“It’s not about money, but sending a message.” — Joker, The Dark Knight

“Poverty entails fear, and stress, and sometimes depression; it means a thousand petty humiliations and hardships. Climbing out of poverty by your own efforts, that is indeed something on which to pride yourself, but poverty itself is romanticised only by fools.”  — J.K. Rowling

My summer trip to NYC,  London, and Edinburgh cost me US$ 2500 in total. It includes $900 for transportation, $400-500 for accommodation, and $1000 for food, souvenirs, tickets, and others. And my spending has also increased in the last year. It includes an increase in rent, food expenses and six TKD testing. As a result, I not only don’t have any saving during the past year, but also had a big money problem during the summer. It was fortunate that I got extra TA sessions in the summer to cover some costs.

It’s funny that you won’t realize its importance until you don’t have it. But then again, being a graduate student means choosing to be poor. And there is a difference between being poor and choosing to be poor.

Cut back unnecessary expenses.