Semarang — Students from Universitas Negeri Semarang face pressure to manage finances as limited monthly budgets must cover daily needs. Most spending goes to essentials, forcing students to apply strict budgeting.
Two students reported monthly budgets ranging from Rp800,000 to Rp1,000,000, mostly supported by their parents. This limited amount requires careful planning for daily expenses.
Food is the biggest expense. One student estimated that food and fuel take up 50% to 70% of their budget. Another student confirmed the same pattern. “My biggest expense is food since I need to buy meals daily,” the student said.
To manage finances, both use disciplined strategies. One student records every expense to monitor spending. “Each thing I spend my money on, I write it,” the student said. Another sets a daily spending limit, mainly for meals.
However, both face challenges in controlling spending. One student struggles to manage personal desires, while the other fights the urge to buy unnecessary items. “My biggest challenge is fighting the urge to buy things I don’t really need,” the student said.
With limited budgets, students must rely on discipline and careful planning to meet daily needs.
