Money diaries – Barbara
By Barbara Suim, from The Netherlands, studying MSc Comparative Literature
Year of study: First year
Accommodation: Private
Work: Part-time student ambassador
Day one
On Friday, I returned from a trip to find my fridge in need of a restock. I like to cook at home and eat as healthily as my budget allows, which does mean I have to split my grocery shopping across three stops: the Real Foods store for organic products such as eggs; Lidl for fruits and herbs at reasonable prices; and the butcher for high-quality meat.
It is my most expensive day of the week, but given that I rarely eat out and that nutrition is a priority, I factor this into my weekly and monthly budget. At the first stop, The Real Foods store, I spent £21. At the second stop, the butcher, I spent £8. At the last stop, the Lidl, I spent £13.
Total: £42
Day two
Saturday brought a welcome change of pace. I spent most of the day studying at home, but the weather was lovely, and a friend was in town. We headed to the National Galleries (which is free for all) to look at some art, then finished the afternoon with soup and tea at an Italian place in Leith, where I spent £8. I ended the day with a session at the gym in my building (which is also free) and had a good night’s rest.
Total £8
Day three
Sunday is the day I do laundry and clean my apartment. The laundry is unfortunately one of my higher incidental costs, coming to £7 to wash and dry my clothes, towels, and bedding. I also made homemade blueberry jam from blueberries purchased earlier in the week, which is a great way to save money on a product that is considerably overpriced in most grocery stores, and it tastes wonderful on my peanut butter and jelly toast.
Total: £7
Day four
Monday was focused entirely on upcoming deadlines. To avoid being sedentary all day, I started the morning at the building gym, doing both cardio and weightlifting. Having a gym in the building is a genuine perk, as it saves me the cost of a gym membership. The rest of the day was spent at my desk, reading and writing for essays due on Thursday. All meals were cooked at home, and even my coffee was free, courtesy of the building’s coffee machine.
Total £0
Day five
Tuesdays usually involve going to class, but as we are now in the dissertation period, scheduled classes have ended. Therefore, my day consisted of working on deadlines and dissertation readings. I needed to do some printing, which came to £3, and I stopped by the grocery store to pick up yoghurt and almond butter, which cost £6. I also had a therapy session, which is covered by my healthcare plan. In the evening, just before sunset, I went on a long walk. This is a great way to explore the city, and it is completely free!
Total £9
Day six
On Wednesday, I stepped out before returning to my studies. I made my way to the Royal Botanic Garden, which is well worth a visit when the sun is out and is free to enter, whether alone or with a friend.
I ran out of one of my skincare products so popped into Boots to pick it up, presenting my student card for a 10% discount. The product, originally £25, came to £22.50. In the evening, I focused on my deadline due the following day. I made my last hamburger from the butcher for dinner and finished the day with a visit to my local ice cream place for a sweet treat at £2.
Total £24.50
Day seven
On Thursday, I woke up early to fit in a gym session before a full day of studying. For this final stretch before the deadline, I decided to work from the library rather than at home. The bus cost £2.40 each way, totaling £4.80. I brought my lunch but treated myself to a warm coffee at George Square, costing £3.80.
In the evening, having submitted my work, I went on another long walk to wind down. On my way back, I stopped into the butcher to purchase some chicken, which came to £8 and will last me another few days.
Total £16.60
Total for the week: £101.10
Other expenses
Rent (includes gas, water, internet, gym, coffee): £1,160 per month
Phone bill: £12 per month
