie nights to whale watching, sandboarding and hiking, you’ll have plenty of fun ways to fill your calendar and make new friends.
When I first came to Perth I stayed at student accommodation on campus. It was the best experience – I had friends to hang out with and it was easy to get to class. I like making new friends, so I went to a lot of parties on campus during my first year in Australia, like the Toga, Rave, and end-of-semester parties. I also joined the Japanese Club to learn more about Japanese culture and make new friends there too. Now, I am managing the Vietnamese Association at Curtin as a Marketing Executive Leader.
David Trinh
Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) (Electrical and Electronic Engineering)
Curtin student Megan shares her experience living at St Catherine’s College:
Wellbeing and finding balance
Independent living isn’t just about logistics – it’s also about looking after yourself. Building healthy routines, from getting enough sleep to staying active, can help you manage the busy mix of study and social life.
1. Create healthy routines
Setting yourself up with good daily habits can make life feel a lot more manageable! From sticking to a regular bedtime to prepping breakfast the night before, small routines make a huge difference when uni gets busy.
Hack: If you find yourself doom scrolling, there are some great apps to keep you off your phone like Forest or Focus Friend by Hank Green.
2. Stay active without spending much
Staying active as a Curtin student living on campus is easy – and affordable! All residents get free membership to Curtin Stadium, giving you unlimited access to a fully equipped gym, group fitness classes, and cardio and resistance machines. You can also join free, weekly sports games with options like badminton, 5-a-side soccer, netball, tennis, pickleball, and indoor volleyball – no experience needed. Beyond structured activities, you can take advantage of Curtin sports clubs, recreation facilities, or try free fitness apps.
Hack: If you’re looking for a challenge, exclusive on-campus gym challenges let you compete with friends and even win rewards like Guild vouchers.
See what a day living on campus can look like:
3. Ask for support when you need it
Adjusting to uni life isn’t always smooth – and that’s completely normal. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, homesick, or unsure how to juggle everything, you don’t have to do it alone. Curtin offers free, confidential counselling and wellbeing services to help with everything from settling in, to managing stress, relationships and academic pressure.
Hack: Get in touch with our Student Wellbeing Advisory Service, who can help you figure out what to do next. If your situation needs more focused help, Curtin offers psychological and counselling services for one-on-one or group sessions, short-term therapy, and even support letters if you need adjustments to your study load for mental health reasons.
Financial support
If you need a little extra financial support to help with your food and living costs, Curtin offers a wide range of scholarships and bursaries.
Contact our Scholarships team on 1300 222 888 to find out more or explore our scholarships for students living on campus.
Living on campus is more than a place to stay – it’s a chance to grow, gain independence, and build lifelong connections. With a few simple hacks for budgeting, eating well, staying active and looking after your wellbeing, you can make the most of your uni years and create experiences that stay with you long after graduation.
Interested in learning more about living on campus?
There are a wide range of on-campus accommodation options to suit your lifestyle and budget. Managed and operated by UniLodge and St Catherine’s College, all properties are within a five-to-ten minute walk of your classes, making it easy to balance your studies and social life.
