How to save money while studying?

How to save money while studying

One of the hardest things about studying in Australia is staying within a budget. The cost of living in Australia is not exactly cheap, and if you don’t have the right management skills, things may slip off your control easily.

For an International students, accommodation and tuition fees are the highest spendings while studying in Australia.

If you are a student on a budget who is seeking how to save money while pursuing your studies, here are a few steps to save money while studying in Australia.

1. Public Transportation

Students can travel by public transport is a reliable and cheap way to move around the city. Most universities are either campus-based or city-based with excellent public transport links.

Check if there are weekly/monthly passes available or student discounts available on transport services that you can regularly use.

 2. Weekly Budget

A great way to save is to create a weekly budget. A simple way to budget while still being flexible is to take a certain amount of cash out at the beginning of the week and use only that amount for all your expenses – public transportation, food, entertainment, and household items. You don’t need to keep track of every little purchase or what you spent money on, but can simply look at the amount of cash you have left.

3. Use Your TEAN Network

Your included Cairns Orientation and Great Barrier Reef Excursion with TEAN is a great way to jump-start your study abroad adventure and meet others studying all over Australia. Keep in touch with the friends you meet during orientation – when you’re traveling around Australia you might have the opportunity to reach out and stay with them. One of the great things about Australia is how accessible traveling is. If you walk down the main street in Sydney, Melbourne, or Perth you can’t miss all of the tour companies and travel agencies.

4. Use Your Student ID

Are you aware that with your student card you can get discounts at certain stores and restaurants, transportation fares and even movie tickets? Restaurants and food stalls in most food courts will have a student discount! Just show them your student card and you will receive a 10% discount or free drink! There is a concession price for movie tickets too! Just visit any cinema and show your student card. Depending on cinemas, Mondays or Tuesdays are cheap movie days.

And international students in Adelaide are offered the same public transport discounts as local students which can save you hundreds of dollars every year.

5. Cooking at Home

Cooking your meals is cheaper than eating out or buying food. Not only does it helps you in saving money, but it also allows you to spend quality time with your friends or roommates. The average cost of devouring a classic burger out of a café can cost over $15.This is excluding the travel expenses and any other money you would spend after the meal, before reaching home,

Meanwhile, the cost of cooking the same meal at your home can come down to as much as $5.This can save three times more money. You can also pack your lunch if you cook greater quantities and the cost of the meal can be shared with your friends.

6. Look for a Part-Time Job

Australia is known for paying a living wage, not a minimum wage. This tip is quite helpful for students who are seeking casual work.

International students are allowed to work part-time while studying. If you are on a student visa then you’ll be allowed to work 40 hours per fortnight.

You can work as a waiter or barista to make a little spending money. If you want to try your luck in some other fields, you can talk to your university's resident director about it as they might have some good advice for you.

7. Buy Books (and other items) Second Hand

The freshers will often jump to buy the newest edition, only to realize, that the book simply gathered dust in the corner throughout the year. Look for copies in the library before buying any new books. If required, try buying used books from students who just completed the course. Several websites offer great prices on used college books.

This idea of finding the best prices by shopping used products doesn't apply only to books. You can save big by searching for used clothing, furniture, and electronics.