What NOT to scrimp on!

A big part of grad school advice deals with saving money. This makes sense since grad school in itself is quite pricey. But there are a few things that you need to spend money on to ensure yourself that you are getting a quality product. Some examples, if you will:

· Computer. The most obvious one is of course a computer. Your computer is basically your water and air during your graduate years. It’s how you will do your research, write your papers, and communicate with your professors. Don’t go for the cheap models that will break down in a couple months or will slow down as soon as you upload a couple programs. Spending a little more money on a reliable computer is definitely worth it in the long run. I personally don’t know how I lived without my Mac.

· Cell phone. In the same vein, a good cell is almost as important. Most grad students I know don’t use land lines in their apartments, so cell phones are their primary line of communication. If you’re relying on a cell phone to be your only phone, it needs to be one you trust.

I also prefer to receive my email as each one is sent to me, rather than having to check my computer throughout the day. So I like to have email on my phone. It also helps because as a grad student, you’ll probably have multiple email accounts (personal, school, work, etc). Having them all sent to your phone is a good way of staying on top of everything.

· School bag. This thing is going to be loaded with books, papers, and possibly your ever-important computer. You don’t want it to break (it’s horrible, I’ve seen it happen) or not fit everything (at which time you have to resort to carrying two bags­ ­– not fun or convenient). So get one that is big enough and sturdy enough to manage your life. They may not be the prettiest bags out there, but L.L. Bean knows how to make a backpack that will last. They also come with tons of different storage spaces to help you keep track of everything you bring along with you.

Those are the three biggies. Anything else you want to splurge on is up to you, just don’t go crazy. Remember those rent check you need to pay. And the water bill. And the electric bill. And cell phone bill. And you get the picture.