I am a 22-year-old medical student in Russia. I run a pastry business and also make money from making people’s hair from time to time. I am in my 4th year of medical school and I currently live with my 2 roommates in our school hostel.
I don’t really have a lot of expenses and my stipends are more than enough for me.
Trust me, I try my best to save intentionally but I haven’t been the best at it. Journaling is something I do sometimes and it’s good if I’m doing it to track my spending.
I usually allocate a certain amount to each month and although I don’t follow the spending plan judiciously, money from my mini businesses covers for any lapses.
I try to save mostly because of the future. After medical school, I need to take some exams and they require quite an amount of money. I also plan on moving to another country which is no small feat.
Occupation: Student
Age: 22
Location: Rostov, Russia
Yearly Stipend: $6950
Monthly Pay: $500
Here’s how a typical week in my financial life looks like:
Sunday
8:20- Boarded the bus headed for the bus stop close to my church for 30₽. The weather is nice as my checkered blazer serves as a shield from the constant blast of air.
12:45- Service ends and I and my hospitality team members proceed to serve mini bread rolls and hot tea to the congregation. It’s usually a time of catching up and talking and I did just that.
12: 58- I leave the church and trek to the public library not so far from church, I have to read up in preparation for Monday’s class in Internal Medicine and Therapy.
13:15- Just got to the library and I decide to use the stairs instead of the lift. Fitness journey, huh? I settle into my seat on the third floor and start my work.
17:10- I leave the library early today. I stop at a thrift store to check out what they have. I’m not so impressed or maybe I’m just tired. I take my leave as images of my bed start flashing before my eyes. I need sleep.
17:20- I’m now on the bus, another 30₽ off my card. I didn’t get a seat so I have to stand through the pain. Yay, got a seat finally, sat down and replied messages on WhatsApp.
18:20- I’m finally home, and I’m glad. There’s bad news though. It doesn’t look like I’m getting any sleep because my roommates are wide awake and bubbly. I’m not cross.
00:15- I now do my night routine and I’m off to sleep.
Monday
7:20- I’m awake and ready to take on the day. My morning routine is done so I head for the bus stop to spend another 30₽ on transport.
8:40- Already at school, the day was generally uneventful.
14:15- Class is over and I couldn’t be happier, I went home immediately. My roommate was having cramps so we took a taxi and I paid 286₽ for that.
15:55- I just got home, made lunch with ingredients I already have, arranged my space and took a nap.
19:40- I start reading in preparation for tomorrow’s class while some intermittent breaks in between.
00:15- Finished reading and I proceed with my night routine. I arranged my bed and prepared to sleep. It’s safe to say I slept as soon as my head hit the pillow.
Tuesday
7:20- Awake and up, ready to take on the day, as usual. At least for this rotation, classes start by 9:30. I get up and go about my morning routine.
8:15- Left the house and headed for the bus stop, boarded the bus which cost 30₽.
12:00: General lectures began, It was a long one I tell you. There was a break, I had biscuits I brought from home.
14:00- Lectures ended but the day was not over. I had to go get an X-ray. of my chest— a requirement by my school at the beginning of every session. I jokingly term it our yearly dose of radiation.
. 
14:45- My friends and I trekked there because one of us (the only person that knew the hospital) managed to convince us that it wasn’t far. Brethren, it was far.
15:00- We got there and I had to pay 300₽ for the test. We got the results immediately and everything was normal. I could interpret the results we got. As a medical student, little things like that make me happy and give me a sense of direction or should I say understanding and joy from what I’m doing.
15:30- We went home in a taxi because my friend had to get home in time to teach her student English, each person had to pay 74₽. I’m yet to send mine though.
16:20- I’m in my room now. Decided to eat spaghetti and chicken stew I got from my friend. I ate, replied to my messages and had a nap.
18:20- I started reading. Tomorrow’s topic was Atherosclerosis and Angina. It was quite interesting.
23:50- I am done reading, getting ready to sleep, I arrange my bed and carry out my night routine.
Wednesday
8:15- I’m out of the house. I get to the bus stop and take a bus for 30₽.
14:00: Done with school yay! I headed home immediately and since I didn’t have breakfast or lunch, I was so famished. Cost of transport- 30₽.
15:00- I stopped at the store. I got biscuits and I was craving corn so I also got some corn and other fruits- Cost 192₽.
15:20- Currently home. I’m having potato pottage that I cooked before as I browse through the internet.
16:00- I decided to sleep, I set my alarm for 17:30 and 18:00 so I can study later.
17:56- Lazily rolled out of bed. I boiled the corn I got for about 20 minutes. Ate it while preparing to read.
20:00- Had dinner, while struggling to read, lol.
20:20- Finished dinner, and continued reading
01:15- Finally finished reading. Preparing to sleep. I finished all that needed to be done and settled in for a well deserved rest.
Thursday
7:40- Woke up a bit late, but still got to school on time. Spent 30₽ on transport again.
14:15- After a long day. For lunch, there was a fast food joint that just opened close to my school and I decided to check them out. I had a combo of gyros made with pita bread and fries with apple juice for 280₽. It was really good.
15:00- A little while after, I went to the school library to wait before going for our weekly student fellowship prayers.
18:00- We finished and I headed home. My friends and I took a taxi back home and it was 76₽ per person.
18:20- I stopped at a store and spent a total of 400₽ on groceries.
On getting home, I had boiled rice and stew with chicken. Nothing eventful happened after that so I’ll stop here.
Friday
7:30- I woke up and went about my routine. Headed for the bus stop and another 30₽ spent on the bus ride.
9:00- Class wasn’t so interesting. I had bought a chocolate bar and some biscuits yesterday, so I had that for lunch.
12:00-14:20- After general lectures, I headed home. 30₽ on transport again.
15:15- I went to the fruit shop to buy ingredients for the stew I am making tomorrow and I also bought detergent. Everything was about 800₽.
I had what was left of my potato pottage when I got home and prepared to join an online class. I slept off and didn’t join.
18:45- I woke up, went for Bible study in another room. It was a blessed time as always.
20:55- After Bible studies, I blended the vegetables I got, marinated my chicken and prepared to do my laundry.
By the time I was done with all these, I was tired. Had dinner given to me by my friend and after a few hours, I retired to bed.
Saturday
6:45- My alarm goes off, I remember I have a lecture by 12:00 noon, so I go back to sleep.
9:30- I wake up, freshen up and head for the bus stop to board my bus for 30₽.
11:45- Arrived at school and headed for the lecture- two hours or more is about to be deducted from life. What can I do? Nothing.
14: 30- Lecture just ended, I had baked snacks and hibiscus tea, from a nearby bakery (165₽)
15:30- Still in school, waiting for one of my juniors. I had planned to go winter coat shopping with her, she arrived and we left to go to the mall.
15:45- Spent a total of 60₽ on transport to get to the mall
16:05- We arrived at the mall and it didn’t take long to find something she wanted. After checking a few stores, she settled for a black knee length coat with a fancy belt.
17: 08- We’re done and headed home, I spent a total of 60₽ on the bus ride again.
17:47- I’m close to my hostel, but I stopped at the grocery store to get some things. I usually cook for a week, and on the menu today is minced meat sauce and potato pottage. Got some fruits and the ingredients I need and the sum was 505₽.
17:55- Got home, and immediately started to cook. I had a meeting later and wanted to be as fast as possible.
19:45- Yaay! I was done cooking, quickly had some of my food and joined the meeting.
20:25- The meeting ended. I had a piece of cake with one of my roommates. The cake was delicious, I already started feeling tired and sleepy.
21:00- Browsing through my phone, I replied to important messages, did the dishes reluctantly, then later arranged my bed. I can’t say for sure what time I slept but I was on my back for a while.
My week was generally uneventful, but this is mostly how it goes especially within the session. Here’s the breakdown:
Transport- 720
Cafes and restaurants- 445
Health-300
Toiletries- 565
Groceries-1408
Total spent this week- 3,438
Do you track your spendings? What do you spend the most on during the week?
