6 things scarier than Fallo-ween as a Manchester student 

For many people, the need to take Halloween so seriously has never been as strong than at uni. October ceases to exist as a month in its own right: It becomes consumed by the cost of clothes hauls and costume parties. This has its pros and cons, but it can get exhausting pretty quickly.

So, if you’re needing a break from all the horror films and Poundland decorations, look no further. Here are our top 6 spooky distractions from the night itself. A combination of more Manchester-style terrors, if you will. In no particular order…

October deadlines

Whether you’re in your first year or final, that summer break is killer for the first assignment back.

Wave goodbye to early-morning afters and hello to late-night library sessions – you’ll need that chaotic Halloween night out to get you through this.

The 256 queue

@256fallowfield

welcome back guys we’ve missed you👀started freshers with a bang last night with our famous 256 Tuesdays (House Party)👀🙌🏼🕺 #256fallowfield #mcr #fallowfield #uom #freshers

♬ Sorry For Party Rocking – LMFAO

Everyone thinks it’s going to settle down after Freshers Week. Or in October, at least. November, maybe?

It doesn’t. It never gets shorter.

Let’s hope your costume is weather-proof if you’re spending the 31st in Fallowfield. Spending Halloween in an old church is fitting, but who knows what awaits you out in the dark on Wilmslow Road…

Daylight savings

It’s one thing to wake up late with a hangover and still have a handful of hours of daylight to recover. It’s another to wake up and watch it turn pitch black within five minutes. Honestly, there’s no solution to this: you have to face the impending doom. Hangovers are better in summer, but the only way to cope is the hit to pub again.

Estate agents

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They play different roles in each stage of uni housing. If you’re already in a uni house, that dreaded knock at the door and unannounced house viewing is terrifying. Always bound to happen at the worst possible time: messy room, straight out of the shower, sick with the flu.

If you’re in first year, prepare to be gaslit by your first estate agent interaction: the mould is fine, the landlord is great, the house will be renovated by the time you move in. It’s a learning curve for sure, but not an easy or appealing one.

Student finance

@kayleighhilll

very excited to say the least😋 #foryou #university #studentlife #studentfinance #studentsbelike

♬ son original – FRENCH FUSE

For number five, I give you four words: no payments until February. It’s hard out here. With Christmas presents looming and the question of whether to include reading week in your budget (the friends from home reunion will involve a night out and no, it won’t be cheap), we’re all already getting a taste of what it’s like to constantly think about money.

Reading week

Going home means something different for everyone. For some, the fear is that they’ll settle back in a little too much and never return. For others, leaving behind the freedom of uni life is worse than entering Rusholme Lidl at 5pm. But (whichever side you fall on), take comfort in the fact that your £3 wine will be there for you – whilst you’re at home and when you return.

When does Hallo-week end?

And, finally, the scariest thing for a student of all.

Costumes and clubs, pumpkins and parties – it feels like Halloween has already been a month long. The only thing more intense than the night itself is the threat that its pressures will never end. With Halloween falling on a Friday this year, it’s clear that celebrations will continue into the start of November. It’s too soon for Christmas but too cold not to lean into festivities. This begs the question: when are we free to stop obsessing over Halloween?