Easy Money Saving Tips for International Students
Moving abroad for further education? Yay, you! Get ready to experience the best years of your life filled with fun parties, interesting people and unlimited opportunities to learn and grow. (Pssst..don’t forget about all the papers to you’ll have to write.) But you will definitely enjoy every bit of it. You cannot put a price on fun but let’s be real, it is not possible to have the best experience at college with mismanaged finances. Save yourself from money related hassles with these money-saving tips for students:
1. Buy used books
Buying books for college is one of the major initial academic expenses. Sadly, university books are more expensive than high school books. But the good part is, you can buy second-hand books too! Share this money-saving tip with your new friends, so all students can benefit together!. More and more college students have started buying used books instead of brand new ones. Not only does it save money but the books which have already been used by people before have some good notes and highlights that will help you while studying. Confused about where to find used books? Simply ask one of the seniors if they can lend their books to you. Many websites sell and buy second-hand books online. Everybody loves the smell of new books but trust us, the extra cash will make you happier!
2. Look for second-hand accessories and clothing shops around you
Buying second-hand clothes and accessories is a great money saving hack, especially for students who love being fashionable on a budget. Many clothing-swap events are held on campus where you can get a fresh outfit without actually paying cash for it. Just swap it with any outfit you’re bored of and you get a cool new outfit for free! Want to host one clothing-swap party yourself? Check out: Hosting the Perfect Night In at Your Student Accommodation to explore some more party ideas.
The other cool way to find second-hand clothes is to explore the flea markets in your city. Find the one closest to you and you won’t be coming back empty-handed for sure! Eyeing on an expensive Prada bag? These flea markets, second hand or thrift shops usually have designer products at a throw-away price. Check out the cool flea-market challenges on YouTube. Find a friend and take the challenge. The best part about recycling clothes is that you will be contributing towards a more sustainable environment. Now, that an ideal win-win situation!
3. Working while studying
If you look around, there are many great part-time jobs for college students. So, finding one that interests you won’t be too hard. Taking up a part-time student job can help you manage your expenses, so you have some saved cash in hand for your weekend getaways or weekend splurging in the coolest clubs in town. However, do your research about the countries which allow or do not allow students to work while studying. The United States of America, the United Kingdom, Australia, France, Germany and Spain are some of the countries that encourage students to work part-time. Some cool part-time job ideas for students are babysitting, dog-walking, working at restaurants or even volunteering for a social cause. If you don’t want to leave the campus to find a job, you can find one right there as well. It will also help you strengthen your resume for life after college.
4. Home cooking is the way to go
Moving out for the first time sounds all fun and games until it is dinner time. You cannot keep on only eating pizza by exploiting your dominos student discount for every meal, right? Learn how to prepare some quick home-cooked meals recipes and adapt a healthier lifestyle right from the beginning of college. Cooking isn’t as difficult as it looks. Nobody expects you to prepare a three-course meal like your mom. It is all about having a healthy diet.
Bonus money-saving tips for students:
- Research about the fully-funded or partially funded scholarships offered at the universities that you are applying for. Living abroad can be expensive for international students and these scholarships will ensure that you don’t face any financial struggles at college.
- Switch to a local SIM card to avoid paying gigantic phone bills.
- Fly for less by booking flights through Skyscanner.com. You will find plenty of comparatively cheaper flights on this website.
- Use your student ID to avail special student discounts at restaurants. It can get you crazy discounts at tourist destinations as well.
- Get a credit card from a bank that charges 0% international fee from students.
- Use apps like Transferwise, PayPal and Venmo for quick money transfers. You can make a non-resident account during your time at college. It is a super-easy way to make online payments or transfer money. It works in most countries.
- Students moving to the UK can avail an NUS Extra Card to enjoy student discounts at restaurants, bars and clubs.
And there you have it, tiger! With these money-saving tips for students you are ready to have ultimate fun without anything holding you back.
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