shahman101

Yes, I wholeheartedly agree. I just wanted to add to my previous post that despite my income (relatively high for a grad student), I do not spend a lot, and save a lot. I have the cheapest phone plan. I am a pretty decent cook, so I cook myself. I also share my wireless Internet connection with my immediate apartment neighbours, and I do not have a TV, so no cable bills there. I think that lots of grad students complain about not having enough income, and yet they spend a lot too. There are a few others in my program who have 50" plasma TV screens in their apartments, Blu-ray players (remember a Blu-ray DVD is like $30 each!), and Blackberries with $100 phone plans. These are the people I find who complain that they need more money. Well, I seriously want to slap them in the face and show them reality!

3rd year PhD student here. The greatest and only tip I give to beginning PhD students is to do you own stuff. Don't take the same courses as everyone else, don't do the same topics as everyone else including faculty. Find your own niche. If you do the same thing as your peers, when you are on the job market, nothing will distinguish you from the rest. Take chances. Things might not always work, but when they do, they work in your favour. Stand out from the crowed. Now that I think about it, this "philosophy" isn't only for grad students. It's for life.

Okay, you're all gonna gang up on me, but I hope not. I'm in business also, and the stipend I receive is in the mid 20s. I'm also holding various TAships (beyond my requirement), so I get money from those jobs as well. In total, I think I make around 40k a year. Don't get me wrong -- I work hard for it. I manage my time very well (I like to believe), and so despite my numerous TA jobs, I'm also above average on my academic/school/research side of things. I have several student debts to pay as an undergraduate, and I pay all expenses myself. I don't know about you guys, but in my program, some people had previous full-time jobs, or they have parents who help pay for airfares and "gifts" like laptops and bicycles. I pay all of these things myself. But then again, I started teaching piano to kids when I was in high school, and I've been relatively financial independent since then, and I've been taught (through family values) that I have to work for what I receive, and I like to believe that my 40k is justified based on the (quality of) work that I do. I think this depends on the school/department, but if you can seek other TA/RA jobs beyond your requirements (or even beyond your school), go for it. I truly don't believe in the "I don't have time" crap. I really don't. You just need to learn to better manage your time, not hang out often (not insinuating that all of you are drunk everyday though!). I take more courses than my peers and also work more than my peers, but I still can hang out with them when they suggest things.