Student budgeting

Shmiley

I've been breaking down the numbers on my budget for the next academic year and I'm curious about how other people plan on budgeting. How much money will it require to keep you afloat for the week once all of the bills have been paid?

It looks like I'll have about 45 euro to feed, clothe, socialise and buy all of my maintenance ''things''.
Is this a regular amount?

Annasopra

45 euros is not a lot (DIT reckon food costs 172 per month). If you find yourself struggling then I would reccomend applying for the student assistance fund.

A few tips

Check does your college/SU have any discount cards

Try not to spend too much on food on campus (unless its really cheap)

Buy a water bottle and keep refilling it on campus (or at home)

If you are shopping for food in supermarkets always go to the section "reduced to clear" - you'll find good bargains and you can freeze a lot of it

If you are having a few sociable drinks have a pint of beer then a pint of water etc etc (it's healthier as well as cheaper)

Theres estimated costs of living and handy tips (at bottom of page) here

http://www.dit.ie/campuslife/studentsupport/costoflivingguide/

Shmiley

mango salsa wrote: »

45 euros is not a lot (DIT reckon food costs 172 per month). If you find yourself struggling then I would reccomend applying for the student assistance fund.

A few tips

Check does your college/SU have any discount cards

Try not to spend too much on food on campus (unless its really cheap)

Buy a water bottle and keep refilling it on campus (or at home)

If you are shopping for food in supermarkets always go to the section "reduced to clear" - you'll find good bargains and you can freeze a lot of it

If you are having a few sociable drinks have a pint of beer then a pint of water etc etc (it's healthier as well as cheaper)

Theres estimated costs of living and handy tips (at bottom of page) here

http://www.dit.ie/campuslife/studentsupport/costoflivingguide/

Thanks a bunch!

longhalloween

I used to live on €50 a week to cover food, dublin busses and college things. I lived in digs too so breakfast and dinner was covered.

€50 a week is nothing in Dublin. When the bus ticket costs €18(at the time) and a cheap night out costs €20 there's nothing left for anything else.

In second year I was earning €130 a week and I could live comfortably on that.

Shmiley

longhalloween wrote: »

I used to live on €50 a week to cover food, dublin busses and college things. I lived in digs too so breakfast and dinner was covered.

€50 a week is nothing in Dublin. When the bus ticket costs €18(at the time) and a cheap night out costs €20 there's nothing left for anything else.

In second year I was earning €130 a week and I could live comfortably on that.

I'm in Galway so things would be slightly cheaper, though my 45 will have to cover a week's worth of groceries too for myself.

As for socialising I'm considering the possibility of just not drinking at all for the year and switching to water, it'll definitely save me a ton of money.
Though I can imagine that being a bit of a dampner on the whole college experience.

I feel like I wouldn't be able to qualify for the Student Assistance fund though, I'm getting the full non-adjacent grant but according to that estimation on the DIT website I'd be almost 2,000 euro short a year.
Surely they would look at the socialising budget on that for example and say ''Well that's not necessary, cut the nights out and live like a hermit and you'll be fine''.

My parents won't be providing any financial support so I'm not so sure what to do, everyone is telling me to get a job but I know it'd be foolish of me to count on that as jobs are not exactly guaranteed. Especially when you have no job experience like myself.

hippy09

yeah i'm the same myself, i've been told by any restaurants i have been to that they need someone with alot of experience,( sure i was talking to someone though and they said that's a lie) then one place recommended i start off in a cafe and then build up from there

went into a cafe after being told this and the first thing they asked was about any experience i had, and it was only a small cafe at that too,

Annasopra

Shmiley wrote: »

I'm in Galway so things would be slightly cheaper, though my 45 will have to cover a week's worth of groceries too for myself.

As for socialising I'm considering the possibility of just not drinking at all for the year and switching to water, it'll definitely save me a ton of money.
Though I can imagine that being a bit of a dampner on the whole college experience.

I feel like I wouldn't be able to qualify for the Student Assistance fund though, I'm getting the full non-adjacent grant but according to that estimation on the DIT website I'd be almost 2,000 euro short a year.
Surely they would look at the socialising budget on that for example and say ''Well that's not necessary, cut the nights out and live like a hermit and you'll be fine''.

My parents won't be providing any financial support so I'm not so sure what to do, everyone is telling me to get a job but I know it'd be foolish of me to count on that as jobs are not exactly guaranteed. Especially when you have no job experience like myself.

The DIT guidelines are based on Dublin so Galway should be cheaper

I find that if you are on a night out having maybe 2 or 3 pints and then switching to water perfectly fine and still enjoyable - or perhaps maybe pint of beer then water then beer then water

Fooker

If you are going to Galway email the following people to ask to be put on mailing lists for occasional work for the college:

joanna.brophy@nuigalway.ie
lisa.glynn@nuigalway.ie
yvonne.keane@nuigalway.ie

It's work for open days etc. I'm not sure they take on first years. It is not too often but its a bit of extra money here and there.

Also watch out for society events, sometimes they have free food, wine beverages etc.

You'll find fosters for around €3 in most places and McSwiggans do guinness for €3 if that's your kind of thing...