yay goals!

[juliagulia]

So, when this summer started, I was hostessing and pretty much just using my paychecks to pay for gas and shenanigans. I knew that I needed to be saving up money, but I was just kind of eh about it. I was taking a lot of summer classes (12 credits ) and I wasn't really concentrating. Then I started serving and it became a whole different ballgame. I was getting my cash upfront which made it a lot more real, instead of just numbers on a paycheck or on the computer screen. So even though a third of the summer was wasted, I made a goal to save up between $1000-$1500 for when I (hopefully) study abroad, knowing I'll (probably) be working during the semester and will have a couple of weeks to work before I go.

Anyway, a couple of weeks ago I realized that I'd be lucky if I got to $1000, and I was pretty disappointed in myself (I'm a horrible money saver, but I have done almost NOTHING this whole summer telling myself I'm completely "broke" in an effort to cut down). Well, this week I really buckled down at work and turns out I surpassed my goal!!

What's even more exciting is that I had completely forgotten that I had already bought my ticket TO the U.K. at a great price (thanks to xanthous), so really I met my goal weeks ago! And even more than more is that when I was talking to my mom about why I was saving so much money (she was marveling at how I hadn't asked for money once this summer ), she told me that she would cover for my return ticket, because she didn't want me to be worried about not having enough money for that while I'm overseas (<--that's a happy dance, btw)

so, all the backing for this trip is finally coming together... if I study abroad, I'm still going to be a poor college student (instead of just a poor, miserable college student in maryland), but I won't have to stress about having enough to make it back home. if i don't get in, i have more than enough money to survive the 2-3 weeks I'd stay in Belfast with my friend. this is actually happeniiiiiiing

I won't be able to work as much during the semester as I was over the summer (taking 20 credits ), but I figure I can make at least $200. And then if I work some money shifts the week or two before I leave, I can have about $2000 by the end of the year... I can't imagine needing anything more than that... right? I mean, I'm not a big partier in general, though I know Oxford tends to be pretty expensive... There are trips planned into the curriculum, so any day/weekend trips, etc. would be minimal, and room and board is included with my program fees and whatnot (which is covered by loans, my scholarships, and my parents). So... I can't really think of too much stuff that I'll be spending money on outside of my flights to an from Belfast (and banking fees ). For some reason, though, I just seem to be comfortable with $2000.

Anyway, has anyone else had any experience with studying abroad in the UK? What about traveling there in general? If you didn't have to pay for housing, essential food and minimal traveling, do you think you could survive for four months off of, say, $1500? I've been to the UK, but that was for 12 days and I was not what one would call a scrupulous spender

ALSO. I need to stop making my posts so god damn long.

[Elizabeth]

Here is my advice: Don't go wild at the grocery store every night!

To me 2000 dollars seems a bit low. That works out to 10 pounds a day. A soda here, a snack there. It goes fast. You would prob have to be really scrupulous in your spending. Like to the point of thinking about every purchase.

I am an extreme hater of all loans and debts but even I had to break down and take out a 1500 dollar loan towards the end of my stay in BP. So try to make it work on 2000 dollars but if you need more don't hesitate to borrow more student loans. They can get you your money in a week and a half. For that week and a half I was really hungry. I don't regret taking out the loan.

[expatben]

Congrats!!! As for the UK, depends really but yeah $1500 may be enough if you have bills paid.

[travelpunk]

That is sooo awesome for exceeding your goals, Julia! Congrats! The first $1,000 is always the hardest...

Great job in delaying your short term gratifications for long term goals & rewards. Keep it up!

Very inspiring!

[beliefsvn]

Congrats!!! As for the UK, depends really but yeah $1500 may be enough if you have bills paid.