Today’s chronicler is a first-year PhD student in Social Sciences who earns around $3,250 per month. She is an international student who is 28 years old and lives on campus. Keep reading to learn more about her background and a week of spending in her life! 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’m 28 years old. I started my Ph.D after completing two MA degrees elsewhere and spending a year doing pre-doc at a research institution. I have never had a full-time job unrelated to academia. Do you receive an annual stipend? If yes, approximately how much do you receive per month? I do receive a stipend from Princeton. The stipend is about $3250/month before taxes and rent etc. It is my only source of income. What are your monthly housing costs? $1000. Do you have any other fixed monthly expenses? (think: Spotify, Apple Music, Netflix, car insurance, child care, etc.) Meal plan, audible, and my phone plan. How much do you typically set aside for savings every month? About $200. Do you send money to family or help to financially support anyone else each month? Yes, I support a friend almost on a monthly basis. Give us a brief snapshot of your financial picture at the moment. I don't have any debt, but I don't really have any savings either, especially not an emergency fund. Describe your money mindset. I grew up poor surrounded by other poor people. No one was ever talking about savings, not at home, not at school, nowhere. People were merely focused on making enough money to survive. I have been more or less financially independent since I was 18. I put myself through multiple schools and programs, lived in multiple countries relying on income from stipends and part-time teaching jobs. I have never managed to save any considerable emergency funds. As soon as I realize I have extra money, some "urgent" needs appear that require that money to be spent. I often worry about money. My biggest money goal is to have a sufficient emergency fund. Tiger Cents Chronicle Day One Bought a new planner from Labyrinth Books for $19.51. Was planning to get it since December and actually needed it. Also, bought pens and pencils; did not need them. But they are gorgeous and I will definitely use them. Got 15% student discount for all items. Totaled $33.43. Bought an olive sourdough loaf from the Bread Boutique. I always buy this bread to have it for breakfast. Is it too fancy for a grad student (8 bucks)? Probably! But it gives me life! Plus, I have a thing for good bread, so no regrets. Did not have to pay for lunch or dinner because we get them for free these days. Yaaaay! Daily Total: $42 Day Two Didn’t spend any money. Got my free lunch and dinner from the dining hall. Blessed be the Wintersession! Daily Total: $0 Day Three Paid $85 for my haircut (tip included). I knooow it’s a lot, but I love the result. Spent $21 on groceries for breakfasts: avocado, (great) cheese, (organic) eggs, hot chocolate. Spent another $16 on shampoo and melatonin drops. Daily Total: $122 Day Four Placed an Amazon order. Got (more) melatonin, shoe polish, and a pack of disposable face masks. ($68) Daily Total: $68 Day Five No spending today! Got my brunch and dinner at the dining hall. Daily Total: $0 Day Six No money spent today! Daily Total: $0 Day Seven Paid $32 for my phone plan. Daily Total: $32 ______________________________________________________________________________ WEEKLY TOTAL: $264
