Smart Spending
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One of the biggest questions I got after studying abroad was, “How much money did you spend?”
The truth is, studying abroad can get expensive really quickly. Between weekend trips, eating out with friends, groceries, and wanting to experience everything your new city has to offer, it’s easy to feel like your savings disappear overnight.
But after spending a semester in Sydney, I found a few simple ways to stretch my budget without feeling like I was missing out.
Flash that Student ID!
So many places, like the zoo, restaurants, clothing stores, and other activities like intramural sports and arcades, give discounts just for showing your student ID! Even places near universities often offer student deals on certain days. For example, one bowling alley offered $7 unlimited rounds on Mondays! Some restaurants even have student combo deals like $10 banana bread and coffee on a certain day of the week!
A few of my friends actually made a running list of restaurants they wanted to try that also offered student discounts. It helped them save money while also checking out even more places!
Take Advantage of Orientation Week!
At the University of Sydney’s Welcome Week, there were so many vouchers handed out to students! From skydiving and sports to nightlife and local stores, take advantage because it’s such a fun way to explore the experiences nearby while saving some $$$.
Does Your School Offer Anything?
At USYD, a few of my classmates purchased the university student union membership, which was around $50 AUD for the semester. They got free coffee on Fridays, huge discounts on lunches they grabbed between classes, and it made joining clubs and societies on campus cheaper, too.
For a lot of my classmates who commuted to campus, this was honestly a lifesaver!
Make a Budget Sheet
Using a spreadsheet to track your spending and budget can be so helpful, especially for seeing exactly where your money is going. I also heard someone say that they only carried the amount of cash they planned to spend that day, which is another great way to stay on budget.
For me, tracking my spending helped me see exactly where my money was going. It also helped a TON with grocery shopping! Having a budget meant I could make sure I still had money set aside for all the extra fun things.
Look Into Study Abroad Scholarships!
Aside from what Hope gives you or what your program offers, don’t forget to look at what your university might provide too, especially if you’re a direct-enrollment student.
I had a friend who was paid by the university she studied abroad at to make social media posts for their study abroad Instagram! She ended up using that money for some of our weekend adventures and nights out with friends, which made budgeting so much easier for her. Not only does your school offer this, but your study abroad program (CIEE, IES, etc.) offers fun ways to make money through blogging, social media posts, and even referral links!
Look Into What Your Program Offers!
I personally studied through CIEE, but CIEE, IES, and WorldStrides all offer super cool day or weekend trips as part of the student activity fee! I went on a few, and it was such a fun way to do really cool activities. For example, CIEE planned a hiking trip, provided meals for us, and they even got tickets to sports games and a Sydney Opera House show!
The weekend trips are fun too because the program provider organizes everything from activities, rides, and hotel accommodations! I would definitely recommend going, and it’s a fun way to meet new people!
That’s what I’ve got so far! But honestly, and take this with a grain of salt, if you’ve saved money specifically for studying abroad, remember that money comes back, but these experiences don’t.
Be smart with your spending. Use the student discounts. Make a budget. Take advantage of the resources around you.
But if you have the means and you’ve been saving for this experience, don’t let money keep you from making memories you’ll remember forever.
Happy spending!
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