Students: how do you make ends meet?

[shea_and_ruby]

i was in your position a few years back, but i was not able to get centrelink, so i worked a few hours a week and lived off $150 per week. i must admitt there was a week here and there were i had no money for food (made damper for a week once, lol, but i survived). i ate heaps of pasta and went to bbq's were you can take home left overs. cask wine was king and meat wise i bought mince and snags. i used public transport but always walked when i could (set myself at an hour and a half max each way). text books always second hand or use the ones at the library.

now, as i am nearing the end of my second degree (and still struggling for cash!) i tutor. i charge $30 per hour and it helps with the bits and pieces you need to pick up here and there.

best of luck! it sucks, but it doesn't last forever.

 

[dihsmaj]

Not going to QLD anymore, I'll just study at Monash

 

[JackTar]

I thought Uni students got paid to turn up to protests for things no one cares about, maybe you should look into that.

 

[Renenet]

Wow, what a response while I've been at work! Thanks for all your comments. A few comments of my own:

You are right that accommodation is by far my biggest expense. I'll just have to wear it. Neither living at home nor share accommodation are good options for me. From past experience I know that sharing a place leads to more stress than a tight budget could ever cause me. I need my personal space and lots of it.

Grannieannie, a friend of mine introduced me to op shops a couple of years ago. I reckon I've saved thousands since then. I don't drink or smoke, so there's no big expenses there. I ride a scooter, which is probably no more expensive than public transport and a hell of a lot more convenient (except when it rains).

Interestingly, you can often buy textbooks cheaper new through online bookshops rather than second hand. Bizarre, but there you have it.

 

[pretzels]

Interestingly, you can often buy textbooks cheaper new through online bookshops rather than second hand. Bizarre, but there you have it.[/QUOTE]


alot of textbooks you can download for free. or borrow from the library

 

[Darlyn]

Something else you may like to look at is get you uni hours sorted, workout the best income you can earn without it eating into
your austudy. Do hospitality work through an agency. Work as a kitchen hand doing dishes or something. You can elect which shifts you work. For intance working a Sunday will bring in more $ than a Monday and doesn't interupt study time. Or your classes may
leave a day free during the week. This way you can organise maximum income required and work appropriate hours and leave time for intense study periods.
Also if you work in kitchens you usually get fed for free.
Good Luck.

 

[grannieannie]

Another way I've saved....hundreds and hundreds of dollars over the years...is cutting my own hair. Now you may have long hair, so this may not apply to you, but as you can see from my pics, mine is very short. Brian (hubby) has been doing mine for years and sometimes I do it myself. I have dog clippers and I use them, use a 1/2 inch comb it's easy. I know hairdressers need to be paid, but I'll be damned if I'll pay them. Also, some salons want models for their trainees to practice on. These kids are always supervised by a senior and it can cost you very little, if anything. Just another thing I thought of.

 

[littlemay]

Two words: Vegemite spaghetti.

 

[Renenet]

Two words: Vegemite spaghetti.

Hmm. That actually sounds tasty. Throw in some vegies and cheese, and you'd have a decent meal. I'm guessing the recipe is something like:

Cook spaghetti
Mix with vegemite

Or do you add the vegemite to the boiling water before adding the spaghetti? I have arguments for and against running through my head.

 

[Waterrat]

Hmm. That actually sounds tasty. Throw in some vegies and cheese, and you'd have a decent meal. I'm guessing the recipe is something like:

Cook spaghetti
Mix with

The recipe is quite simple.

 

[Renenet]

Michael,

That version of the recipe is beyond the hip pocket of any student, but very funny.

 

[littlemay]

Hmm. That actually sounds tasty. Throw in some vegies and cheese, and you'd have a decent meal. I'm guessing the recipe is something like:

Cook spaghetti
Mix with vegemite

Or do you add the vegemite to the boiling water before adding the spaghetti? I have arguments for and against running through my head.

Cook spaghetti, drain, mix with vegemite. Add some grated cheese and pepper if you want to get fancy. It's actually delicious, as well as being cheap as anything; you can get like 4-5 meals out of a big pack of spaghetti and a jar of vegemite (or vegemite equivalent) which usually costs under $5

 

[wokka]

In the olden days we used to work first and then go to further studies when we had saved a few dollars. My five kids have done that and it also helps to get a feel for budgetting you need throughout life. Two went to uni, one trained on the job as a copper and the other 2 tech along with a trade. Our family seems to be forever training which spreads the load over many years rather than the big rush to do everything immediately. My wife started nursing at 17 and graduated at 50, now has a midwifery degree on top of that and is in the process of doing a councelling course.
I guess the point is that there is always tomorrow so you dont have to do everything now. Taking 6 years to do a three year degree might be less stress!

 

[SYNeR]

As someone who was a uni student for 5 years.. 2 Minute Noodles are your best friend.
Living in shared/student accommodation helps.

I was fairly lucky in that I got a well paid job conveniently at the uni, and as such only had to work 8-12 hours a week (incl. weekends) on top of Austudy (which I didn't get for the first 2 or 3 years).. If I had to work any more hours on lower pay, I would've been screwed -- really needed the time for an Engineering degree, especially in the final year. The only other option for me would have been to drop back from 40 to 30 units a semester and take longer to complete my degree, but giving me a little extra time to work and earn more $.

 

[kawasakirider]

Cook spaghetti, drain, mix with vegemite. Add some grated cheese and pepper if you want to get fancy. It's actually delicious, as well as being cheap as anything; you can get like 4-5 meals out of a big pack of spaghetti and a jar of vegemite (or vegemite equivalent) which usually costs under $5

That actually tastes good?

 

[littlemay]

Well I suppose you have to like the taste of vegemite, but yeah, I think it does... for an el cheapo meal anyway.

 

[starr9]

Im lucky the other half helps me out! I have 7 subjects per semester and have to travel 1 1/2 - 2 hours one way to get to my uni.

I make all my own lunches/snacks (i go to the markets every sunday morning at 530am to get fruit and veg. I spend around $30 that lasts 1-2 weeks), I try to get 2nd hand text books (or borrow from friends who have done that class), shop at op-shops, I didnt have a mobile phone for over 4mths when my last one broke, with a health care card there are some places you can go that sell day old bread and other stuff and you can get it for 90c etc (just ask at vinnies etc and they can put you on to places) I all so try to lay-by anything I want and we have a limit on x-mas and birthday presents. It is tuff some days but all I keep thinking about is the end and how amazing it will be when im finished!! 3yrs to go!!!!

 

[ozziepythons]

The way to make ends meet as a student while on benefits and working is obviously to severely reduce expenses in general. This type of lifestyle is achieveable for a young 20 something with fewer responibilities, tolerant of skimping by, living at home or sharing in multiple occupant housing and have the stamina to study, work and still socialise most nights. There are a unique set of circumstances that can hinder success in this as a mature student. If you try to live independently (rent/mortgage, utility bills, run a car expenses, children), study and work in the current economic climate while on government assistance you have to accept the pressure that comes with it. If you live with a partner who brings in an additional income to the household this helps tremendously. Otherwise working as much as possible is the reality and it does have a sting in the tail that Austudy takes into account earnings and can withold benefit entitlements once you earn a certain amount. If your education at this point is important enough you'll succeed, and we hope that you do.

 

[bellany]

Maybe look into the army reserves? its a good little way of earning a bit more cash tax free and doesnt affect any other payments.. my hubbys been doing it for a few years now and has helped us immensely when we have a few pop up bills and three kids to keep clothed and fed and happy !

 

[slim6y]

Do you go to Rusty's around 3pm on a Sunday just before they're closing - by then the stalls are giving away stuff if you're sexy... Needless to say I almost got nothing for free... But it was worth it because I had my daughter with me and they felt sorry for her....