Budgeting for life at Uni?

[Gunney]

Gents,
I was hoping that perhaps you might be able to help me out with my budgeting. I generally like to consider myself responsible with money, so I am not so much asking about that, but rather how much should I expect to spend? I am not talking in terms of tuition and housing, that is all figured out and still me cringing, but rather in terms of day to day expenses as well as books.

This whole thing has me on edge; my financial aid turned out to be lacking-- I had the chance to take on additional hi-interest loans, but alas a wealthy family member came through. Still though it is unsettling... I am hardly a big spender, but I am weary that my expenses will rise... I do hope to get a job whilst there, but it appears that those on Work-Study get preference on most of the on-campus jobs. But until then I will hope hoping to stretch the summer earnings...

If anyone could perhaps tell me what I should expect, and a general breakdown of expenses, I would be very grateful!

Thanks

 

[Hunter]

Gents,
I was hoping that perhaps you might be able to help me out with my budgeting. I generally like to consider myself responsible with money, so I am not so much asking about that, but rather how much should I expect to spend? I am not talking in terms of tuition and housing, that is all figured out and still me cringing, but rather in terms of day to day expenses as well as books.

This whole thing has me on edge; my financial aid turned out to be lacking-- I had the chance to take on additional hi-interest loans, but alas a wealthy family member came through. Still though it is unsettling... I am hardly a big spender, but I am weary that my expenses will rise... I do hope to get a job whilst there, but it appears that those on Work-Study get preference on most of the on-campus jobs. But until then I will hope hoping to stretch the summer earnings...

If anyone could perhaps tell me what I should expect, and a general breakdown of expenses, I would be very grateful!

Thanks

Apply for every single scholarship and bursary even the ones you don't remotely fit the criteria. People are lazy so all that money just sits there. I know people that wrote a few essays that took an hour or two each, ended up getting over 4k.

You said you are on the meal plan so that cuts out a fair bit of budget stuff. Avoid vending machines, buy used stuff, wait for sales on things. If you need clothes check out the Sally Anne, Value Village, and other thrift stores, you won't end up looking like a hipster all the time and can save a mint.

For entertainment and whatnot check out lectures on campus and different outdoor events as they are usually free. Youtube and Vimeo have lots of full movies online so you don't have to go to the theatre all the time. If you are into pool or darts or whathaveyou see if there are clubs on campus that can set you up.

 

[StillShaving]

Very hard to answer in general. If you are a freshman at many universities you might have mandatory expenses like required on campus living, full meal plan, and expensive books written by your professor. If you have more flexibility you can look for cheap accommodations near university, like living 4 guys in a 2 bedroom place, where you spend all most of your waking time in class or library anyway, so not a problem. Diet staples like ramen noodles and tuna fish. No car, limited partying, etc. A lot depends on the life style you are willing to accept.

 

[Gunney]

Very hard to answer in general. If you are a freshman at many universities you might have mandatory expenses like required on campus living, full meal plan, and expensive books written by your professor. If you have more flexibility you can look for cheap accommodations near university, like living 4 guys in a 2 bedroom place, where you spend all most of your waking time in class or library anyway, so not a problem. Diet staples like ramen noodles and tuna fish. No car, limited partying, etc. A lot depends on the life style you are willing to accept.

Aye sorry perhaps I should have specified; they mandated a meal plan, and I will be living in halls for atleast the first year (going into another programme next summer). And even here it means sharing a room with two other guys and a bathroom with another five lol. Not a partier, although I will have a car to travel home on weekends (gotta love the $250 fee to park it though!)

 

[GHCHambone]

Always look for used books! Check to see if you can find out what books you need online as soon as you can and check Amazon, eBay, half.com, and the university bookstores for used books. One semester I was able to buy all my books on Amazon and sell them on eBay when the semester was over for more money than I paid. Also ask the professor if an older edition would be ok.

 

[Doc4]

Decades ago when I was in university ... ... I'd keep a running tally of all my monthly expenses, outside of rent. Whatever I spent, I'd go home and write it down. Do that for September, trying to be as frugal as you can. Then, try to spend less in October. Then, try to spend less in November, and so on.

It really makes you think about every purchase.

Good luck.

 

[ksb63]

A lot depends on major for book prices, engineering about tuition again (not quite but feels like it) for the library of books you have to get each semester, my luck was book updated between semesters so had to buy new old was not allowed (had a jerk who did nothing but write books). Sports pass generally not to expensive good way to get out of dorm occasionally. There are usually all kind of lecture series, movies, and concerts going on.

 

[mretzloff]

Decades ago when I was in university ... ... I'd keep a running tally of all my monthly expenses, outside of rent. Whatever I spent, I'd go home and write it down. Do that for September, trying to be as frugal as you can. Then, try to spend less in October. Then, try to spend less in November, and so on.

It really makes you think about every purchase.

Good luck.

Good idea. Try Mint.com.

 

[Gunney]

A lot depends on major for book prices, engineering about tuition again (not quite but feels like it) for the library of books you have to get each semester, my luck was book updated between semesters so had to buy new old was not allowed (had a jerk who did nothing but write books). Sports pass generally not to expensive good way to get out of dorm occasionally. There are usually all kind of lecture series, movies, and concerts going on.

Currently anthropology, but might switch to Fire Prevention Engineering...

Not a sports person lol...

 

[Hunter]

Currently anthropology, but might switch to Fire Prevention Engineering...

Not a sports person lol...

Loved anthro, Get to know both the campus library and the public library, you will find many films that will not only teach you stuff relating to the study of people but you will have it all paid for by taxes and tuition! What either doesn't have you can request. I don't know about the US but the university that I went to if I needed a book or a film they could request it from I think about 95% of the universities in Canada.

 

[Jim]

Make friends and share your book costs.

 

[Legion]

Beer > everything else.

 

[jhire70]

The absolute best advice for saving money is to buy books that are an edition older. If you look on amazon sometimes you can buy a older edition used for dirt cheap. One semester I saved about 200 - 300. Here is what your thinking its not the same. Most of the time the only difference is the practice questions sometimes they are different other times they are in a different order. My advice is find out what books your professor is using and then order the older edition book. Once you have the book you can compare with a friend and see what is different. Obviously this doesnt work with every single book but i would say its somewhere around 50-60% of the time.

 

[MrMurphy]

Now is the time to practice minimalism. You're living in a room with another dude and sharing a bathroom with five. Not much different than living in a barracks. You do not 'need' a lot of stuff. Laptop, books, clothes, school paperwork.....nothing too much. If you can't fit everything you own in a single footlocker, you're doing something wrong.

Buy your books online. My former school's bookstore would charge anywhere from $5-70 more per book than Amazon did. Even ordering overnight shipping Amazon was typically $20-30 cheaper on a new book.

College being college....don't depend on your roommates for anything, or trust them for anything. They are your co-inmates, not your friends.