I couldn't help but smile when I saw the topic of the prompt, a lot of us can relate to it especially if you're a Nigerian. One question that should be asked "how are you living and surviving this country economy". The economy of the nation is a major determining factor of the cost of living of so many Nigerians, we have those who aren't affected by the economy because of how and where they earn from, but majority of the population is affected. In a period of the last 12 - 18 months, the prices of goods and services skyrocketed to triple and more: it was worrisome, scary and bad. There were lots of valid, invalid, selfish and non selfish reasons why it was like that.
I live in an entirely different society. I stay off campus in the university and can say the most popular area in the whole school environment which made it to be a different case. The cost of living is quite high here than many other off campus places around and the whole reason is because of how they perceive the people that stay here, the kind of hostels, kind of cars and accessories guys use here. The prices of goods is always a bit higher than it is in other places.
Being a student can be financially stressful, especially to those who do not earn much or have no source of income except their parents or guardian. The constant need to buy or pay for something in school is crazy. You pay for several manuals in a semester, you print assignments, you pay for departmental and college dues, etc. All these will take roughly about $40 from you asides the school fee. Transportation and location is also a big factor for every student staying off campus. The distance from the school gate to the lecture hall is far enough to make the body very weak, so it's advisable to just get a cab. $2 is enough to cover for your transportation per week but if you stay far from the school gate then you'd probably need a bike and that's extra $4 per week.
Have you ever experienced spending a lot of money on things that are compulsory but a dime wasn't on yourself? That angry and painful feeling that you spent so much money but then realized you didn't even use any of that money to get yourself something: that's the life of student..... You are asked to buy and pay for this and that, $10 gone but then you haven't even figured out what to eat. You realize that and you feel so angry for being a student. You begin to imagine a lot of things you could have used the money to do for yourself. You have $10 today and by the next day you have nothing bevaue you had to pay for this and also eat.
Then, there is a constant need to be online to not miss out on informations from the school authority, lecturers and the head of department and head of class. This is where the need for constant electricity and data subscription comes in. Just recently, the price of data subscription has increased and it doesn't look fair at all. Buying same plan you normally get but for 3 times the price is crazy! And all the plans aren't so favorable so you just have to buy it.
Feeding is another level because of there are 3 categories of student in terms of feeding. Student who cook all their foods, student who cook but also order food or eat out and then we have students who always order or eat out: they don't cook because they can't or have no time to do that. I am in the first category, I cook a lot because I can cook and I like cooking. Then because I believe it is more profitable for me to but foodstuffs and cook than to order: very necessary to cut my coat according to my size for now since I'm in no competition with anybody.
Everyone is experiencing life in different ways or aspects. No finger are equals, there have been days I'd see someone trekking to school or back home while I'm inside the cab, countless times I've been on the bike when others are trekking and other times I'm the one trekking when some other people are on bike. Life is in phases, get yours right but make sure you strive to make it better. Complaining might seem the right thing to do but it isn't, while you're praying, wishing or working for more, you've got something others are praying to have. It is not easy, it is not fair, it is not balanced but it is has been proven a billion times that life isn't fair to those who sit and do nothing, you need to be tenacious, find something to do to make your life better one step at a time.
Just recently, I confirmed it myself that the cost of living in the school environment is far different from what it is in towns away from the school. So, changing location might be a lot helpful if other factor such as constant electricity supply, water and easy access to road, malls, shops, people, are available.
Life will be a lot easier if I have more source of income with good earnings. Getting a paid role as a graphic designer will make a lot of difference for me: enabling me to pay bills and also, over time save up to get more necessary gadgets, pay for courses and invest in knowledge and profitable investment.