Estimated Initial Expenses

[Amogh]

Guys i must say.. I finished my entire undergrad(in india) within $4000 and next year when(and if i get in) i move to the usa, i could expect to spend the same amount on settling in?!? Woah..

[Ninevah]

Guys i must say.. I finished my entire undergrad(in india) within $4000 and next year when(and if i get in) i move to the usa, i could expect to spend the same amount on settling in?!? Woah..

if you are moving to downtown San Francisco, maybe...

Otherwise, I could not see how you can possibly spend $ 4,000 in a month! I guess some people managed to do it...

[ktel]

if you are moving to downtown San Francisco, maybe...

Otherwise, I could not see how you can possibly spend $ 4,000 in a month! I guess some people managed to do it...

Not $4000 EVERY month, just as start-up costs when you first move there. It's pretty easy if you include first/last rent and furniture.

[newms]

Guys i must say.. I finished my entire undergrad(in india) within $4000 and next year when(and if i get in) i move to the usa, i could expect to spend the same amount on settling in?!? Woah..

Keep in mind that that figure is above what is necessary and would include things that not everyone would need. So you should budget for things like:

2 months rent (you probably won't get paid by your school until the end of September and may need to pay a deposit)

laptop (not everyone will need a new laptop)

books and other school supplies

furniture

living expenses for 2 months (depending on when you arrive in your new city)

deposits to open accounts, such as bank accounts, possibly for utility accounts

miscellaneous fees for school (some schools allow you to have them paid over several months)

transportation costs (How will you get to your new city? How will you move in your new stuff to your apartment?)

The costs can quickly add up, but once you get past the initial start up costs, the costs should be a lot more manageable, which is why it's a good idea to save up some extra money before starting school.

[Amogh]

Keep in mind that that figure is above what is necessary and would include things that not everyone would need. So you should budget for things like:

2 months rent (you probably won't get paid by your school until the end of September and may need to pay a deposit)

laptop (not everyone will need a new laptop)

books and other school supplies

furniture

living expenses for 2 months (depending on when you arrive in your new city)

deposits to open accounts, such as bank accounts, possibly for utility accounts

miscellaneous fees for school (some schools allow you to have them paid over several months)

transportation costs (How will you get to your new city? How will you move in your new stuff to your apartment?)

The costs can quickly add up, but once you get past the initial start up costs, the costs should be a lot more manageable, which is why it's a good idea to save up some extra money before starting school.

Ah that makes sense especially considering that bank deposits and for utilities are things people tend to overlook while budgeting.

@Ninevah i meant spending that much in moving in and setting up charges not on a monthly basis. on essentially all the things newms listed.

[eklavya]

Ah that makes sense especially considering that bank deposits and for utilities are things people tend to overlook while budgeting.

most banks and credit unions these days don't ask for deposit to open an account.. even true if they offer some kind of student checking accounts. but they might require you to use that account to have your direct deposit (electronic payment to you by your school) set up.

[Amogh]

most banks and credit unions these days don't ask for deposit to open an account.. even true if they offer some kind of student checking accounts. but they might require you to use that account to have your direct deposit (electronic payment to you by your school) set up.

I see.. interesting.. They are finally waking up to the plight of us poor students eh?

[Agradatudent]

I know that I can do things more cheaply but this is what I have decided for a variety of reasons. I love craigslist and I love finding deals, however, I am really looking forward to creating my bedroom sanctuary and staying put in one spot for a long time. Although Ikea is not the greatest quality, I am buying almost exclusively solid wood pieces that I really like. Also, when my SO (hopefully) eventually moves to the area he will have a real job and will be able to pay for some movers to get my things out of there, or at least a moving van. Also, I do not have the time or the car to go on a craigslist furniture buying bonanza.

The point of posting my cost breakdown was not to see where I could cut costs, but rather to help others with their own budgets.

And yeah, it will be a bit of a struggle to afford the start-up costs but I will make enough with my stipend to afford a bedroom that makes me happy.

I wouldn't knock IKEA too much. It really is great for what you pay for it. Which is all that matters!

I may be alittle more than you guys, but I've spent somewhere around 7000 during the move between a nice bed, all new furnature, rent payments (for in between months), and just all the small things that go into living. A trip to any store ends up costing about 100 just for small things (since i literally owned nothing).

Whatever you are budgeting... add a grand to it. You'll thank me later.

[kaykaykay]

start up costs can run very high, and I for one had no start up funds so I had to survive those initial months on my own.

here are some of my experiences:

1.If I could start again I would go for a furnished apartment, at least for my first year. I thought I would have to eventually buy furniture so why not at the start. However, I could not navigate the city, the furniture shop, my stipend arrived late, I did not have friends (yet) with cars, I had enormous homeworks etc, and I ended up sleeping on a blown up mattress for half a year (my room mate's). To my astonishment I learned that at least two other foreign students from my department-one in my year and the other one year ahead of me did the same (we are not even a very big department).

Buying a bed in the US is very expensive, rather difficult plus there are bedbugs (I heard about them here first ) so getting a bed on craig's list is not really an option. Also later, when people were moving out so many great furniture was dropped at me. International student life and grad student life is about moving around. I had to throw away a lot of stuff too before and I think it is such a waste. But furniture give aways will happen only at the end of the year. Also to use craig's list you need a phone and some knowledge of the city where you live, I found.

2. I collected all the syllabuses ahead of time, I went to the library (before the school started) and I borrowed all available books for the entire semester. I like to own books as the other person but as a startup this seemed to be the most reasonable solution. Some of my classmates gave me big eyes, but hey those first month I had no cash. Next semester all the books were gone from the library by the time I checked, haha.

3. There are discount stores with left over stock where middle class Americans probably shop less often (well, I do not know) but it is really ideal for a grad student who is not designing a permanent home. Like Ross, TJMAxx etc, you can get a lot of stuff from small furniture, household appliances , kitchenware for really really cheap. Of course check whether they are in ok condition, not broken etc, but usually they are ok.

4. Get a club card in every shop you go. Ask if they are NOT credit cards though. I did not want them first because I thought I have to pay for them or something but they just give it to you even at your first shopping and you get discounts afterwards.

5. Look for 1 $ shops. For copybooks, pens and such they are perfect- I kept my school supply budget to the minimum for a while but it worked.

6. I had to borrow first from my university(which they do if you have a fellowship coming) and they have a pretty good system to do it, maybe your university will have it too, ask your graduate coordinator.

7. Check for the transportation discounts if you do not own a car, I was amazed when I found out how much I overspent on buses by not getting a pass on the first day.

8. Don't afraid to socialize with your American colleagues and ask them whether they can give you a ride to a shop.I did bring some American friends to one of the above mentioned shops where they went crazy shopping after they saw the prices! You will spend a lot of time together and they will understand that you are in a more difficult position than them. Also the international students one year above me gave me a lot of city specific and department specific pieces of advice- I found that those initial pub crawls and beers were good investment but everyone's experience is different .

Edited August 3, 2011 by kalapocska

[new_to_kin]

Be aware that your first paycheck will probably not come in until the end of sept. You might have moved at the beginning of august. You'll need to pay rental deposits, rent, etc.

I was in upstate Ny for my masters and it was impossible to only spend $50 a week on groceries. I ate mostly at home and spent about $70 a week on good, whole foods - lots of veg, fruit and quality protein. I do know others who lived on ramen, but they got very unhealthy.

Also, be aware that you'll have to pay a deposit for utilities in some places. Especially for phone.

I would say $4k would be minimum. As an international student, I had to take my entire living expenses for 2 years with me, so I had the cash.

[talific]

hello.

I am applying for MSc in University of Saskatchewan. I have been offered a stipend of CND 19000 / year to offset tuition and living expenses.

As I am an international student, I am wondering whether this amount will be able to cover everything ?

As an international student your tuition is likely very expensive. I'm guessing once you pay tuition, you will have very little left. The two schools I applied to will cost $8000-9000 in tuition (for fall, winter, and summer), and that's for a Canadian student. You'll be able to pay your tuition with that stipend, but you will need some other way to pay for living expenses, I am guessing.

EDIT: Nevermind, I just looked at Saskatchewan U's website and international tuition is only about $5000 a year! Holy crap! I'm jealous. So you should have plenty of money for tuition and living costs!

Edited March 7, 2012 by talific

[TakeruK]

I told my bank I was planning to move to the US in the Fall and they recommended that I open a US Dollar Chequing account with them (free). It gives you a slightly better exchange rate but you can't access this account while in the US. Instead, I plan to move some of my Canadian savings over to this account before I move, and as I need US funds, I will write myself a cheque from this account and deposit it in a bank account that I will open in the US. This allows me to transfer money without it having to leave Canada unless I need it, and at a good exchange rate.

You should also ensure that you would have enough (or have access to someone who does) money in case your first paycheque doesn't clear for some reason. And maybe your new American bank would want to put a long hold (weeks+) on your incoming cheques at first too.

[wannabeaphd]

I also don't know if you're all familiar with US retail trends, but there are a lot of good deals to be found online nowdays. I always check something like retailmenot.com or another cupon aggregator site before I submit purchases online and before I go to major department stores, because there are a lot of coupons online that are geared towards students coming to school in Aug/Sept.