Realistic expenses as a student?

From the 1st of September I'm moving to our new apartment together with my friend. From October we will study in Dusseldorf.

My friend gets Bafög and thus has much more money available (about 700) a month than me.

I will only get my child benefit (200) and 50 Euro extra from my parents.

The thing is that I have to pay electricity, DSL, food, fuel, Handyflatrate, Unizeug and have no precise idea of whether my money is enough. I also want to work on the side, but I will not be able to do that often because I want to concentrate on my studies. So work at most 1-2x the week.

Are 100 Euro maximum per month for food (for ONE person) realistic (if the first big shopping with spices etc) is already done (and if you are vegetarian). I'm already looking for spar recipes.

I also have to buy a laptop and a dining table.

In my area, there are only part-time jobs as a cleaner or in the restaurant.

So 100 euro for food is also quite little for vegetarians. Since you will probably have to eat a lot of toast bread, cereals and pasta with a simple sauce / ketchup. Lots of fresh fruit and vegetables is not really there.

I assume that you have counted 100 euro for shopping and then go out of 100 euro for food. If so, you have forgotten the item Household items. Hygiene products, cleaning products, kitchen roll etc. Are things that are also regularly on the shopping list.

To get an overview of the expenses, you should make a menu for the week. So you can shop efficiently and have little leftovers. Of course it's also worth checking the offers, as well as buying something in stock when it's on offer.

Thanks a lot!

I think that's unrealistic. 150 euro per person and if you save a lot you have to plan for food. Although my husband and I do not have to save money, we do not spend too much and need 400-450 euro a month (food only). Electricity… Depending on how big the apartment is I would plan roughly 35 euro (per person), mobile phone, you know better what you call out there a month. "Unizeug" can quickly go into the hundreds when textbooks must be purchased, (which are one-time expenses but include), copying costs the v.a. Depending on the degree program, there will be a lot more to come in the form of pencils, coolies, special rulers, calculators (with statistics function), folders, etc.

Laptop, home furnishings, household insurance, transfer, deposit, clothes, go out, tickets have you scheduled all this?

Fuel costs? Do you have to get a car? You'll need a side job for sure, without which you will not make the rounds.

In my opinion, 250 euro are too little. Especially in a city like Dusseldorf, where rents are already very high.

You should use BAföG or other training grants if your parents can't or do not want to support you financially.

You will not survive on 250 euro per month.

Your parents are dependent on you for maintenance. If you can't fulfill this obligation, you can apply for Bafög.

With the 250 euro it will u.U. Already with the food short. Now you have thought of various fixed costs, but also overlooked some. What's with all the stuff for the apartment? Cleaning stuff, toilet paper? What about cosmetics? And do not you think you'll occasionally need some new clothes or shoes? What about the semester fee? What if something unforeseen breaks and needs to be bought again? If you write Sprit, you have vmtl. Also a car. This must be done regularly by the TÜV and vmtl. Also be repaired someday. And now we do not even talk about where to find an apartment and what to eat with your rent and utilities from your low budget.

With a mini-job (10-15 hours per week or so that you come to 400-450 euro in addition) you can cover your expenses, but depending on the living situation still dependent on your friend. And with all the romance: You should at least allow for the fact that maybe something is not going to work as you imagine it now.

I can't tell you realistic expenses as a student, because I do not know how many additional expenses you will receive when studying.

But what I can tell you: 250 Euro are damn little for the month. Pro rata rent, electricity, utilities, travel expenses or vehicle maintenance, formerly GEZ, and your own maintenance is already more than this amount.

You will not get around a part time job - although I'm wondering what you want to do - if the typical part time jobs for unskilled workers are not for you.

So for me, this project is doomed to failure - especially since your friend can't support you either.