newpsyche Posted February 20, 2012 Share Posted February 20, 2012 Hi there, friends! I'm currently juggling between offers and can't help but begin to feel worried about stipend amounts between schools. They are incredibly low, even in California schools where the cost of living is quite high. A few examples can be found in any UC school, where a stipend of about $17,000 or $18,000 per nine months is expected to be enough. Of course, summer work is almost guaranteed...but is this possible? I'm the most frugal person I know and spend money only on necessities, but even so, I'm worried about this. I currently live on the east coast, so moving expenses would have to be taken into account. Does anyone have any suggestions or first-hand experience with these dilemmas? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MBIGrad Posted February 20, 2012 Share Posted February 20, 2012 Hey NC, Having spent my college career living off campus and working full time (single and married), I would say even in the most expensive places (La Mirada or around LA) $17k would be more than doable; this would be especially true if you were able to do $150-200 monthly for food (on which you can eat very healthily) and not have a car payment (which is also quite easy to do). Also, I have lived in Eugene, OR and, in reference to that U of O waitlist, if you get accepted there the cost of living could be extremely low. Hope it helps Carson Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sparky Posted February 20, 2012 Share Posted February 20, 2012 Find roommates (that's a huge one, especially since you'll be splitting not just rent but also utilities and Internet). Have just a cell phone. Sell your TV if you have one and only pay for cable Internet; you can watch *almost* everything on line for free or very cheap. Join Netflix, Hulu+ or Amazon Prime, depending on which other shows you're looking for (you can find almost every show on someone or other's instant watch service, honestly). Share your NF/H+ account with friends. Give up soda. Brew your own coffee/tea. Figure out what foods and OTC medications/products you can tolerate the generic brand and where it's worth the splurge (ketchup, Oreos. Especially ketchup). Help with cleanup at school events--you can usually walk away with several meals' worth of food. Get a CrockPot, make a bunch at once and eat leftovers for a long time. Giant batches of tofu stir fry and bean burritos also make healthy and low cost meals. Produce is usually cheaper and sometimes fresher at ethnic grocery stores than the main ones. Sell your current one or don't buy a car. That way you can drive your stuff out to Cali in a U-Haul and not have to worry about it. Plus you won't pay for gas, parking, car payments (if applicable), or car insurance. Use birthdays and other applicable gift-receiving holidays to ask for clothing/shoes, especially big purchases like a winter coat, a suit, or fancy running shoes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CarlieE Posted February 20, 2012 Share Posted February 20, 2012 Do you know anyone in the area? Or one of the current grad students? When I interviewed, we had a lot of contact with the current grads and they were very forth coming with advice and information about where to live, cheap and good places for food, etc. Perhaps they can help you understand how much of a "sacrifice" you will have to make if you take the offer etc. Sparky's advice is really reasonable too. As much as it sucks, and not saying you're not frugal - but there simply might need to be more penny pinching. I regularly grocery shop at the dollar store. TWO pounds of pasta for a $1 and $1 cans of Hunt's pasta sauce. Throw in maybe a $0.25 for grated Parmesan cheese, dried basil and a clove of garlic and TA-DA - 8 meals. As far as moving goes, I will have the same problem - I got accepted and am going to have to move across 3 or 4 states. I think I'm going to use a POD to move and kind of wing it. I do have a friend who lives in the nearby area so I can try to get him to put me up for a few weeks until I find a place. Do you know anyone in the nearby area? Or have good friends who have Other friends in the area? Try looking up couch surfing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dcarroll Posted February 20, 2012 Share Posted February 20, 2012 I grew up in CA and still live there cost of living is very high, especially if you want to live in a safe area that is nice. Near SF or LA you can expect to pay $1200 for a one bed apartment. Maybe 600-800 for an OK room. Where I live in Central CA it is even higher. I got into UO for next fall and I can't believe how affordable it is there, rents seem around 600-800 for a 2 bed place. Pretty excited about the possibility of stretching my stipend a bit more up there. Cheers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ghanada Posted February 20, 2012 Share Posted February 20, 2012 I am from California and went to school at UCLA. I lived in LA for 8 years and now I live in Boston for 3 years. I can say that the cost of living is very similar between these 2 cities. The key is to have roommates. In LA, the average cost of a pretty decent 2 bdrm place was about $1,600 a month. So if you have 1 roommate, expect to pay about $800/month + maybe $150 in utilities (cable internet/TV, electricity, gas). Let's just round up to $1000/month total. As much as people say "don't bring a car", I completely disagree. Southern Cali would absolutely suck without a car. Assuming you have your own car, expect to spend $300/month in insurance and gas. Let's also say you spend $100/month on a cell phone. That comes out to $1,400/month. Surely you can live off $600 a month for food? I think the figures I used are very much on par with what I was paying in Socal and if anything, I used slightly higher values to be safe. Is there anything else I missed? $2,000/month is very doable to live off of if you don't expect to be living the high life. Biohacker 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
svh Posted February 20, 2012 Share Posted February 20, 2012 I'm having similar concerns with east coast places... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
psychgurl Posted February 20, 2012 Share Posted February 20, 2012 Make soups in bulk! Not only are homemade soups cheap & nutritious, but bulk cooking is a great way to have meals on the go during busy weeks... Buy as much as you can (especially chicken/meats) at discount supermarkets... and to agree with other posters, get ROOMMATES! I live right outside of Chicago, and I was able to shave over $200 a month off of my rent by just adding one roommate. Check craigslist or even with your program to see if other new students are interested in rooming with you. This could be a great way to meet new people fast in your program.. Good luck! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wannabeaphd Posted February 21, 2012 Share Posted February 21, 2012 Agree with ghanada and everyone who mentioned soups and cheap/bulk meals. I moved from LA to Boston 3 years ago and from Boston back to LA last year. We looked into the PODs things, but we decided it was too expensive! We ended up usingh craigslist to sell everything too big to fit in the car, culling everything we owned to the bare minimum, and shipping a LOT of books via media mail.I would estimate the moving costs alone to be less than $1000 including gas across country. And we made about $500 by selling our furniture. We spent $2000 on furnishings, mostly at IKEA and on craigslist, to outfit our new beautiful 1 bdrm apartment in LA. In the area I'm in you can also get a 2bdrm/2bath for 1600-18--/mo, which should be doable! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
starmaker Posted February 21, 2012 Share Posted February 21, 2012 Is there anything else I missed? Income taxes? Health insurance and medical expenses? Heat costs, in the winter (I guess this is not as much of a concern in California)? Loan/credit card payments, if applicable? I'm not trying to say that $2k/month isn't doable, I just think you did miss a few things. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ghanada Posted February 21, 2012 Share Posted February 21, 2012 Income taxes? Health insurance and medical expenses? Heat costs, in the winter (I guess this is not as much of a concern in California)? Loan/credit card payments, if applicable? I'm not trying to say that $2k/month isn't doable, I just think you did miss a few things. Oh I actually indirectly factored most of those things into my considerations. But let me address these valid concerns: 1. Income taxes - As a full-time student you will not owe taxes in California. In fact, if you are currently not a student and just working, then next year for taxes you should actually get back almost all the money you are taxed this year in educational tax breaks. When I moved from Cali to Boston to start full-time graduate work, I was returned about $5,000 in the first tax season of being in school. 2. Health insurance - This is usually covered in tuition as it is required by the UC system that all student have valid health insurance. In fact, the health insurance through the UC system is very good. 3. There are no heating and no A/C costs in Southern Cali. Not to exaggerate too much, but the average temps for Southern Cali are lows in the 60's and highs in the upper 70's. Most the year stays between 72-78 degrees year round (especially in the winter). The estimates I used in calculating utility expenses was actually a bit higher than what I typically paid year round living with 1 other roommate. There no differences in utilities based on season in Southern Cal 4. Loan/credit card payments - This is actually VERY valid and I guess I just assumed the OP has no debt. But you are right, you would have to individually factor this into the equation. However, you should be aware that all student loans will be deferred while you are a full-time student so while it would be nice to start paying these off during grad school, it is not absolutely necessary, especially if money is already tight. Ok, I hope this addressed all the concerns. As you can see, these things don't really affect my previous calculations (minus the debt stuff is applicable). Again, to qualify my experience, I lived in LA for 8 years and moved 8 times (once every year) and lived in rented apartments spanning from more ghetto areas like Culver City to more expensive areas like Santa Monica and Redondo Beach. The prices I listed were very on par for any of these areas. I love LA and socal in general and have had to deal with finding apts and moving many many times. If you have any specific questions about general socal costs, please feel free to contact me, I would love to hep. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CarlieE Posted February 21, 2012 Share Posted February 21, 2012 (edited) Income taxes? Health insurance and medical expenses? Heat costs, in the winter (I guess this is not as much of a concern in California)? Loan/credit card payments, if applicable? I'm not trying to say that $2k/month isn't doable, I just think you did miss a few things. Huh. So stipends are apparently taxable (in other states). Oh, fooey. I googled that after I read this post... Well, health insurance should be paid for by the university as mentioned above - usually if there is a tuition waiver/stipend, it's included in the offer.. unless of course, you have dependents. Then well, hopefully your spouse or ex-spouse can pay the insurance on them(selves). There are also loans and some financial aid for grad students. Its not much but should help defray some of these extra costs of living... And to be fair, it isn't $2000.month - it's a 9 month stipend so it's actually $1500 a month... This was ONE reason I didn't apply to any of the UC schools... Edited February 21, 2012 by anthroDork Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
newpsyche Posted February 22, 2012 Author Share Posted February 22, 2012 Everyone's answers have been so fantastic--thank you. @ghanada, you were right to think I had no debt--thank goodness I do not, but that's certainly something for others to keep in mind. My parents won't be able to help me financially and I'm terribly against the idea of taking out loans. I had to smile at everyone's tips on how to live frugally--trust me, I am honestly the most frugal person I know. It's actually a little sad. I can't, however, save money while trying to survive on basics--a.k.a., rent, moving costs, car. I really wanted to just get a microscopic apartment (no significant other, just me) and live without a roommate so I can have a pet cat without bothering anyone. cacao to cacao 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sparky Posted February 22, 2012 Share Posted February 22, 2012 I really wanted to just get a microscopic apartment (no significant other, just me) and live without a roommate so I can have a pet cat without bothering anyone. I generally find that people (as long as they like animals and are not allergic) *like* having a roommate with a pet. That way they get all the advantages of having a pet without having to pay for food or vet bills. If what you really meant is that you don't want a roommate because, ugh, roommate--well, guess what living frugally actually looks like. Overtherainbow 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
starmaker Posted February 22, 2012 Share Posted February 22, 2012 Huh. In the one offer that I've gotten so far, they only pay for health insurance after the first semester, and then only half of it (however, the fee is not too bad and the stipend level is higher than that of the UCs). Of course, medical expenses can add up even if your insurance is paid, if you have any chronic health problems. Hopefully you don't and so this is not an issue! I just tend to think of it because at one point my spouse had 4-5 specialist appointments/week, and even with good insurance that was adding up to $300+/month. And yeah, it is really hard to live both frugally and alone in a high cost-of-living area, no matter how small an apartment you get. However, a lot of people enjoy having roommates with pets, as Sparky said. Most of my friends who live with roommates, have pets in their households (many of them cats). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Otherworlder Posted February 23, 2012 Share Posted February 23, 2012 I went to Berkeley for undergrad, and it truly wasn't so bad. The rent is a bit horrendous I admit. I split a one-bedroom apartment with two other girls, and that's the only way we kept the rent down. And it was a ratty old apartment, so definitely not the most comfortable living. My monthly expense was around $900. I had no car, but spent the savings there on eating out a lot (sigh). If you are truly frugal I think you can keep it under 700 with no car. Though I have heard that LA and Palo Alto are much, much worse. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
urbanhat Posted February 25, 2012 Share Posted February 25, 2012 I have the same dilemma. My top choices are both UC schools. I was accepted at both, but the funding amounts are appalling low. Living in an expensive city on $1500 sounds impossibly hard, even with all the frugal living tips others have offered. I made do with close to that in Boston, but there I didn't need a car. Otherworlder, I spent very, very little in undergrad too. Maybe it's because I've since spent time outside of school, but going back to sharing a crappy bedroom and wearing thrift store clothes for another 5 years is much less appealing now, and will be even more so toward the end of grad school when looking for a job, being expected to look professional, etc. If that's the price you pay for being in academia, it's certainly a higher price in CA. Meh.. I too would avoid UC schools but in my subfield they really are the best option. My alternative is a top-10-ranked-but-not-specialized school in an inexpensive town in what feels to me like the middle of nowhere. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sparky Posted February 25, 2012 Share Posted February 25, 2012 Maybe it's because I've since spent time outside of school, but going back to sharing a crappy bedroom and wearing thrift store clothes for another 5 years is much less appealing now, and will be even more so toward the end of grad school when looking for a job, being expected to look professional, etc. This might very well be a personal thing, but FWIW, I have found that there is a galaxy of difference between sharing a bedroom/dorm room, and sharing apartment space but having a private bedroom. If you are in a very "college" area, it might actually be *difficult* to find a good one-bedroom place--that is definitely the case here. (Actually, back on the pets line--it is more accurately the case that you can find good one-bedrooms that don't allow pets, or good 2+ bedroom places that do). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wildviolet Posted February 25, 2012 Share Posted February 25, 2012 Meh.. I too would avoid UC schools but in my subfield they really are the best option. My alternative is a top-10-ranked-but-not-specialized school in an inexpensive town in what feels to me like the middle of nowhere. I'm considering a school in the middle of nowhere--and, I'm thinking it might be a good thing--no distractions to keep you from your studies! Few restaurants, so I'll improve my cooking and baking skills. Not much driving, so I'll save on gas (still want to keep my car for out-of-town getaways and running errands, though). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CarlieE Posted February 26, 2012 Share Posted February 26, 2012 (edited) I'm considering a school in the middle of nowhere--and, I'm thinking it might be a good thing--no distractions to keep you from your studies! Few restaurants, so I'll improve my cooking and baking skills. Not much driving, so I'll save on gas (still want to keep my car for out-of-town getaways and running errands, though). I'm currently at a uni in the middle of nowhere (cornfields everywhere and.... flat nothingness); it's an hour and half from a big city and we don't even have our own train station. The lack of distractions can be nice, but it can also be really infuriating and the winter-time claustrophobia, cabin fever and subsequent depression can be awful. Combine that with the normal stresses of studying and sometimes it feels like the world has left us behind.... One of my graduate friends is from Napa, CA and he liked it here at first, for the same reasons you cite, but now, after a year, he hates it. I'm not trying to be negative, but there is a downside to quiet "country living" too if you've been urban for most of your life... I've been here for 2.5 years and I am ready to move to somewhere bigger, with more amenities. It seems like a really stupid thing to want, but I can't wait to move to somewhere with a Red Lobster. (I know, I know...out of ALL the restaurants) It's a tough decision for all of us to make - knowing we have to live there for possibly 4-7 years... Edited February 26, 2012 by anthroDork Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
svh Posted February 27, 2012 Share Posted February 27, 2012 This might very well be a personal thing, but FWIW, I have found that there is a galaxy of difference between sharing a bedroom/dorm room, and sharing apartment space but having a private bedroom. If you are in a very "college" area, it might actually be *difficult* to find a good one-bedroom place--that is definitely the case here. (Actually, back on the pets line--it is more accurately the case that you can find good one-bedrooms that don't allow pets, or good 2+ bedroom places that do). I agree. There is a huuuge difference between sharing a room and sharing an apartment with more than one room. I, personally, enjoy the three-bedroom situation. It's a little more difficult to find three bedrooms, but I feel like three is a crowd and four is overdoing it. The rent on multiple bedroom apartments is also a lot better (split between all of you) than a one bedroom. I think a one bedroom would not be worth it (the high rent and going home to nobody every night...). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wildviolet Posted February 28, 2012 Share Posted February 28, 2012 It seems like a really stupid thing to want, but I can't wait to move to somewhere with a Red Lobster. (I know, I know...out of ALL the restaurants) LOL, Red Lobster! Too salty for me, but I know what you mean. For my sake, I hope that my story turns out different. I've lived in urban Southern California and suburban Maryland. I'm ready to quit the land of concrete--at least for five years. Thanks for sharing! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TropicalCharlie Posted February 28, 2012 Share Posted February 28, 2012 unc.tarheel - i did my undergrad at ucsb. if you have any questions about the school, pm me. Congrats! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
guttata Posted February 28, 2012 Share Posted February 28, 2012 It seems like a really stupid thing to want, but I can't wait to move to somewhere with a Red Lobster. (I know, I know...out of ALL the restaurants) MMMMmmmmmmm.... Cheddar Bay Biscuits.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LabRat2012 Posted February 29, 2012 Share Posted February 29, 2012 Who are you planning to have for a mentor at UCSB?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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