Recession 2.0: A Grad Student's Hard Times

I understand where you are coming from

I am in the same boat as you are. It is really hard to catch up to the credit card debt. I graduated in May from college and starting doing grad school the following June. That meant paying for classes out of pocket despite working two jobs because there was no way I would be able to afford rent, books, food, and gas to put in my car. I drive a small fuel-efficient car, but I was still putting about $40 a week into my car. That adds up fast. Also, I tried selling back textbooks, cashed in savings bonds, and sold clothing to Plato's Closet. It was awful last summer. And ended up having to put my tuition on a credit card. I am still paying it off while paying back my student loans from undergrad.

I set up a budget and am sticking to it and found that if I go to the local butcher shop for meat and produce market for fruit and vegetables I save a lot of money. I will go to the grocery store every now and then, but I found that I was always spending too much money there. By going to the butcher shop I get just enough meat, it is high quality, and I end up saving money because I buy whatever the weekly special is. The produce store is the same way, it is fresh and super cheap. I cut my spending each week from $50 to abotu $20 on food. I would look into finding stores like that if you can. Think about it, that is $120 a month and $1440 a year.

Jessica B of OH @ Nov 29, 2008 20:18:32 PM

well if you're going to boston

why, why would you spend 120 dollars round trip for a train ride to Boston if you can take the chinatown bus for 30 dollars round trip? A trip one way will most likely take you four hours. Even the greyhound is 28 one way for a slightly longer ride.

120 for a ny-boston trip is egregious.

I live in RI but i'm from NYC, so that price would make me terribly sad. And homesick.

M Shin of RI @ Nov 14, 2008 00:15:46 AM

My response to the response

Um, I have a job. It's part-time and pays my rent (thankfully). I also have to work for free to gain my required externship credits (and pay 1500 dollars for each externship course for a total of 3000 dollars to work for free a total of 600 hours). This summer I was working 30ish hours for free, 15 hours for money, and in class 2 nights a week. An average day entailed me going to my externship then hopping on the subway to get to work, then heading off to class 2 nights a week. I'm not some grad student who gets to sleep in until 11 AM and wear pajamas all day....but that would be so awesome.

Last summer my school certified an extra 2500 for me to live on...this summer it was 60 bucks. I think I had the right to be irked. I mean, the surplus didn't even pay for my textbooks...let alone all the other legitimate educational expenses.

And like I said, some things were my own bad judgment...but I can't be held responsible for the price of food, transportation or the hiring freezes and budget cuts in my field....or I would so totally wave my magic wand.

Veronica of NY @ Nov 12, 2008 11:10:36 AM