Room and board for a year at UC Berkeley is $14,388. That's for nine months (June, July & August you have to vacate, IIRC). So, that's about $1,600 per month.

Room and board for a year at UC Berkeley is $14,388. That's for nine months (June, July & August you have to vacate, IIRC). So, that's about $1,600 per month. On the other hand, I lived in a fairly spacious apartment with one flat-mate; my half of the rent was $700. I don't remember how much I spent on food, but it was probably around $200 per month; utilities another $100. The apartment was a 20 minute walk from campus. So, off campus expenses for a living far more comfortable than cramped dorm life was about $1000 per month. Over the course of the three years it took me to complete my degree, that means I saved about $16,200 ($600 saved per month, 9 months per year, for three years). [That's "thousands and thousands".]