OT School on a Budget
By Lindsey Hoffman, OT/S
Books, supplies, tuition, transportation, rent, utilities, conferences, and the “treat yo’ self” purchases (for occupational balance!); it all adds up. There is no question that getting your occupational therapy degree is a major investment. Managing your finances in OT school can be a challenge, but there are ways to make it work. Here are some tips and tricks that will help you stretch your dollar during school.
1. Budgeting: There’s an App for That!
One of the first ways to make sure you live within your means during school is to create and stick to a budget. Luckily it’s 2019, and there are several apps for that! If you have not used an app for budgeting yet, I would recommend starting with the tried and true, Mint. This app allows you to track your spending in each category (bills, utilities, transportation, etc.) and alerts you when you go over budget. There are countless free budgeting apps to explore. Find one that works for you and helps you stay on track. Knowing about these apps will also come in handy down the road when you help your clients develop skills for the IADL of money management.
2. Profit From Your OT Skills
If you’re considering working part-time during school, it could be helpful to find a job that allows you to develop your OT skills while you make some extra money. Throughout grad school, I had a work-study job (8–10 hours per week) at a children’s school operated by my university. I worked as a substitute teaching assistant in the preschool and kindergarten classrooms, which gave me the opportunity to interact with the pediatric population and apply my OT lens in a school-based environment. It’s also common for students to get work-study jobs in their university’s accessibility/disability services offices, a perfect opportunity to apply the advocacy skills you’re learning in school. Considering all you learn about developmental milestones and pediatric practice through coursework, families also love to hire OT students as babysitters. You can likely find babysitting or nanny jobs through your department or school-sponsored social media pages. Other opportunities for utilizing your therapeutic skills and making some extra money at the same time include PCA (personal care assistant) jobs or adaptive sports coaching.
3. Be a Foodie on a Budget
It may be tempting to pile ramen into your cart during your grocery trips; it’s cheap and easy. While ramen can come in handy during overwhelmingly busy times, it is very possible to eat healthy, diverse meals on a budget. The first step is finding simple recipes with reasonably priced ingredients. I frequently utilize the website Budget Bytes, which has hundreds of recipes built for small budgets. Each recipe includes a price breakdown of each ingredient, so I know approximately how much I’m going to spend on meals before I even get to the grocery store. The next step is meal prepping. Preparing your meals for the week will save you both time and money. Write down a list of ingredients you’ll need for the meals you plan to make for the week and stick to that list when you go shopping. I dedicate a few hours each Sunday to making two large meals and packing five servings of each for the week. That way I don’t have to worry about cooking during the school/work week. Lastly, remember that it is okay to treat yourself every now and then!
4. Buy Used Everything
Textbooks and school supplies can be a huge school expense, but they don’t have to be. Always check for used or rental textbooks before buying new. Helpful websites include Amazon Textbook Rentals and Chegg. It may also be beneficial to check your school’s library for opportunities to borrow textbooks you don’t plan on keeping after the semester is over. Sharing hard copy textbooks with other cohort members can also save you money. Remember that book-sharing only applies to hard copy books, not e-books requiring digital access codes. At the end of OT school, I realized that I had only purchased two textbooks, both used; the rest were shared or rented. Aside from textbooks, it is also helpful to apply the “buy used” principle to many of life’s expenses. Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace are great websites for finding cheap furniture and household items. If your city has an “Everything is Free *insert city here*” page, consider joining so you can snag some free items from your local community. When shopping for clothing, including interview attire, try your local thrift shop first.
5. Find Free Fun!
As you’ve been learning in school, occupational balance is very important for both your clients and yourself! It’s okay to take some time to enjoy life during school. Having fun does not have to put a strain on your bank account. Take advantage of student discounts while you can. Museums and other attractions often offer free or reduced admission for students. Locate free activities happening in your community by googling “free events *insert city*” or by searching on Eventbrite. If you’re looking for a community of like-minded individuals outside of your cohort, go to Meetup.com, make an account, and join groups in your area based on your interests. This is how I found a community of Deaf, hard-of-hearing, and ASL students in my area to practice my signing skills with. Reserving 1 or 2 hours each week for meeting new people allowed me to de-stress, find a sense of community in my city, and develop lifelong friendships.
With all the stress of studying, completing fieldwork, preparing for boards, or addressing other priorities in your OT journey, it’s important to manage the other stressors in your life including financial burden. Remember to make time for budgeting, buying smart, and saving up what you can. Lastly, always keep an eye out for additional funding opportunities such as graduate assistantships and scholarships; every bit helps!
Lindsey Hoffman is an entry-level master’s student at Tufts University Department of Occupational Therapy. She has completed the academic portion of her program and is currently completing her second Level II fieldwork placement at a skilled nursing facility. Her interests are in community-based practice, geriatrics, mental health, and health promotion.