I start my PhD this year and receive a EPSRC Doctoral Training grant of £12000 per year. Thing is, I know very little about this. This money is MINE to spend as I please???? I know it is to cover living expenses etc...but I can think of it just as a salary from which I can put some into savings etc.

Hope you understand what I am trying to ask.
NP.

This money is yours to do what you want with it, even better, it is tax-free. It is your salary/wage and it is yours, so spend it all on beer

go on holiday too

Thanks for the info guys. It's good to know. I just thought that I would be obliged to use it in a useful way...not blow it on booze and holidays. BUT thats great that I can!!!!

Just make sure you find out when it will DEFINATELY start getting paid to you.

buy a car then?

And whilst buying that car buy some beer

Why everyone just think about beer??? spend on girls and ladies it is better

Save it all up and buy a big house.

Nino- If you go to a strip bar, you can spend it on girls and beer. Or you can go out in town and drink beer and get a prostitute on the way home, better yet get two bisexual prostitutes.