back to uni haul

so it's that time of year again and for many students like myself, it's almost time to head back to university. this time i'll be going into my third and penultimate year which is absolutely terrifying because adult life and 'the real world' seems to be looming ever closer. however, this year i am actually especially excited to go back to uni as i'm going to be living in a lovely little flat with my boyfriend. this is something that seems really scary and grown up but is also really exciting as we get to buy loads of cute little things to make our house feel a bit more homely. i am far more enthusiastic about this than my boyfriend is but i guess candles and ornaments just don't give boys the same sort of joy.

i've been slowly building up a collection of new little bits to brighten up our flat and make it feel more cosy but obviously being students we can't really afford to be going wild in the homeware section of laura ashley. i've been shopping in places such as primark, wilko's, b&m, home bargains, ikea and even poundland (!!) and have found some really nice bits, it's definitely worth shopping around when it comes to finding things to make your uni room/house or even your room at home a bit more cosy. here's a few pictures of just some of the things i've bought in the past week or so, there are lots of other bits but unfortunately they're already at my house at university so i can't get any pictures of them yet! 

jasmine candle £3 and iced vanilla candle £3.50 (actually bought in a 2 for £5 offer) - asda home living.

these candles smell absolutely gorgeous and are really good value for money. i chose them for our living room as it has a simple colour scheme and they smell amazing, there were also loads of different colours and scents available. i've got them in my bedroom at home at the minute and even with the packaging still on and unlit my whole room smells of vanilla, it's so nice! 

home sweet home jar £1.49 - b&m bargains

i'm not sure if b&m is a shop that only exists in the north of england but it's basically a shop that sells EVERYTHING from food to toiletries to homeware at ridiculously cheap prices and i LOVE it. they have loads of really cute things for houses and it's the perfect place if you're heading off to uni and are on a bit of a tight budget. i think this is a candle jar but i think it looks really sweet on its own and it'll definitely be a nice addition to our flat.

porcelain utensils jar £2.49 - b&m bargains

another b&m purchase was this jar, i'm going to put it on our kitchen worktop to keep our big utensils in e.g. spatula, bread knife, whisk etc. they had loads of other bits for your kitchen in the 'mrs winterbottom's' range including salt and pepper shakers, vases, containers for tea/coffee/sugar etc and it's all really cute and best of all cheap!

glass candle holder (comes without candle) £6 in the sale - cath kidston

i saw this in the sale section in my local cath kidston recently and thought it was so pretty and a lovely thing to brighten up any room. my boyfriend also really liked it (i was quite shocked at his sudden interest) and decided to treat me to it, lucky me eh! i absolutely love cath kidston and the shop is basically what my dream home looks like, but until i can afford to have that, little ornaments like this will have to do! unfortunately it might not be in stock anymore as it was in the sale but it's worth a check.

plastic tray £7 and melanine bowls £4 each - cath kidston

my mum and dad brought me these back from a recent trip to york they had as they know how much i love cath kidston and thought these would be lovely for my uni flat. they're so cute and perfect to brighten up any kitchen. maybe early winter mornings won't be so bad when i get to have my cereal out of these bowls. 

as well as these homeware bits, i've also recently treated myself to a new pencil case and bag. even though i'm almost 21 and have been in education for a long time, i still love buying a new bag and pencil case to start the new academic year!

macaroon pencil case £2 - primark

can you believe this lovely pencil case was only £2! it's a bit more pastel in real life but its the perfect size and a lovely material. i found it in the make up bag section in primark and they had loads of other nice bags of different sizes which are much more affordable that getting a pencil case from shops such as paperchase!

leather backpack £19.99 - new look via asos available here

i absolutely love new look bags at the minute, they've really upped their game and this bag is no exception. it's black with a subtle grid print and is also available in white and black grid print but i thought black wouldn't show dirt as much if i'm using it everyday. it is the perfect size and fits an a4 size pad in easily so is great for uni. i have a problem with my shoulder so a backpack is essential for me when carrying books to and from uni everyday, i am so thankful that shops like new look mean i can still buy a nice fashionable bag that's also practical! 

top tip this bag in new look is actually £22.99 (not including delivery) but on asos website the exact same bag is £19.99 or £17.00 with student discount and free delivery! always always check asos before you buy from places like new look because i have saved £6 just by ordering from a different website!

these are just a few bits i've bought recently and as i love seeing other peoples 'homeware hauls' i thought i'd have a bash at doing my own! i might do a little 'tour of my flat' post once we're properly moved in to show some of the other bits and bobs i've found in cheap shops! you don't need to shop in expensive shops to have a nice house, at the end of the day a candle is a candle!

thanks for reading, it really means a lot!