Nowadays, sugarcane juice, noodles, lunch boxes… all increase in price. Students with 3 million are not enough, working people with 8 million do not have any left.
Many young people say they have to save money when prices of many goods increase - Photo: AN VI
Many students said that from the 3 million VND/month their family gave them, they still had some left over. Now, 3 million VND is only enough to live on if they know how to budget.
Meanwhile, young office workers with a salary of 8 million VND/month also have a very difficult life.
Vegetarian hot pot prices increase, extra rice is no longer free
It's only the 20th of the month, but Nguyen Thi Thu Phuong, a senior student at the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Ho Chi Minh City National University, said the living expenses her family sent her will only last for 4 more days.
This is not a new thing for Phuong, she always has instant noodles ready for the last days of the month. Phuong rarely goes out or has coffee with friends, does not snack and does not shop much, but every month she still has "lack of money".
Back in 2020, when she was a freshman, Phuong said her family sent her 3 million VND per month for living expenses. Living in a dormitory, Phuong did not have to pay extra for rent. If she only spent it on food and the occasional coffee with friends, she would still have a few hundred thousand left at the end of the month to shop.
Many students' families send 3 million VND but it is still not enough to spend - Photo: AN VI
“Since returning to school after the COVID-19 break, I have noticed that almost all food prices in the Thu Duc University Village area have increased.
For example, the broken rice restaurant I ate at before the pandemic, I ordered a plate of rice with ribs and an egg for only 22,000 VND, now it's up to 30,000 VND. The extra rice that students used to get for free now costs 2,000 VND/portion" - Phuong said.
Previously, on weekends, when roommates were tired of rice, they would invite each other to eat vegetarian hot pot. A group of 5 people ordered a hot pot for 3 people for only 90,000 VND. If divided, each person would only spend about 18,000 VND.
“Now a hot pot for 3 people like that costs up to 120,000 VND, divided by each person, it's equal to a plate of rice, not to mention the cost of drinks and other things.
So these "change of taste" dining out sessions gradually ended" - Phuong added.
With an average meal costing 30,000 VND in this area, if she doesn't skip meals, Phuong spends about 2.7 million VND on food each month, leaving only about 300,000 VND left for other expenses.
Phuong explained that she was in a dormitory so she was not allowed to cook in her room.
“But if I rent a room in the future, it will definitely cost more. 3 million VND for a month, even if I save, is not enough,” the young girl shook her head in disappointment.
Working 8 million VND/month, always lacking
For students like Phuong, if they run out of money at the end of the month, they can ask their family for more. For working people like Duong Trung Tinh (24 years old, living in Thu Duc City), things are more difficult.
Income is about 8 million VND per month, Calculating three large fixed expenses: gasoline is about 500,000 VND, accommodation is 2.5 million VND, food is 3 million VND... In addition, there are other expenses such as coffee and parties with colleagues.
Tinh said that most of his salary was just enough to eat and drink, and there was no surplus to send back to his family in the countryside.
“I work in Thao Dien area, I don’t see any restaurant with prices under 40,000 VND, if there are, they are very far away.
So I cook my own lunch and bring it with me. I wake up a little early to save money, because if I eat lunch at work, I will definitely lose money," Tinh said.
Calculate the time to buy promotional food in the supermarket - Photo: AN VI
To save money, Tinh often chooses to buy food in grocery stores after 7 p.m., which is when fresh products are discounted by 20-50%.
“If I buy meat or fish, I choose to buy them in grocery stores, and if I buy vegetables, I go to stalls in the market. At that time, most vendors will sell them cheaply, and they will also give me some onions and chili,” Tinh shared.
The young man also said he usually doesn't wash clothes at home to save money.
"The water price at my boarding house is quite high, instead of doing laundry at home, I go to a laundry shop once a week, each time costs 30,000 VND, a month only 120,000 VND, cheaper than buying soap and electricity and water" - Tinh confided.
Although Tinh is frugal with his spending, there are some unnecessary expenses that he cannot refuse. Especially coffee dates with colleagues, each time costs no less than 40,000 VND. Or at the end of the month, Tinh's group goes out drinking once, no less than 300,000 VND/person.
"Even though I tried to limit drinking parties, the whole group went out and I always made excuses that I was busy, which was so weird. I had to grit my teeth and only go out with everyone once a month," Tinh confided.
Source: https://tuoitre.vn/het-roi-thoi-com-them-mien-phi-sinh-vien-3-trieu-xai-khong-du-nguoi-di-lam-8-trieu-khong-co-du-20250224171616497.htm
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