Money diaries – Omkar
By Omkar, from India, studying MSc Advanced Chemical Engineering
Year of study: Postgraduate
Accommodation type: University Student Accommodation, self-catered
Part-time job: Resident Assistant and Student Ambassador
Enjoying the sun in Porty
Day one
It’s Monday and although I don’t have regular lectures as it’s dissertation time, I need to go to the laboratory to run my experiments around 10am. I have my usual peanut butter and jam (PJ&B) sandwich for breakfast with coffee. I realise I’ve run out of milk and make a note to go grocery shopping while returning home. I usually shop for my groceries once a week but there is always the surprise visit if I’m in the mood to cook something new. I also cook most of my meals at home and pack my lunches.
For lunch I had packed a couple of chicken wraps. I leave from the University in the evening and make a pitstop at Lidl for the weekly grocery haul. Bread, milk, chicken, yogurt, tomatoes, onions, strawberries (try to get in some fruit) being some of the staples. Today’s trip cost £15.65. I cooked up some chicken and rice, and meal prepped it for tomorrow. And that was all for the day.
Total: £15.65
Homemade curry for dinner
Day two
I started my Tuesday with a gym session before heading to the lab in the afternoon. It’s nice fitting the gym in before University. After lunch, I hit a bit of a slump, so treated myself to a coffee at the Engineering Inn on campus (£3.00).
After my labs I took a bus back home as it was raining (£2.20). Cooked some pasta for dinner and called it a day. I generally cook two meals at night, one for dinner and one for next days lunch and it’s worked great for me.
Total: £5.20
Day three
Had an early meeting with my dissertation supervisor this morning, so I took the bus (£2.20) to avoid being late. I used to take the University’s shuttle bus during term time, but sadly that service stops at the end of May, so now it’s Lothian buses all the way.
After the meeting, I heated my lunch in the Nucleus building and got back to the lab grind. I also squeezed in a gym session before heading home. Dinner was chicken wraps (again); honestly, wraps have become a reliable go-to.
On a side note, the University gym membership cost me £191 for the entire year which is a great deal, and I’d recommend joining in September itself to get the most out of it as there are no monthly plans.
Total: £2.20
Day four
I didn’t have labs today, so I stayed home in the morning to finish some reading. I had some leftovers from last night for lunch along with some strawberries. After that, I headed to the gym and on my way back made a trip to the Indian store. I picked up some Paneer, a frozen paratha pack and 5 pack of Buldak instant noodles (£11.79).
Once home, I cooked some spinach and paneer, and some rice to meal prep for tomorrow. That’s it and I can’t wait for Friday.
Total: £11.79
Picking up supplies
Day five
Another PB&J sandwich morning. I really need to add peanut butter to next week’s shopping list; it’s the backbone of most of my breakfasts at this point! Took my packed lunch and headed to University. I had time and it was pleasant weather, so I decided to walk.
Today I had a Student Ambassador shift, giving a campus tour. These shifts are super flexible, and I tend to work around eight to 12 hours a month, which brings in between £140 to £180.
After the shift, I met up with a few friends at a pub near uni for a quick Friday catch-up (£6.25). Once I got home, I was still a little hungry, so I whipped up some instant noodles and called it a night.
Total: £6.25
Day six
Saturdays are my chore days. Post-breakfast, I cleaned my room and did laundry (£5.50 for one load, washing and drying). Lunch was something simple I threw together from the fridge. I managed to hit the gym later in the day and spent the rest of the evening relaxing and catching up on Netflix.
Total: £5.50
Day seven
It’s Sunday and the sun was out, so I decided to make the most of it. I went to Portobello Beach with a friend. It’s an hour’s walk from my place and since we had a lot of time we decided to walk. It felt good to be by the beach. We grabbed some coffee and crepes for lunch (£11.00) and caught up while watching the waves. Then headed back taking a bus for the ride home (£2.20).
Made similar chicken and rice for dinner and meal prepped for tomorrow. That’s it, time to do it again next week.
Total: £13.20
Crepes in the sun
Weekly Total: £59.79
Other costs
Rent: £260.95/month (discounted as part of Resident Assistant work)
Related links
Other studying and living costs
Study at the University of Edinburgh
