Alright, legends. We’ve finally hit the last stretch of the cold Dunedin winter. By now your flat probably feels like an igloo, the stench of wet laundry won’t go away, and the mould on your bedroom ceiling is growing faster than your will to study and your tolerance for flatmates’ dishes. Free power hours just don’t cut it anymore, and seasonal depression has well and truly kicked in. You rush to Pint every Wednesday for warmth, but even then you wake up the next day with assignments and mid-terms on your mind – plus texts from your parents asking if you’ve somehow managed to find a summer job in this crap economy.
Right now you’re probably living off cereal and toast for every meal, with a few Red Bulls thrown in to power you through study. You dread getting out of bed in the morning and making the treacherous walk to class on icy footpaths.
The good news? We’re nearly at the finish line. The better news? OUSA has your back with enough cheap food and free resources to get you through without selling your feet pics to afford groceries.
Free Breakfast, $4 Lunch, and $5 Dinner
Weekdays at the newly renovated Clubs & Socs building across from Central Library. Roll in for a free breakfast before class, grab a $4 lunch, and from Monday to Thursday enjoy a $5 dinner courtesy of the Bowling Club (order online before midday and pick-up from reception between 5-6pm).
OUSA Student Support
Student Support offers financial assistance including budgeting tips, a foodbank, and hardship grants. Their services also cover wellbeing, study, flatting, queer support, and more. All free, non-judgemental, and run by people who genuinely care about students.
Bonus Tip: Try the OUSA Sauna
Six bucks for an hour session. Sweat it out, warm up your frozen toes, and pretend North Dunedin is a tropical island.
And don’t forget the Uni’s free services. Take a hot shower at Unipol without your flatmates timing you because you used up all the hot water last time.
Hang in there. Soon you’ll swap frostbite for tan lines, libraries for road trips, and that puffer jacket for anything that doesn’t smell like wet dog.
Daniel Leamy
Finance & Strategy Officer