fredoricko:
May this new year bring remarkable blessings to us all.

The wealth of information on this thread is to say the least priceless. I doubt if anything has been said about the financial capacity required for graduate school. It is in this vane, I implore those over there to please comment on how you all cope. It's true funding does a lot to upset tuition and some minor expenses for those who have access to monthly stipends. But in all, how much on the average would be sufficient for life in the US every month without constituting a nuisance over there- even with a well funded program?
I don't know much about others, but I believe I do not only speak for myself if I say that I've always wondered about what the financial implications on my sponsor over here in Nigeria will be.
I'd like for someone to please address this issues. And if it has been addressed before, then I may have missed it out of oversight; in which case I plead to be appropriately directed.
cc
SirRiddy
texrem
lagosismyhome
usnobeparadise
and others whose monikers now elude me.

USnobeparadise:

Yes, funding does a lot to offset tuition and expenses in case of stipend.
In case of financial capacity, first understand that every person's situation is different, I think the most accurate information about how much in average you will spend in a year, is the one specifically printed in your I-20. If you want it monthly, then divide by 12, and that can prevent constituting nuisance to the public or public charge ( immigration terms)

fredoricko:
May this new year bring remarkable blessings to us all.

The wealth of information on this thread is to say the least priceless. I doubt if anything has been said about the financial capacity required for graduate school. It is in this vane, I implore those over there to please comment on how you all cope. It's true funding does a lot to upset tuition and some minor expenses for those who have access to monthly stipends. But in all, how much on the average would be sufficient for life in the US every month without constituting a nuisance over there- even with a well funded program?
I don't know much about others, but I believe I do not only speak for myself if I say that I've always wondered about what the financial implications on my sponsor over here in Nigeria will be.
I'd like for someone to please address this issues. And if it has been addressed before, then I may have missed it out of oversight; in which case I plead to be appropriately directed.

USnobeparadise:

It can still be found in off the book. I don't think that EAD is the best, considering your F status unless u are on OPT ( or you got green card). If not, u know u have limit to the number of hours u will work, and if you exceed, u will be in violation of ur status.But no limits in off-the -book. Their tax is like 50% of the total pay, especially if you don't have any depedents. Whatever your pay is, is in your pocket if you do it under the table.

Simon21:

Yep

electronic:

I-20 estimates are slightly high.
$700 / month seems very fair to me.
At least from southern States.
Well I pray dollar drops before June.

amanze15:
bros 50% income tax haba , anway na way sha.

USnobeparadise:

Like I said before every person's situation is different. Maybe u have a low-spending habit, u spend lower than they estimate in the I-20, that doesn't make it to be high, it's in average, it's just that u have a low-spending habit. Don't forget that another person can still spend more than they estimate, and starts whining that they underestimate everything in the I-20.

amanze15:
awon ti slim thug

USnobeparadise:

Yes it happens. Maybe u don't get paid on the book. I did several times, the same story, then quitted. One guy from Bengal that has F status complained to me about that too. As for me, I don't use it considering my situation as of now, but I don't discourage people from using it either. It's good, when you go to your workplace, they treat you with respect, if they maltreat you in any form, you file a report to the authority. Even these taxes, you can at the end of the year, file for TAX RETURN, and get them back. But every one has his or her own choice

Simon21:

Lmao..you don know nunn but am gon tell you sunn

spaceshipz:
Hello family. It's been a wonderful experience all through, and the year 's gonna end soon. I pray we all go into 2016 together.

Mekurexx:
Happy New Year!! Welcome to US! Are you from Arondizuogu?

fredoricko:
May this new year bring remarkable blessings to us all.

The wealth of information on this thread is to say the least priceless. I doubt if anything has been said about the financial capacity required for graduate school. It is in this vane, I implore those over there to please comment on how you all cope. It's true funding does a lot to upset tuition and some minor expenses for those who have access to monthly stipends. But in all, how much on the average would be sufficient for life in the US every month without constituting a nuisance over there- even with a well funded program?
I don't know much about others, but I believe I do not only speak for myself if I say that I've always wondered about what the financial implications on my sponsor over here in Nigeria will be.
I'd like for someone to please address this issues. And if it has been addressed before, then I may have missed it out of oversight; in which case I plead to be appropriately directed.

anaccondac:
Are you Igbo? I asked him same question. That's Ideato-North LGA in Imo State

anaccondac:
You can actually get a better job with EAD that are better than off the book.

Mekurexx:
I am from Izuogu so I wanted to know if he was my brother. Make I send am e-kiss ( no homo). I'm from Okigwe LGA Imo

Mekurexx:
How does one get EAD or qualify for it?

anaccondac:
In as much as you have financial difficulty and can prove such you're good to go. Like affidavit of loss of sponsor etc. that aside, you need to have spend Atleast a year in school to qualify.

anaccondac:
I'm from Ideato-South. I'm sure you must have heard of Isiekenesi.

Mekurexx:
OK I understand... but for how long can one use the card? like does it has an expiration date? and will it still be valid after one graduates

Mekurexx:
Not sure I have heard that name before. Who/ what is it?

Mekurexx:
I am from Izuogu so I wanted to know if he was my brother. Make I send am e-kiss ( no homo). I'm from Okigwe LGA Imo

Simon21:

Yep

alldmoney:
Guys please how do I go about the vaccine ... and flight things seeing diff price on wakanow and not the same as the one at ethopian airline official site.

sirRiddy:
Depends on your income and fees you have to pay per semester.
My semester fees which include subsidised health insurance fee(145), engineering
equipment fee (171) and campus privilege fees(340) totals 656 dollars
Rent here is usually around 300 but can be as high as 600
depending on your taste. Also, most accommodation would require a
one-time deposit before you sign a lease. Mine was 400 dollars.
Grocery should be less than 100.
Utilities also depend on where you live. I pay for light (25 dollars)
and phone bills (40 dollars).
Unless I overspend or have emergency expenditure, my monthly spending
usually does not exceed 500 dollars.

In bigger cities like Austin, Boulder, or the east and west coast cities, the cost of
living is higher. However, grad students earn higher too to offset these expenses.
If you have about 1500 dollars before you arrive, you will be pretty comfortable before
stipends start coming in.

Mekurexx:
If you have full funding, tuition which is a large chunk will be offset but get ready to pay minor fees like student fees, computer, association fees etc which wont be up to $500. In my case, I paid rent for 3 months in advance which made me settle in quickly. I was able to save about $1k from work stipends. depending on the state, tax deductions vary. I'm charge over 100-150 in tax monthly. Groceries for me is $50 thats cuz I came with alot of naija food ingredients, I dont eat out because I have had disastrous experiences eating out, the most recent which was spending $45 on Chinese food at Manhattan which ended up in the trash (pls dont be like me). If you plan to get a car, thats extra expenses but the best way to save money is getting a decent phone plan and cheapest yet most comfy accommodation. I pay over $400 in rent comfortably but I plan to move to a $280 apartment so I can save more and maybe go on a vacation. bottom line is IGA difficult to save money here but its not impossible

USnobeparadise:

Yes, funding does a lot to offset tuition and expenses in case of stipend.
In case of financial capacity, first understand that every person's situation is different, I think the most accurate information about how much in average you will spend in a year, is the one specifically printed in your I-20. If you want it monthly, then divide by 12, and that can prevent constituting nuisance to the public or public charge ( immigration terms)

fredoricko:


Thanks a lot Mekurexx for your response.
Is it safe to infer from your response that from the moment one settles-in, one can expect to be financially independent?