Money diaries – Poppy
Poppy, from the UK, studying Arabic and History
Year of Study: second year undergraduate
Accommodation Type: Private
Part-time job: Student Ambassador
Day one
I like to spend my Sundays meal prepping and getting ready for the week ahead. Usually in the morning I’ll spend my time at church catching up with friends, plus they offer a free meal for students which is always delicious! While a lot of people find cooking and baking quite stressful, I love creating meals for the rest of the week, I find it very relaxing.
My go-to supermarket is Lidl, it’s only a five-minute walk from my flat so it’s very convenient and super cheap compared to other supermarkets in my area. I usually spend between £30-35 a week on groceries as I’m a meticulous planner for my food plan in the week and like to keep the cost as low as I can.
Total: £32
Day two
My weekdays start off incredibly busy, especially on a Monday with a 9am start time and classes all the way through until 3pm. I like to avoid stopping off at the local Sainsburys and their overpriced meal deals, so I will often bring in my lunch. In the Languages Literature and Cultures (LLC) building they have their own microwaves which is extremely useful!
However, I can always be tempted by the numerous bake sales that take place outside the Main Library. And why not? There are always many different delicious bakes on offer, and it always goes to a great cause. Plus, they are much cheaper (and nicer in my opinion) than the bakeries around Edinburgh!
Total: £2
Day three
Tuesday will always be my busiest day. Having classes back-to-back from 9am until 1pm really takes the energy out of you, so I will always stop off for a coffee after my classes as a small treat for getting me through the morning!
Taking Arabic usually means I will have many tutorials throughout the week that require quite a lot of prep work. After spending most of my day in the library prepping for the rest of the week, I like to make myself something nice in the evening…this week it was burgers!
Currently I live in Leith, a part of Edinburgh quite close to the port and sea with an array of pubs and bars, very cheap too! Usually, three pints would cost only £10 with student discounts and a great evening catching up with friends.
Total: £13
Day four
My weekdays start to slow down a bit, but Wednesday always starts with yet another 9am! Thankfully the thing that makes this manageable is the LLC breakfast club that runs from 8.30am to 9.30am which offers Language students a free hot drink and pastry in the morning. This has really helped with the cold, dark Edinburgh mornings during the winter.
My day finishes just after lunch, so I like to catch up with friends in the afternoon. There is a lovely community cafe in Old Town run by volunteers and offers panini and soup for only £3.50! On Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday evenings, I tutor students in English, which is a really great way to balance my spendings for the week. I typically make around £100, which is extremely helpful for putting in savings or paying for extra trips.
Total: £3.50
Day five
Thursday is again super-busy with classes from 10am to 5pm, so I struggle to catch up with people and sometimes find I am running out of food at this point! I do find I have to do at least one small shop to help supplement my groceries for the week, but this only costs between £5-10.
I like to spend the evening with friends from class. This week we all chipped in with different sides to make a super delicious meal. I made a risotto that only cost £5 to make, with my friends making a lovely salad and bread and lemon drizzle for dessert! I find that this is the easiest way to enjoy really good food without having to break the bank and go to a fancy restaurant. Plus, the company is great!
Total: £5
Day six
After quite a full-on week, Friday is my day off! Usually if I don’t have any deadlines or work to catch up on, I will spend the day doing what I love most: exploring Edinburgh’s charity shops!
I find the further out from Edinburgh centre, the better (and cheaper) the charity shops are. My personal favourites are in Leith or Stockbridge. I give myself a small budget as I can get carried away, but I spent around £15 on new clothes and mugs for my flat. In the evening I like to go for a run to Portobello and if I am feeling brave a quick plunge in the sea!
Total: £15
Day seven
On a Saturday I like to make the most of Edinburgh’s green spaces and wonderful views. If you are under the age of 22, a free bus pass can take you anywhere you fancy in Edinburgh for free!
I woke up early with some friends and caught a bus that took around 40 minutes and landed me at the Pentland Hills with some amazing views. Following a massive hike around the area, we ended the evening with a few more pints at our local pub.
Total: £8
Weekly Cost: £78
Other Costs
Rent: My rent is usually £700 with bills that I pay with my student loan and savings I have saved up.
A lot of my savings go towards rent and living costs every month. I found a lovely flat on Leith Walk with a spacious living room and good-sized bedrooms and is only a 20-minute bus from campus. We fancied living in an area slightly away from student life and it has really opened my eyes to a part of Edinburgh I have fallen in love with! Next year, I am studying abroad in Egypt for my degree, so I am incredibly excited for new scenery. But I’ll be sad to say goodbye to Edinburgh for the year!
