Sorry Garinda ... you are correct about the Council Tax ... students are exempt .. they just send in their student's certificate. Hopefully, the
loan they get for living expenses goes to most of the other cost.
That wasn't where I was going though in this discussion, was trying to say the experience of working and living with five or six other students helps you to work as a team and coming to decisions, compromises, sharing life with other people to make life comfortable. Who has the top shelf in the fridge, etc.,
Anyway, get the impression you had lots of fun in your jobs ... would have loved to have been on the purchasing side, at least you get all the choccies and wine at Christmas ...