I am sort of a perpetual student and have been working and studying for many years now (and don't intent to stop). I study at the Open University which has significantly higher tuition fees than any of the other 8 universities in Israel. My monthly expenditures total at most NIS 5,000/month, including everything listed in the article and more! (in the center of the country, and without leisurely activities, I could lower this to less than 4,000). The people who spend over NIS 6,000/month are usually children of the rich who have no knowledge on how to save money properly, and are used to a quality of life that's not found in most Israeli homes. I do agree that we should try to lower tuition fees so that more people can go to college in the first place, but to those who overspend I say: cry me a river. Here are a few simple rules to save money: 1) Sell your car, use public transportation 2) If you rent a home, have roommates. 3) Rent in Bat Yam or Petah Tikva is much cheaper than rent in Tel Aviv or Ramat Gan. 4) For everything you'll be using only temporarily, like your course books (if applicable), look for second hand products (often they will be free!) 5) Most importantly, take a job! The employment opportunities for full-time students in central Israel are limitless (including full-time jobs like guarding indoors, where you can study as much as you want). In the periphery, your expenditures will be lower so it's less important.

The world is in the state as it is now... not very promising!... because the leaders have their priorities wrongly ranked. One of the most prominent priorities should be the education of our children... the adults of the future. Through educations we are able to communicate with one another, understand one another, and build our future with one another. Therefore, because it is of national concern education should be free of charge up to the moment the person joins the workforce. For your information Google “The World Monetary Order to Come”.

I too am a perpetual student, I live on the cheap, I work like a dog. But I fail to understand how you can say 4,000 shekels a month sufficient. I'm a single mum, so roommates are not an option.My rent is 2300 add in food and utilities and it reaches 4,000. Do you live on bread and water with roommates in a one room apartment or are you living rent free somewhere? What is your secret?

I don't think it strange for parents to help their kids with college expenses (unless the "kids" have decided to go to college after spending years in the workforce.) I think these students are spending more than they need to. In order to get a degree, it's often necessary to live bare bones for a few years. Living with roommates, eating out very seldom (including packing a lunch from home), doing without a car, limiting going out to places that cost money, very little new clothes. It's only for a few years until the degree is received.