If school doesn’t humble you with the workload, it will humble you financially. Between textbooks that seemed to cost a fortune 📚, transport fares that magically increased overnight 🚎💨, and the occasional (or frequent) cravings for something other than the food in your fridge 🍕, money always found a way to disappear faster than I expected! 😨
But here’s the thing—I never went hungry. I wasn’t living large, but I was okay. Why? Because I learned the art of survival.
📝 The Survival Rules
🔹 The first rule: Learn to cook. 👩🏽🍳🔥
Not just rice and noodles, but real, survival-mode cooking. The kind that stretches ingredients without sacrificing taste.
I became a master of stews, soups, and one-pot meals that could last a whole week.
Before medical school, I wasn’t cooking, and I never thought I’d need that lifesaving skill 😅
By the time I was deep into my studies, cooking had become a financial strategy.
🔹 The second rule: Shop smart. 🛍️💡
Monthly market runs became my secret weapon.
Instead of impulse-buying from expensive mini-marts near campus, I took the time to go to the local market, compare prices, and buy in bulk.
I learned the best times to get fresh produce 🥦, how to negotiate with vendors, and which staple foods gave me the best value for my money.
🔹 The third rule: Needs over wants. 🚫🛒
This was painful at first, but I quickly realized that prioritizing essentials over impulse spending was the key to financial peace.
❌ No, I didn’t need that extra snack.
❌ No, I didn’t need a fancy drink after meals.
Every little amount saved was another day of not stressing over money.
📌 Key Lessons
✅ Financial discipline is survival. You don’t have to be rich to be comfortable—you just need to be smart with what you have.
✅ Cooking is a life skill, not just a hobby. If you want to save money as a student, learn how to make good food with simple ingredients.
✅ Planning ahead prevents unnecessary spending. A structured shopping routine saves you from random, costly purchases.
✅ Living within your means is not suffering. Society might make it seem like you need luxury to be happy, but true contentment comes from managing what you have wisely.
To every student trying to make ends meet: You don’t have to be rich to survive—you just have to be resourceful. 🏆
And if nothing else, at least you’ll graduate with solid money management skills. 💡🎓
By : Dr. Joshua Kwasi Safo
KNUST SMS Alumni
Get in touch via:
@Joshua Sarfo MD KNUST SMS
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Posted by: Dr. Richeal Shola Makinde, UCC School of Medical Sciences Alumni, LinkedIn Profile
