Lauren Phipps
I am a mature student originally from Dublin. I am fortunate enough to be living at home with my parents which saves a huge amount of money on rent.
As a mature student I pay full fees, so my loan amount weekly is €70 with my local credit union. With other bills and responsibilities, I do my best to bring lunch to college every day. As a huge tea and coffee lover, it can be quite expensive to buy, so instead in my locker I keep a cup, teabags and coffee. I buy a small carton of milk each morning in Dunnes Stores for €0.89 and this is such a huge saving compared to spending €20 a day on hot beverages.
I usually cook my lunches in batches and it does me for the week. Prepping is essential and a great way to stay consistent. I do indulge on a lunch with my friends now and again but try keep it to a minimum.
My job gives me the freedom to work when I study but because they are night shifts it can be tiring, I do recommend if you have to work to fund college find something that gives you this freedom and are willing to work around your curriculum. As I am self-funding college, I am lucky enough that my parents do not charge me rent and my mam buys groceries to help me out as much as they can.
It is all about budgeting and saving where possible. Apple Music and other subscriptions have student discounts, so be sure to sign up to sites such as Student Beans for student discounts.
- Programme: Medicine (Foundation Year)
- Living quarters: My parents' house
- Part-time job: Monitoring and security services
- Salary: €400 fortnightly
Monthly expenses
Transport: €80
Rent: €0
Number of housemates: My family
Household bills: €45
Phone bill: €80
Groceries: €0
Subscriptions: €25.99
Budget breakdown
- 8am: I get the 26 bus from Palmerstown to the end of Dawson Street (€1) and head up to college. The Student Leap Card means I only pay €1 per trip. First stop in Dunnes Stores to grab my milk (€0.89) and this does me for a full day.
- 9am: I make a cup of tea and organise my schedule and to do list for the day.
- 10am-1pm: Lectures.
- 1pm: This is our lunch hour so I grab my lunch and head to the Dispensary café to the microwaves to heat up my lunch and make another cup of tea.
- 2pm-5pm: Lectures.
- 6pm: A quick circuit in the gym here in RCSI which is free to all students, with amazing facilities to shower and dry your hair afterwards.
- 7pm: I walk to D’Olier Street where I get the 26 bus home (€1).
Total: €2.89
- 8am: I get the bus to college (€1) and stop again to get my carton of milk from Dunnes Stores (€0.89).
- 9am: Every second or third Tuesday we have morning labs so it’s a nice short day in college. I don’t bother bringing lunch in on these days.
- 1pm: I head straight home on the bus (€1) after the labs to study and do assignments. My spending is usually a minimum on Tuesdays.
Total: €2.89
- 9am: I am off from college every Wednesday which is such a great day to have to yourself. Wednesdays are my productive days where if anything needs to be done at home I get it done that morning.
- 10am: I spend the day at home studying after I run my errands and try to recharge.
- 1pm: My sister and I have Wednesdays off so we make a coffee and do our workouts at home.
- 3pm: I spend the rest of the day at home so the total spend on Wednesdays is usually nothing.
Total: €0
- 8am: I get the bus into town for 10am (€1). Thursdays are a long day with lectures from 10am-5pm.
- 9am: It is a pretty similar schedule to Mondays so I bring my lunch in with me and buy my carton of milk in Dunnes Stores. I drink so much tea so I can’t do without it (€0.89).
- 11am: Thursdays I usually go to Starbucks and grab a large coffee (€6.55).
- 1pm: I have the lunch I brought and go to Starbucks again for another coffee (€6.55). I usually spend a little extra on Thursdays.
- 5pm: I head to the bus stop and travel home (€1).
Total: €15.99
- 8am: I get on the bus to make it to my 10am lecture (€1) Fridays in my schedule for Foundation Year can vary from a short day to a long day. If it is a long day which is a 10am-5pm college day, I bring my lunch to college.
- 9am: Today is a short day, so my friends and I will go for lunch and depending on where we go the price can range from €10-25. As usual, I buy my carton of milk (€0.89), along with a coffee from Starbucks (€6.55)
- 1pm: Lunch varies from place to place, but we usually go to an amazing Italian restaurant for lunch to have the pistachio tiramisu. It’s amazing and a great way to end the week laughing and joking with friends enjoying good food. I fancy some pasta (€15) and I have the tiramisu for dessert (€7.50).
- 3pm: I head home on the bus after lunch (€1).
Total: €31.94
On Saturdays, I work an overnight 16-hour shift. I start at 5pm and finish at 9am Sunday morning. During the night if it is quiet I can get plenty of study done. I get a lift to work so it saves me bus fare.
I get home from work on Sunday morning and sleep. I will be working my second 16-hour shift tonight. Depending on which site I am on, I usually can walk straight to college from work. I bring a change of clothes and freshen up when I arrive at college before my 10am lecture.