Scholars Phone Home
Sunday, January 7th, 2007Yep, inflation is on the rise again. Well, for a particular segment of students it is. The segment of not-quite-Singaporeans under the purview of MOE Singapore - the Foreign Scholars.
Every month, the allowance we get is SG$200.00. Sounds a lot, doesnt it? But its not enough. Lets see a breakdown of costs:-
School’s Misc. Fees* $22.00
Aircon Fees* $20.00
Lecture Notes est.* $20.00
Bus to School $25.00
Internet Fees(20 hours) $20.00
Phone Bill(minimum) $25.00
Newspaper est.(shared) $14.00
Transport Fees -
Weekdays(22 days x $.50) $11.00
Weekends(8 days x $1.00) $ 8.00
Subtotal - no food $165.00
*compulsary
Leaving $35 for the rest of it - meaning lunches and snacks.
Considering 22 school days a month, at $2.00 per lunch - $44.00
Congratulations! You are now IN THE RED, and its not like the costs are extravagent. In fact, all of them are essential to life as a student.
Ways to cut cost:
i ) Have the cheapest lunch possible: at $1.50 instead of $2 (no drinks), saving $11.
ii) Dont take the bus to school, take the normal MRT. [$25 - (22 X $.50) = saving $14] However, this is a bit risky, as two days of waking up late = 2 days of taxi fair = your $14 gone.
iii) Don’t Subscribe to a phone line - oh yea, and have every teacher and friend after you for being so darned hard to contact - ever tried calling a hostel? often? - ok. not possible.
iv) Don’t Go Online - mmmm, yes, possible - if not for the emails - which normally require us to check at least 1x per week. well.. oklar u can check 1 hr per week, meaning saving $16.00.
YAY! we are back in the green! Total Savings = $(11 + 14 + 16) = $41
Total cost - total savings = $209 - $41 = $ 168
Balance = $32
Oh wait. did anyone say Class Outing? Or CCA Fees? *groan*
So what does this mean?
It IS theoretically possible to survive on $200 per month, but if and ONLY IF you are totally frugal. and nothing else crops up. but there is a easy way out.
CALL 1800-PARENTS and ASK FOR MORE MONEY.
You have been warned.
Eve.
