By Nick Such

How to Budget for a Coding Bootcamp

Embarking on a coding bootcamp can be an exciting and transformative journey, but it’s essential to be financially prepared for the experience. Whether you’re considering enrolling in Awesome Inc’s Web Developer Bootcamp or a similar program, creating a well-thought-out budget is crucial to ensure you can focus on your studies without constantly worrying about money. In this article, we’ll provide you with a basic guide on how to budget for a 3-month coding bootcamp, including monthly expense breakdowns and money-saving tips.

Monthly Expense Breakdown

Before we dive into budgeting tips, let’s break down the average monthly expenses you might encounter while attending a coding bootcamp. For the sake of this analysis, we’ll assume that you’re living in beautiful Lexington, KY, home to Awesome Inc. A great resource to benchmark expenses for the city you live in is the Living Wage Calculator from MIT. Keep in mind that these are rough estimates and can vary depending on your location, lifestyle, family situation, and personal choices.

Expense Category	Estimated Monthly Cost
Housing	$600 - $1,200
Transportation	$450 - $1,250
Food	$300 - $1,000
Medical	$250 - $650
Internet/Phone	$50 - $100
Miscellaneous	$100 - $200
Total	$1,750 - $4,400

Using this basic monthly budget, let’s consider what you’d need to cover your expenses during the timeline of a typical coding bootcamp. For a course like Awesome Inc’s Web Developer Bootcamp, there are 4 weeks of remote part-time instruction, then 12 weeks intensive weeks of full-time instruction, followed by up to 6 months in a job search phase. While income opportunities will be limited during the intensive phase, it will be possible to work at least part-time during the other phases. If you assume no income during the 12 week intensive phase, you’ll be looking at needing roughly 3 months of expenses saved up, or from $5,250 - $13,200. While that may seem like a daunting amount, let’s look at some ways to reduce the amount you’ll need to save up, and some ways to make sure you’re in good financial shape.

Saving Money During the Program

We’ve looked at typical expenses here, but you’re not typical, are you? To help keep your burn rate as low as possible while attending a coding bootcamp, it’s helpful to review your spending habits and explore ways to reduce your expenses:

1. Cook at Home: Preparing meals at home is generally more cost-effective than dining out. Plan your meals and groceries wisely to save on food expenses.
2. Carpool or Use Public Transportation: If you can share rides or use public transportation, you can save on fuel and parking costs. Awesome Inc is a short walk from Lextran’s central Transit Center, and we also offer indoor bicycle parking.
3. Cut Unnecessary Expenses: Review your budget for areas where you can cut back. This might include dining out less, canceling unused subscriptions, or finding cheaper alternatives for your necessities. As your time will be focused on intensive learning, you may find yourself naturally cutting back on entertainment expenses like movie tickets or outings.
4. Sell Unneeded Items: Before starting the bootcamp, consider selling items you no longer need to generate some extra cash. Such as those time-consuming hobbies you’ll be putting on hold during bootcamp…
5. Avoid Credit Card Debt: Try to avoid using credit cards for non-essential purchases. High-interest credit card debt can quickly spiral out of control.
6. Stay Focused: Remember that the bootcamp is an investment in your future. Stay focused on your studies and job hunting to secure a high-paying job after graduation.

Tips for Financial Preparation

Here are a few ways that you can begin to prepare yourself to navigate the financial needs of participating in a coding bootcamp program:

1. Create a Budget: Once you have an idea of your monthly expenses, create a detailed budget that includes all your income sources and expected expenses. This will help you track your spending and stay on target.
2. Emergency Fund: Set aside an emergency fund before starting the bootcamp. Having some savings to fall back on can provide peace of mind in case unexpected expenses arise. You’ll want to focus your attention on learning new tech skills, not worrying about replacing a dead car battery.
3. Scholarships and Financial Aid: Explore any scholarships or financial aid options offered by the bootcamp or external organizations. This can significantly reduce your costs during the program. Awesome Inc offers several options for deferred tuition, including an Income Share Agreement (ISA) where you don’t begin tuition payments until you land a job.

Insider tips from Awesome Inc Bootcamp Alumni

We’ve asked our alumni for some tips on how they actually made it through the program. Here are some real ways that people like you have made it work:

• Build Your Savings Now: work overtime or pick up a side gig for a few months before the program starts to save extra money.
• Find Roommates: move in with family or friends to limit living expenses during the program and the job search process. If you currently live on your own, this can also be helpful to have someone (outside of your bootcamp peers and instructors) to lean on for encouragement during a challenging program.
• Work part-time: Awesome Inc students agree to make the Bootcamp their full-time professional focus during the 12-weeks of the core program, but students can still work up to 8 hours a week. This is a great way to keep the cash flow going, especially with a weekend job in food service or retail.
• Loan from Family or Friends: we’ve had several students with generous, trusting family members or friends who have provided a personal loan for tuition or living expenses during the program. Your mileage may vary on this one!
• Support from a spouse or partner: if you are fortunate enough to live in a two-income household, this may be an option for you.

Budgeting for a 3-month coding bootcamp requires careful planning and discipline. By following these tips and being proactive in managing your finances, you can make the most of your bootcamp experience without unnecessary financial stress. Finally, be sure to keep your eyes on the destination - our average grad sees an $18k salary lift from their prior job to their first job post-bootcamp!