hippyscientist

BUDGET BUDGET BUDGET! (Sorry). There's so many apps and things to help you these days there really is no excuse. I have an app on my phone where I take a photo of my receipt and it categorises my spending so I can see where all my money goes - normally gym kit and coffee. If you don't want an app, Excel is fantastic too. Just a basic spreadsheet: this is what I have coming in each month, this is how much is being deducted for rent/utilities/car payments/debt, etc... and this is how much I have left over for food & groceries, and whatever is left is fun spending. I also throw in a $50 per month savings expense - it comes out of my non-negotiables and forces me to save something each month. If that means I forfeit a cinema trip or a takeout meal so be it. Track what you spend for a month - how much goes on grocery shops? How much goes on random coffee? How much do you spend on junk food/alcohol/random shopping? (most common ones anyway). Once you identify where you might be over-spending you can put measures in place to restrict it.. If self-discipline is a challenge, reward yourself in non-monetary ways. Made it through the week without going over your budget? Treat yourself to some me-time. Made it through the month? How about going for an awesome scenic hike with some friends and their dog? You keep this up? Congratulations, think of how happy you'll be at the end of 6 months! Sorry...might have gone off on a savings/budget rant there. It never ceases to amaze me how many people don't do this!!!

I disagree with this - I've got fitter in grad school than undergrad. By scheduling the gym into my day it's become routine and it only means getting up an hour earlier. This one is all about mindset. Actually a lot of these are about mindset. That's not to say that people don't say all these things, because they do, and there's definitely periods where they're true but that doesn't have to be the norm. Good time management and organisational skills can make a huge difference.

Flights sorted it's happening!!!!

As much as I love the blue one, I'd probably go for the last one because lots of space. I'm one of these people who lives out their bag and will carry my laptop, gym clothes (& shower stuff), lunch etc in one bag. It depends what you will use it for. If it's a carting around everything bag, the Explorer has my vote. @Cat_Robutt Arrow is epic. Unfortunately I've been limited to the seasons on Netflix in the UK so I've only seen the first 2 or 3. I love cheesy bad telly with the occasional good show thrown in. Jane the Virgin is lined up to be watched, I'm just not sure I want to board the feels train just yet!

I watch everything on Netflix and on demand, all the TV shows I like play way past my bedtime (like 9pm but I'm a granny). I enjoy movies and will go to the cinema for some (like I'll go for Finding Dory) but am more than happy to wait to watch them too. Books though, books I struggle to wait to read if there's a new one by a favourite author. We have progress on my research! Hopefully might end up just a week behind schedule. Here's hoping because otherwise there'll be tears.

Oh my god. You've named 4 of my favourite movie/book franchises. They're all such awesome stories! But I will never judge anyone for not seeing them or liking them. At some point though, you should get round to trying one that most appeals to you. I'm biased towards harry potter though as I grew up with Emma Watson (she went to my rival school) so it was always weird to see the girl I played sport with on the telly. @Neist I do think that not being straight out of college and having some life experience gives a different outlook to those who are younger. But 33 is an awesome time to be doing this journey

Thank you! I might well take you up on it...not too much fun moving couches by yourself. Pizza/Take-out of choice will be payment Gilmore Girls fulfils so many things. It's an idealised version of the teen years, it still deals with the big issues but in a bubble. It builds a community of awesome people, and makes you feel like Stars Hollow would be an awesome place to live. I never had that community or camaraderie or friendship they portray in the show and it does it so well. There's few cheap shots and it generally feels like the show is giving you a hug every time you hear the theme song. That's my take on it anyhow

Yeah I've done it before, but thanks for the heads up Cheapest and easiest to fly into Newark and drive out the next day. That's always been the plan, just waiting on my dad to get around to booking flights (he's got to make sure it works with work). Accommodation is all booked! I don't need to be homeless for a week thank you airbnb! Man I can't wait to binge Gilmore Girls again. Such a good show.

When I lived in a van I would consistently go a week without a shower. Made do in walmart bathrooms and a cloth and baby wipes but it wasn't too bad. That first shower though was amazing. I never wanted to get out of it!

See that doesn't bother me in the slightest. Muck, dirt, no ac, no running water etc doesn't bother me as long as it's for a finite period. I couldn't do it for an extended length of time, but for up to 3 months I'd be okay. Probably longer if I could have a long weekend with those amenities once in a while.

YAY I got my video back at it looks a lot better than it did before. Now for the hard work. Thank you all for keeping me sane The next battle is sorting out flights and accommodation. Life's never straightforward is it?

@Pink Fuzzy Bunny I seriously looked into the Peace Corps (and UK Equivalents) for after undergrad but alas I ended up on this road instead (not that I'm complaining). Man you guys talking about gilmore girls makes me want to watch it all over again! I officially cannot do any more research moving forward until I get my video back so I am taking a lazy morning to watch Game of Thrones in bed. That counts as working right?

Hiya! My visa is a 5 year one from the date of issue so I don't have the same problem you appear to. However, my understanding is the visa is valid for the duration of your program provided you maintain full time status. It may be a case of just applying for an extension of you haven't finished by the date on your visa. Might be worth a chat with your university's international office to double check though. @Neist that's a pretty cool outlook regardless ☺️

Gosh you're so much calmer than I would have been! Colo(u)r me impressed. That's really good of the university to offer to match their mistake though. I just read a really interesting article on The Atlantic over the shifting atmosphere on US college campuses, it's got me thinking I might just need duct tape over my mouth the next few years to not put my foot in it!

I try not to kill creatures but spiders are the exception - when they crawl out of my hoodie and onto my face they tend to get smushed pretty quick. I had some greek yoghurt with my nutella. that's sufficient adulting.

@Neist that's so awesome! Shower spiders are nowhere near as fun as shower beers... but I am not a fan of spiders generally. I mean I won't scream but they do make my skin crawl. @Pink Fuzzy Bunny really?! You had to share that?! Yay on the killing him though. I failed at being an adult today. I had spaghettios for breakfast and pop tarts for lunch and I'm contemplating nutella out the jar for dinner. This spider conversation has me creeped out haha!

@Cat_Robutt ugh I'm writing this weekend off. I've got a cold, my knee hurts, and life is being awkward. You just get in those funky moods sometimes, ya'know? I'd love a bubble bath but instead there's the mould & spider infested shower. At least you have a safe space to hide out in, and it's only for a month - then you get to be around your own family and within 2 days be on here venting about them too So envious of those of you with summers. It's still ~ 50F and windy and rainy here with not a huge amount of change forecast. At least that makes being stuck in the office more acceptable!

Ugh ugh ugh. Not okay. Try to carve out a happy space for yourselves and find somewhere nearby that you can retreat to when it just gets a bit much. Just because you're staying with them doesn't mean you have to be around them all the time. Also, I'm pretty sure all family units are dysfunctional, just dysfunctional in different ways. Yay for the wine festival though @Neist that's amazing! Congrats. and yay @MarineBluePsy that's pretty awesome too. I had a lovely email from my new advisor and I really cannot wait to work with him now. It's pretty exciting! And I just found out my bestie is moving to Australia So happy for her!

This is really useful information, especially as an international student! I'll be heading to PSU - did you use their credit union while you were there? It's currently what I'm looking at, I just wondered if you had any comments about your (or friends) experience? Sorry OP for semi-hijacking!

I have my backpack which contains my laptop, money, water bottle & anything I might be needed initially. At my desk I keep relevant books, headphones, coffee, notepads, pens and pencils. I bring my lunch and snacks in every day and these go in the fridge as soon as I'm in. Making use of a desk/locker and backpack is what works for me. I mean I even have a spare change of clothes, toiletries and and shower stuff in my locker too for after the gym. One backpack does the job.

Man you guys are awesome. Wallowing in self pity has finished, it's time to get cracking on this work. @sjoh197 I mean it's a hit, $350 isn't cheap but if you're that concerned, it sounds like a dollar a day might be worth it for your peace of mind. Yikes that's insane! Both cost of parking and the three-tier commute. For that amount of money there should at least be a commuter lot in a fairly accessible location with enough spaces for everyone who's paid that kinda money. I get that driving to campus is going to add more traffic, and the sheer volume of cars is a problem for most campuses but I'm baffled at how they can justify that sort of cost.

Wineing is excellent! The ALA sounds like a no-brainer, as does the bibliographic association. Maybe hold off on the others until you have a slightly clearer picture? Your dept may have some ties? Are there key conferences/seminar series/keynotes etc which you need to be a member of a professional organization to attend? Oooohhh I just got an email for a free conference at my old university in June and the topic is fully my research area. Yay A chance to catch up with old acquaintances before moving

I have plenty on my leg if you want some? Adulting is difficult. Adulting is a bunch of people faking it until they convince everyone else around them that they're not held together by duct tape. Just today I sat in a grocery store parking lot, eating a chocolate donut, drinking wine out the bottle while my friend tried to jump start her car and we had to ask some guys for help. We might come across together here, but really we're all crazy messes. You'll get there. Re: billing - can you ask your landlord for guidance? Internet company - ring them and be pleasant but firm, cat - that sucks, look before you walk bare feet anywhere, grad students - they'll understand you've barely been there 5 seconds. Before long you'll be the one the newbies are following around. Duct tape all round

I think mine will be 3 too - one international, one national and one interdisciplinary. I'm waiting until I start and can chat with other grad students in my program - the last thing I want to do is fork out the member fee for a professional organization where I'm not going to see huge benefit. I'd prefer to hold out and figure out where I'll get the most mileage - experience, conferences, networking etc. Side note - my favourite wine was on special in the supermarket It was a sign.

Yay I'm so happy things are working out for you! It's about time That's an amazing haul at the thrift store! @Effloresce that's cool! I'm more than familiar with leishmaniasis unfortunately. I fell asleep on a beach in australia and woke up covered in sandfly bites. Ended up in hospital with septicaemia and they thought I might have leishmaniasis too, but thankfully those tests ended up coming back negative. That was a worrying time!