<p>Our DD has decided to live off-campus. I need some input for budgeting as we are not from Evanston and are not familiar with the normal cost of living. Other than the rent, what kind of monies should we earmark for utilities, food, other items not mentioned?
She is living is a 3 bedroom "apt" in a converted house near campus. The house has been modified into a tri-plex, with each floor having its own bathroom and own kitchen, and 3 bedrooms. It does not have a/c-so use of fans/electricity high in the summer months. I have been told there are separate meters for each floor.
What do you budget students? Parents of students on financial aid, how do you handle these expenditures? I sure could use you guidance, ideas-Thank you! APOL-a mom</p>
<p>Unless you are from New York City, you will probably be surprised by the cost of living in Evanston, which is probably higher than Chicago itself. I just went to Chipotle for a burrito, chips, and a drink, and it was $12.</p>
<p>We pay about $100/mo for electricity in a 3BR apartment where most people are out for most of the day, we are pretty good about turning lights off, and we use energy-saver bulbs. From talking to friends, this is more-or-less normal, expect electricity costs anywhere from $60-120 for a 3BR.</p>
<p>A ticket to a movie costs $10, drinks at a bar (even if you don’t approve) cost $3-7. Fast food costs $7-12, and eating out at a sit-down restaurant will be close to or over $20, even for breakfast at a moderately-priced restaurant.</p>
<p>Train tickets downtown are anywhere from $4.50 round trip (on the el) to $7 (on the Metra), and doing anything in the city will cost at least $20. Even going to a museum costs close to $25. The Lincoln Park Zoo is about the only free activity downtown (and highly recommended).</p>
<p>Hope this helps</p>
<p>I’m living in Evanston this summer.</p>
<p>Besides rent, I havent got my first utility bill yet but comcast internet/cable + util is probably in the $150 mo/range split between my roomate and I. </p>
<p>Food, I think we spent $200 as an initial cost for some staples… oil, sugar, spices, etc plus about $60-80/week for the two of us for food that we cook at home. STRONGLY suggest if they dont have car, find a friend who does that will let them use it to go to Jewel or Sams Club, the Whole Foods is a huge budget buster. </p>
<p>Alcohol for two fraternity bros: 12-pack a week ($6/person) + a drink or two at the bars ($10)
- a little extra for partier nights.</p>
<p>Then theres the variable costs
Haircut ($16 every month, so like $4/week)
Laundry ($4/week)
Entertainment ($10/week to average it out)
Toiletriese/general house upkeep like cleaning supplies ($20/mo)</p>
<p>Looking at the $120-150/week range for non rent expenses, if I did my math right. I may have overestimated on a few things.</p>
<p>Thus far, if I chose not to eat out ever, I could eat for roughly $50 a week. Cooking can be very very cost effective, but only if you have access to a car and can thus shop at Costco (highly recommended!).</p>
<p>Evanston is very expensive on the surface of it, but it can be very affordable, as long as you try to make it so, but that escapes most students. If you’re from an area like the suburbs of NYC (Westchester, Greenwich, Sayosset, etc.) then you’ll find hte pricing to be somewhat cheaper, but think along those lines. Eating out can be cheaper than previously described, but thats only if you’re willing to “rough it” and not go to the nicer restaurants, again something that seems to escape many students.</p>
<p>There’s a budgeting worksheet on the fin. aid website here: [Northwestern</a> University - Undergraduate Financial Aid](<a href=“http://ug-finaid.northwestern.edu/topics/current/living_off_campus.html]Northwestern”>http://ug-finaid.northwestern.edu/topics/current/living_off_campus.html)</p>
<p>elsijfdl, suppasonic, and arbiter213-
All of you are always so good about responding to NU posts, and I want you to know how much I needed your help. Thank YOU! I really was in the dark. EEE-Gads, Chipolte charges $12 for just a burrito/drink & chips! Incredible! Needless to say-a lot more money than I thought-so-my DD will be appreciative when I “understand” things are more expensive.
For those students/parents of students who may benefit, I wanted to share something that may be helpful–my DD talked to the current renter about buying her furniture-and they were able to work out a deal that worked for both of them. This way DD did not need to schlep a new bed, dresser, desk, bookshelves, dining room table, 2 chairs & a couch. It was a win/win scenario.
Students-was there something your parents bought you that you would recommend? or that you really didn’t need and wish they hadn’t? or ideas for things you’d like-ie-cookbooks/kitchen items/gift cards to specific stores in Evanston?
I truly appreciate your help! and ideas-APOL-a mom</p>
<p>You can get away with a burrito and a water cup for $7 at chipotle :p.</p>
<p>Lets see…I’m kind of in the same boat, the peoples house I’m subletting just left their furniture. I like drinking coffee, and my $40 Mr. Coffee espresso machine my parents bought me has more than paid for itself by making $3 drinks much much cheaper.</p>
<p>Like arbiter said, if she doesn’t have one, a Sam’s club card may be worth it–if she has the transportation to go there every week or two. </p>
<p>As far as kitchen items go, mine was more or less stocked with what we needed from the previous residents. I cook, so I make good use out of them. I’m sure you know the basics that might be needed – sauce pan, frying pan, pot for boiling past, etc. </p>
<p>We quickly found we needed a plunger the very first day, and we still haven’t found any place that sells flyswatters -_- (during a random hatch last week we killed 80 flies with flipflops and a folded FedEx envelope). We really did not want to use the washing machine every other day so when my roomate returned from home with extra glasses it was pretty clitch.</p>
<p>But we were pretty much able to get everything we needed from Target, Sam’s Club, and Ace Hardware.</p>
<p>Knives are hard to find in evanston, and despite having a freakishly well stocked kitchen otherwise, we still lack a knife block. So that’s one thing.</p>
<p>I also highly recommend a nice rice cooker (if you eat a lot of rice). The decent ones double as a slow cooker, so they’re easy to use and cook things in ways that aren’t duplicated. A grill press of some kind is also a huge asset (foreman grill, Cuisinart griddler (preferred as it doubles as a flat griddle)).</p>
<p>And yes, buying much or all of the previous occupants furniture is always a good plan, assuming you look it over first. </p>
<p>Overall all you need for a kitchen is frying pans, a wok, a few pots, and a baking sheet, but more is helpful.</p>
<p>Also remember the little condiments and spices at the begining, as they’re expensive up front!</p>
<p>do most students live off-campus after freshman year or after sophomore year?</p>
<p>Most live off campus after sophomore year, but many move off after freshmen. Many also enter their greek houses for sophomore year.</p>
<p>Mostly sophomores and juniors. Your summer people tend to be people either taking orgo/bio/MCATS/other tough classes they dont want to take during the year, summer internships, or research. Freshman tend to be of the first group, sophomores and juniors the latter two.</p>
<p>Knives hard to find? are you serious? You can get a full set of knives in the knife block, including steak knives for $29.99 at Bed Bath. A full set of non-stick pots and pans (and it comes with some utensils and bowls) for $49.99 at Bed Bath. And if you have one of their 20% off coupons it will be even less. Okay, not the best quality, but you’re in school and don’t need Wustoff Knives or Calphalon pots.
Craigs list for used furniture. cash and carry.</p>