Money Diaries – Dhiya
By Dhiya, from South Africa, studying BEng Electronics and Electrical Engineering
Year of study: Third year undergraduate
Accommodation type: Private student accommodation
Part-time job: Student Ambassador at the University
A week in my life
By third year, my weeks feel very full. Between long teaching days, labs and society commitments, I’ve learned that the only way I stay sane (and within budget) is by being organised with food and being realistic about what actually makes me happy.
For me, most of my spending goes on food, both groceries and eating out, and on small café trips. I know some people cut out coffees completely, but I’ve realised that getting a drink with a friend in between lectures is one of the easiest ways for me to stay social and break up long study days.
I live in private student accommodation and I’m lucky enough to have a gym in my building, which means I don’t need to pay for a separate membership. I also use my Young Scot card for travel, so I try to take advantage of that whenever I can.
Find out more on how to apply for a Young Scot Card.
Here’s what a very realistic week of spending looks like for me.
Day one
Mondays are my longest and most intense day. I’m on campus from around 9am to 5pm, so I always make sure I’m organised the night before. I bring a packed lunch made from whatever I cooked the evening prior, and when I get home, I usually make a meal using whatever is left in my fridge or freezer.
I try hard to avoid buying food on campus on Mondays because I know I’ll be out all day and it’s so easy to overspend without realising.
Total: £0
Day two
On Tuesday, I had a lecture in the morning and a society event in the evening. I find the long gap in between quite hard sometimes, so I usually meet a friend for a coffee to break the day up.
It’s a small habit, but it genuinely helps me stay connected to people and adds a bit of novelty to what can otherwise feel like a very repetitive routine.
This time, I went to a café near campus and treated myself to a chai latte.
Total: £3.80
Day three
Wednesday is one of my shorter academic days, with just one lecture at King’s Buildings. One of the best things about being based there is how close Cameron Toll is, so I usually take the opportunity to do my main food shop for the week.
I try to cook most of my meals at home, and I rely quite a lot on frozen food and batch cooking. This week’s shop included salmon, chickpeas, vegetables, rice, canned tomatoes and, of course, some snacks like crisps and biscuits.
This shop usually lasts me the whole week.
Total: £31.75
Day four
Thursdays are also very full for me; I’m usually in from about 10am until 7pm. Because of that, I make sure I pack lunch using the food I prepared after my big shop on Wednesday.
It’s not very exciting, but it really helps keep my spending under control during the busiest part of the week.
Total: £0
Day five
By Friday, I’m usually exhausted. I try to keep Fridays low-key and spend the evening hanging out with friends in my building.
Sometimes we order food together, but this week we all just brought our own snacks and stayed in, which was honestly exactly what I needed after a long week.
Total: £0
Day six
At the weekend, I normally try to do something a little different, whether that’s a long walk, exploring a new part of the city, or even a day trip to somewhere nearby. Thanks to my Young Scot card, travel usually costs me nothing, which makes spontaneous plans much easier.
This Saturday, instead of travelling, I went out for food with friends. Eating out is definitely one of my biggest “fun” expenses, but it’s also one of the main ways I socialise and relax.
Total: £12
Day seven
Sundays are my reset days. I usually stay in, go to the gym in my building, and try to prepare food for the week ahead. Because I still had plenty left from my Wednesday shop, I didn’t need to buy anything.
It’s a quiet day, but it makes a huge difference to how organised I feel going into Monday.
Total: £0
Weekly reflection
This week is a really good example of how I try to balance saving money with enjoying my life at university. I spend very little on the days where I’m in lectures all day, mainly because I plan ahead and bring my own food. That then gives me the freedom to spend a bit more on things I genuinely enjoy, like eating out with friends and visiting cafés.
My main tip would be to work out what makes your week feel better and then budget for that on purpose, instead of treating it as an unnecessary extra.
Other costs
Rent: Paid upfront at the beginning of the year
Utilities: Included in accommodation
Phone bill: £15 per month
Food and groceries: around £150 per month
Fun activities (including café trips and shopping) : around £80 per month
Travel: £0 (Young Scot card)
