(this is vaguely directed at MinnerBelle, but really anyone)
I feel like I must be missing something here... or perhaps I have been in the "real world" for too long and now have entirely unrealistic expectations for quality of life [...]
I know I am looking at some cut-backs on some expenses and luxuries but I guess I am just starting to panic that the cut-backs will need to be so drastic that I will not happy.
Oh I totally get you g2g! My entire family laughs about how poor my living standards are right now. And holy hell, if you're established with an income and a comfortable standard of living, you're in for a rude awakening. Even as a 24 year old, making only $30k/year I was living soooo much better than I am now (in retrospect, that was quite the luxurious lifestyle. I'm used to spending like $200 every grocery run with my ex, buying whatever yumminess I felt like sticking into the cart). The only reason why I can make do the way I am now is largely because I can act/think completely independently for myself (and just my cat). I'm not tied down by a SO, mortgage, etc...
I had built up a $7k savings while working for 2 yrs (I know... whoppin ain't it? but I'm pretty proud of myself for having
anything), and I needed to dip into about $3,000 to move over, buy furniture, and get settled in the first month I was here. That was a move from Bos to here, but I only brought with me whatever would fit in my car. No Uhaul or anything. The rest I have sitting in my account for emergencies. I figure I should be able to make do with $4k + pretty large credit limit on credit card, should something happen to me in a given semester before I can take out more loans.
My rent + utilities combined is $475/month, which makes everything very doable. I live in a pretty nice house owned by a non-trad vet student. I have my own room + bathroom, and the common space is really big, so I got a really good deal.
Pet food is free, and I get my yearly vaccinations for my cat at the staff/student vaccine clinic for $4/shot. Only thing I need to pay for is a periodic dental, which over 4 years is not that big a deal. Should something happen to her, that will be coming out of my savings.
I spend a
max on $100 a week on everything else I need in life. Usually about $50/week on groceries (and that is mostly fresh veggies/fruits). I fill my tank about once every 2 - 2.5 weeks, and that only costs about $35 to fill. That gives me ~$30 to spend on eating out and stuff, and that's more than plenty for me. I'm allergic to alcohol, so that's not a money drain.
I admit I don't pay for my phone, but I'm on a basic plan in a family plan with my sister. So even if I'd paid for it myself, that's only $10/month. Along the same lines, I don't buy much clothes and rely on hand me downs from my more fortunate/trendy siblings (one works at banana!).
The biggest money sucker for me is travel costs since my family's overseas and my boyfriend is in Boston. I have about 140,000 freq flier miles, which is enough for 2 trips to japan, or 5 domestic round trips, and that helps. SO is very generous about paying for my plane tix to visit him (and adds to my mileage).
So even counting school supplies and such (and I make sure I have all req texts), I don't exceed $1000/month in spending. I make between $800 - $1000/month during the
9 mos of school that the $11.4k in loans is supposed to cover, so that works out for me. Remember, you're allotted >$1250/month (including books and supplies), not $830... That may still sound itty bitty to you, but that's gives you 50% more than you thought you were going to have.
So yeah, no cable, no smartphone/data plan, no hobbies, no nice dinners, etc... But minus these extra things, I'm more than comfortable, and I feel like my standard of living is higher than a good portion of America. I don't ever feel like I'm
in need.