Tips for Saving Money during M1

[DrReo]

---

Members do not see this ad.

Is anyone paying a loan with a loan? As in, student loans to fund your car loan?

 

[icarus8]

I'm surprised this hasn't been mentioned before, but stop buying out coffee everyday! I'm absolutely amazed at the number of my classmates that bring in a venti starbucks drink every morning and then go and buy another drink from the on-campus cafe mid-morning. If you have to have coffee all the time, at least make it home and bring it in.

I kind of agree with the sentiment of time being more important than money during medical school, esp. during third year. My husband and I are careful with money--getting DSL in lieu of cable TV, using an Enterntainment book (people, you've got to see a movie, go out to a nice dinner, or go to a play once in a while--just don't do it all in one weekend), cutting coupons from the newspaper and mailings. But I absolutely despise eating leftovers day after day after day and just can't do the cooking for a month and freezing it thing. I just won't get around to eating it. And if it's right before an exam, well, I'm going to spend more eating out because I don't want all my free time to be spent grocery shopping or over the stove.

Try going vegetarian or at least really limiting meat to chicken. My husband is vegetarian, so I've just started eating less meat, and it really is cheaper and healthier. My signature chicken stir fry has just become a much cheaper veggie stir fry.

The bottom line is, while it's good not to over-spend, none of this is really going to make a big difference in the bottom line of a $100,000+ loan.

I'm in this school of thought. I'd rather spend a little more in medical school and not live uncomfortably for 4 years, then end up paying 60 dollars less a month when I'm actually getting paid to work (if that day ever freaking comes). That 60 dollars won't make a huge difference in my life at that point, but it will make a big difference right now...

 

[SB100]

Part of my loans include personal expenses, so I'll see how much I spend the first year or even semester and adjust from there. One thing I have been doing since undergrad though is cooking stocks, stews, and soups in bulk. You can freeze them into individual servings that you can take out later as you need them. I made a soup one time that lasted me two weeks because I made 10-12 servings.

 

[Slow]

lalala

 

[ThinkTooMuch]

next time you are using your coupons and getting funny looks just wear a piece of clothing that clearly says what med school you are from. they should probably get it after that.

hahaha, i like your attitude! pm me for good times...jk lol.

 

[45408]

Is anyone paying a loan with a loan? As in, student loans to fund your car loan?

Bad idea. You'll pay interest on it twice. Buy a used car - not a piece of crap that will require lots of repairs, but you'll waste a lot of money if you buy new.


Biggest ways to save money are: have a roommate or two, don't go on expensive vacations, don't go partying and rack up huge bar tabs, and pack your lunch.

 

[Jolie South]

Biggest ways to save money are: have a roommate or two, don't go on expensive vacations, don't go partying and rack up huge bar tabs, and pack your lunch.

This plus bring your own coffee. Those $4 lattes really add up.

 

[socal78]

Shop at trader joes.

 

[tomorrowgirl99]

Shop at trader joes.

I agree. That place is so much cheaper/healthier than my neighborhood supermarket.