Have you recently joined college or university and are living by yourself? Then apart from the overwhelming feeling of independence will be accompanied by the lackadaisical attitude towards the kitchen or cooking in general. And if a traumatizing firecracker incident has also left you scared of flames, then reaching out for the takeaway menu will seem like the better option for you.

But if ulcer or jaundice does not entice your appetite or simply the costs of ordering in everyday are bringing your budget down, then hold fast and trust in us when we say that you can do it. Cooking is an essential life skill which must be mustered by all earthlings irrespective of age and sex. So, why not start now so that your liver can breathe some relief.

Here in this article we have enlisted the kitchen cupboard basics that must be stocked by you; so, that you always have a full stomach and tasty dishes up your sleeves.

The good old black and white duo – salt and pepper

The most common of spices that a chef simply can’t do without which are be used to spice all foods to turn them grand from bland. Did you buy those tasteless chips from the takeaway restaurant again while walking back home after having a few extra drinks? Now the next thing on the list will only be to bin them. After all the after taste of a hurl does not go well with salt-devoid, bland chips, so spice it up with some salt and pepper to get some taste to it. Spice things up with a good sprinkling of old salt n pep.

Grow up and get some red – chili powder will help to give you that extra kick

An old time favorite of all cooks, the taste of a little chili goes a long way. And it will be especially helpful for you if you catch a bug to help with that runny nose. Spice up those potato wedges for the late night movie-time snacking, chili powder can also turn basic pasta sauce into a fiery feast. Use it to spice up the warm soup nice and hot during cold winter nights to feel warmer. Also to save the faint hearted souls thankfully it comes in varying degrees.

Cart those pasta packets at the grocer’s to keep you from sleeping hungry

For deadbeat poets, writers and artists and college students, pasta is your best friend. One can cook it easily in a short time adding different types of things to it. Moreover, it is not only filling but also cheap.

The simplest snack you can make is pasta with some grated cheese to finish it off and you are good to go for the night. Also this tastes much better than the pot noodle you heat up on lazy nights.

Sweeten the deal with some – sugar

Keep things sweet with some sugar. Your neighbor may not be the friendliest one, especially during your hot-mess college days. So, if you do not want to be that annoying character from old sitcoms, keep stock of the good old white crystals (no pun intended) as it is needed in all types of recipes and also helps to swallow the medicine easily. Imagine days when you don’t get pancakes or your morning coffee without sugar! Doomsday Shoomsday, sweet tooth knows no race!


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Let’s face it it’s not the small budget, lack of time, or the small dorm room that is preventing you from doing that pile of clothes that is growing like a gargantuan black hole threatening to consume the whole dorm room. It is sheer laziness that is keeping you from washing your dirty laundry which you probably last washed when you were leaving home. And that bed-sheet yes, it was favorite baby pink or aqua which now looks like the shroud of Turin. It may just be the time to address the whole laundry situation in your room to make some space for yourself. And if you want to go the smarter way and you live in Kolkata, then the city of joy can save your happiness with Launderette. The deal can be further sweetened if you have a YUP card subscription to bag amazing discounts on laundry services by these magic washers like Launderette.

For others, this crash course on doing your own laundry will help you assert some much needed independence and also reassure you that you are going to be fine on your own.  Here is our crash course on cleaner laundry for freshman in college:

1.    Get your hands on those laundry supplies:

Things you should get: detergent, dryer sheets, a laundry bag or basket

Extra smart tip: now that you have waited months to get your laundry and you cannot carry a big box of detergent along with your mountainous heap of dirty clothes, then we recommend a smart strategy to pour some of the detergent into a water bottle. They are much lighter with greater portability for easy usage.

Also a good tip is to get a sturdy laundry basket which is divided into two sections for clothes and cleaning products in the two different chambers. You may also separate light and dark clothes in advance before you step into the laundry room which will become your panic room if you do not prepare in advance.

2.    Separating the laundry:

There are multiple ways one can do this, but basically the categories all come down to 4 basics. You need to separate – whites or light colored clothes, the dark ones, the delicate clothes that will require extra care (these are not based on your personal favorites) and the towels/bedding/jeans.

But things are not always this cut and dry and you may need to think smartly about separating laundry when in a hurry. For instance grey clothing can be easily washed with a white or a black one. You may also choose to throw in a bed sheet or a towel with dark clothing depending on the color of the material.

Note that you must never put in a newly bought red or purple laundry with a white one. In fact it may a good idea to wash it separately once or twice before you decide to wash it with other fellow clothing.

3.    Stay off the rush and choose the right time to spend with your dear laundry

Are you an early bird? Or a night owl? Then use this time to do your laundry when the rest of the college students are busy taking a snooze. That way you will be able to get it done as fast as possible, also some colleges and Laundromats only offer limited time access to college students, so timing your visit to the washers may be a necessity. 

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