Money diaries – Jaya
By Jaya, from India studying MSc Developmental Science
Year of study: Postgraduate
Accommodation type: University Accommodation
Part-time job: Student Ambassador, Auxiliary Childcare Practitioner
Jaya enjoying her first experience of snow
Day one
I begin my week with a big shop. I make a Google doc table with all meal combinations I can have over the week, and make a list of ingredients I would need. I have recently become a big fan of overnight oats as they’re an easy-to-make breakfast and you can experiment with a lot of flavours and fruits. I find eating the same meal every day to be exhausting but overnight oats with different flavours of yogurt and fruits make it feel like I’m having something different every few days!
Eggs, potatoes, and chicken are also super versatile, which means I can make wraps for lunch and a bowl of curry and rice for dinner!
I usually do my big shops at Co-op and Tesco. This time, along with regular groceries, I picked up whole spices, pastes, and sauces to last me a few weeks. My total expenditure for this shop was £35. Most of my evening is spent making meals (I always start my week with the tastiest meal).
Total: £35
Day two
Since classes have ended, I try to go to the main campus to study. Since the main library is a 20-minute walk from my accommodation, I usually walk through the Meadows in the morning, and spend time studying (and joking around) with friends. I have been carrying sandwiches/wraps for lunch, but often get a coffee from a cafe.
My friends and I go down the Royal Mile to spend some time together. I usually try to keep my expenditures to a minimum for a good, hearty meal with friends somewhere nice. But I’m only human, and a human with sweet treat cravings is no match against Edinburgh desserts. Giving in to the cravings, I grab a slice of Marlenka cake for £6.30.
Total: £6.30
Enjoying a slice of Marlenka cake
Day three
Day three is pretty much the same as day two. I wake up, have the oats I prepared the night before, head out to an appointment on campus, and then stay back with my friends. After a quick rifling through my bag, I realise my lunch is probably sitting comfortably on my kitchen counter, left behind in an early morning frenzy, so I head to the Nile Valley Cafe nearby to grab a quick meal (£5.90).
Total: £5.90
Working lunch
Day four
I had a work shift for most of the day, so I leave early for my shift. Since most of my day goes by at work, I don’t incur any expenses. I work as a childcare practitioner; it requires a lot of engagement, but I find it to be extremely rewarding. Running around with kids and helping them make paper boats (while fumbling my way through a semi-decent boat myself) brightens my day.
Total: £0
Day five
Same as yesterday, I come back with a feeling of fulfilment and feel comforted by the fact that I still have a few weeks left before my Young Scot free bus travel pass expires (the prospect of which makes me sad, but we press on).
Total: £0
Day six
Day six is for sleeping in! I wake up late, and make eggs for brunch. A hot cup of chai and catching up with family and friends back home makes up most of the day.
I meet my friend (and flatmate) in the kitchen around dinner time, and we start chatting over dinner, which soon lapses into staying in the kitchen for a couple of hours, talking about our week and what lies ahead. In the middle of all that, I run out and do laundry for £4 (it’s not my favourite chore on the planet, stands to reason why I dread even mentioning it).
Total: £4
Day seven
Day seven, time to reset! Meal prep goes well enough to last me another few days, with canned tomatoes, beans, and coconut milk becoming the base of my meals, so the incoming week has a lot less to spend on. Eggs, bread, milk, fresh fruits, and a couple of other vegetables and I’m all set (£30).
Later in the evening, I go out for lunch and drinks for a friend’s birthday!
Total: £30
Weekly total: £81.20
Other costs
Rent: £984/month (bills included)
Mobile Network and Data plan: £7/month
Monthly Travel (train tickets for day trips, uber, etc.): £0 to £30/month, depending on plans
Related links
Other studying and living costs
Study at the University of Edinburgh
