The thing about a car in cambridge is that you just don't need one. We recently moved to Cambourne (about 10 miles away) and I would never ever drive to work- the traffic is awful and there is very little car parking.
The buses are actually pretty good and are quite cheap. You can get a bus pass for a week for £10 and that pretty much goes everywhere within Cambridge. Its actually much cheaper than a car. Although I suppose when it comes to doing the weekly shopping I wouldn't be without a car!!
When I lived in college I had a car parking space.But Selwyn is slightly out of town. I think its tougher with the more central ones.
Perhaps think about applying to Selwyn, Robinson, Girton, Clare hall, Churchill which may (or maynot) have car parking spaces. I know Selwyn does.

simuzosha,
as sjo4 said we got a mortgage based on my hubbys wages and also my stipend. The first place would not consider us but we got one with the woolwich in the end.

Hi Jojo,
How are feeling now?
Hope you are feeling better now

Hi simuzosha,
I'm a member of selwyn. Its a pretty nice colleg but to be honest I don't go into college that much. I own my own house and we live alomost 10 miles out of cambridge.
Be careful putting both st johns and clare. They are both pretty popular. I think to be honest all colleges are pretty good. What ever college you get put in you will enjoy it.
Most college have couple accomdation and there are other places that you can rent form. The uni has a housing place which can help you. As a couple you will probably pay around £600-£700 a month for college accomadation (for both of you) although if you rent privately will be more. ALso there are bills. I think £1200 should be fine although it does depend how much your partner earns.
Hope that helps!!

I have to say I agree with you.
I am guilty of many of the same things. I spend so long on my phd I end tired strressed and ill. Its just not healthy. I think maybe you need to explain to your supervisor that you are still commited to your phd. I don't think its the amount of time you spend on your phd thats always important but the quality of the time.
AT the end of the day you need to look after yourself - thats the priority.

Einstein- "if you knew what you were doing it wouldn't be called research"

why would it be interesting to work at home Tomfinland?
I live with my husband and we live about 15 mins from my folks. I think not having to move saved so much hasssle. I did my undergrad 200 miles from home and much prefer being around my family and friends.

smilodon you are probably right- I don't live in London and its likely to be quite a bit more in London.
Although my husband thinks £30 is a rip off to cut hair - thinks hes in the wrong job!!

Hi Olivia,
I would ask for a wash,cut and blowdry, or just a cut and blowdry (most places will only cut your hair after washing it). This will involve styling hair after cut.
I normal pay between 20 and 30 pounds although you can pay much more!
Normally tip a few pounds as well (bout 10%)

hope this helps!

Hi everyine,
I'm fairly new to forum although have been reading it for a few months.
I feel really fed up with my phd at the moment. I am almost at the end of my second year and feel like I am going nowhere fast. I am trying desperately to stay motivated but it's so hard. My supervisor seems happy- but i just want to cry with it.
Any advice to keep going??

When I first started at I got a cheque for three months work. However in Sept 2006 I started getting paid monthly from the university. I think EPSRC must pay the university for all the students and then the university split the money up.
So sorry can't help much there
I also had a letter from the graduate office saying how much I got as proof of my earnings, but got them to be quite vague, so to make teh situation better. But as I said, we could of probably still got teh mortgage without my wage just with the hubby's.

Sorry can't be more help

Hi!
Me and my husband just bought a home together.
We kinda blagged it because I used pay slips as proof as my wages although it is an EPSRC stipend.
I think though that my husbands wages kinda counted more because he earned more than me. When we calculated how much we could borrow they used four times his wages and one of mine.
Hope this helps! Good luck!