Briefly, what stage of life do you consider yourself to be in? Did you come to grad school straight from undergrad? Did you work between undergrad and grad school? You may also include your age here if you wish.

I am currently in the stage of applying for the job market. I came to grad school at Princeton after living in Chile for three years doing my Master’s degree. From high school through my master’s degree, I worked at different online businesses. I was the senior editor of some online news sites. I’m currently 32, not married, no kids. 

Do you receive an annual stipend? If yes, approximately how much do you receive per month? 

Yes, $3,500, I think. 

What are your monthly housing costs?

$500 per month.

Do you have any other fixed monthly expenses? (think: Spotify, Apple Music, Netflix, car insurance, child care, etc.)

Phone: $75 (includes international coverage)
Spotify: $5
Netflix: $18
HBO: $15
Disney+: $8
Dropbox: $10
Criterion Collection: $11

How much do you typically set aside for savings every month?

$1,000.

Give us a brief snapshot of your financial picture at the moment.

I don’t have any debt, I was lucky to have a scholarship when I was an undergrad. I’m saving for the future. 

Describe your money mindset.

I learned about money as a teenager, working on the Internet. Since I was 14 years old I began to create websites and made money with advertising. When I was an undergrad I did an exchange program and lived in another country for a year. Thanks to the money I earned from the web pages, I was able to support myself, and it was that experience that made me see the importance of saving every month and making a budget.

Tiger Cents Chronicle

Day One

7:30am: I wake up and go directly to take a shower. I played a random rock playlist on Spotify in order to get energy for my day.

9:00am: I have breakfast during a RGS meeting. We’re discussing the first month of the semester and the plans for next month.

10:00am: I go to a virtual conference. While I’m listening to the speakers, I am also cleaning my place.

12:00pm: I have lunch at Sakura Express, my favorite sushi place in Princeton. I spend $13.91. Two rolls + salad.

12:30pm: I buy an iced coffee at Starbucks. $3.47.

12:45pm: I go to Firestone to get some work done.

5:30pm: I have dinner with some friends in a dining hall. I have an RGS meal plan, so I don’t spend money tonight :).

7:30pm: I am reading at my place. I’m drinking a Harry Potter butterbeer that a friend gave me for my birthday. It’s delicious!

10:30pm: Time to sleep!

Daily total: $17.38

Day Two

7:30am: I wake up and make coffee. I’m reading the news and planning what I’m going to do today.

10:15am: Brunch at Whitman College with some students. Thank you, RGS meal plan!

11:00am: Working on my cover letter for the job market. Firestone is empty… for now.

1:30pm: I buy an iced coffee at Starbucks. $3.47. I am back at Firestone to work on my dissertation.

6:00pm: After working all day, I went to Taste of Mexico to have dinner with a friend. $31.00

Daily total: $34.47

Day Three

7:30am: I am tempted to buy some books on Amazon, but I don’t have more space!

08:00am: I am weak. I buy some Latin American poetry books. $28.00

10:00am: Brunch at Whitman College. At least I didn’t have to spend money for breakfast.

11:00am: Chilling at home. I’m watching Squid Game, on Netflix.

1:00pm: ok, I have to stop. I need to get some work done.

3:00pm: ok, Now I really have to stop watching this tv show. I am going to read.

5:00pm: After reading for about two hours, I decided to have dinner. I went to the dining hall. Then I go to Firestone.

08:00pm: I work on my dissertation for about two hours. It’s not much, but I am really tired. It’s interesting that today I only spent money on books that I’ll probably not read for the next months.

Total daily: $28.00

Day Four

07:30am: Ready to start my day. I need to work hard on the fourth chapter of my dissertation.

11:00am: Got a haircut. Tomorrow I have an appointment for a professional photoshoot that my department is doing.  $25.00

11:30am: Lunch at Mamoun’s Falafel, the cheapest place to eat in Princeton. $6.92

12:00pm: Time to get some work done. I go to Firestone. I bought an espresso in the Tiger Tea Room. I definitely have to bring my own coffee to the library, I’m spending so much... $2.93

3:00pm: Gym time! I feel so weak because I haven’t gone in two weeks. After gym I bought a protein drink. $3.35

5:00pm: Medical appointment. Co-pay $20.00

6:00pm: I had dinner at Whitman. I met with some friends and some students interested in practicing their Spanish.

07:00pm: I am at Firestone again. I am a little bit tired, but I need to finish editing a chapter.

Total daily: $58.20

Day Five

07:30am: Breakfast at home.

08:00am: Working on my dissertation.

11:30am: Lunch at the dining hall.

12:00pm: Working on my dissertation at the library.

5:00pm: I went to the photoshoot. It was fun.

7:00pm: Dinner at home.

Daily total: $0

Day Six

07:30am: I woke up. I had breakfast at the dining hall.

08:30am: I am reading at home. It’s a little bit cold today. Winter is coming…

12:30pm: For lunch I had some leftovers from last night.

03:00pm: I went to a coffee shop with one of my professors. We were talking about my dissertation. Great conversation.

06:00pm: I went to my advisor's office. We talked also about my dissertation. Productive day!

07:00pm: I bought some chicken rice something at PU Store. $7.00

08:30pm: I went with some friends to the Dbar. Not my favorite place, but the karaoke night was fun.

Daily total: $7.00

Day Seven

08:00am: I had Zoom meetings with a professor in Spain.

10:00am: Breakfast at the dining hall.

1:00pm: I went for lunch to a sushi place. $15 (my guilty pleasure).

02:00pm: Working on my dissertation at Firestone!

Daily total: $15

Weekly total: $160.05