Poor Grad Students Guide to Frugality

Here are a few things that Kyle and I have done to make it through grad school on on meager salary.

1. Live in a tiny 600 sq ft $400 apt close to campus.
2. Bike to work and school every day year round. (saves at least $120 a month in gas)
3. Plan out meals and get groceries weekly
4. Every once in a while don't get groceries so you can clean out your cupboards.
5. Entertain yourself with bunny ears on your TV, Red Box, and Netflix. Forget about going out to the movies for a while. (unless of course its the midnight showing of Harry Potter)
6. Find free furniture. But try to be minimal because not much fits in your apartment.
         a. When you move its going to be a lot cheaper not to have things to move.
7. Don't go out to eat. Just don't.
8. Google creative cheap recipes so you don't get sick of spaghetti and tuna and noodles.
9. If you didn't sweat or spill, the clothes aren't dirty. Save some money by keeping the laundry load light.
10. Find babysitting jobs, they are awesome for an extra couple of bucks.
11. Turn off any appliances if they aren't being used, and unplug them.
12. Charge anything you can when you aren't at home to save on electricity costs.
13. Adjust your water heater to a tolerable level.
14. Give gifts of time/work. (aka photo shoots and designing) instead of spending money you don't have on Christmas, Birthday, and going away gifts.
15. For trips visit friends. Never stay in a hotel. If you can't find a friend to stay with, contact a friend who has a friend or relative living there. Its always great to meet new people!
16. Never buy on credit. Save up for everything. (That way you don't have another payment to add onto everything else.)
17. Budget your money so you can save and you don't spend money on unnecessaries like gum and magazines.
18. Borrow books from friends/ share books with classmates.
19. Don't go on walks at night, this isn't frugal really, just safe. As you chose an apartment in a neighborhood where walking at night isn't recommended. (you went with the cheapest you could find, so thats what you get)
20. Document this time of your life! It may not be super exciting now, but you will want to remember it for when friends and your kids go through the same thing.