Whether you are studying or living abroad, your spending habits (as well as income) can fluctuate widely.
I mean… food, for one.
Bars. Museums. Cafes.
And getting to know your new neighborhood is another.
We’ve been there!
If you are hoping to rein in your spending during your time abroad, here is a guide to save on common expenses.
(As a note, if you haven’t yet created a budget or started a bank account dedicated to your time abroad, those are great first steps!)
1. If you are planning on traveling someplace for the weekend, research different modes of transportation to see which offers the best overall deal.
If you are located someplace that has multiple modes or transportation available, compare the price / timing of the buses, trains, and planes.
Are you okay with an overnight bus to save money on a night of accommodation as well as transportation costs?
Or do you prefer just getting to your destination in the shortest amount of time?
2. Food and drink can bankrupt you… unless you plan ahead.
Meal planning and budgeting isn’t just for families anymore!
If your meals are not included in your program costs (or your homestay family doesn’t provide meals), it will be hugely beneficial to price out meals at local establishments compared to groceries.
If you plan on going out multiple nights per week (while completing all of your homework and making good choices, of course!), make sure to budget ahead of time for drinks, food, transportation, and any associated fees, and apply this cost estimate to each night you plan to go out.
3. Walk, or buy a bike.
Walking is a great way to see more sides to a city, and biking allows for more exploration at a slightly higher speed! Make sure to review the biking laws in your city before setting out.
The best case scenario for this situation would be if you found a bike that another student left behind. #winning.
4. If you enjoy reading, borrow books from your library back home… digitally.
Many libraries in the US have started lending books out to their members through the Overdrive app.
(I’ve been happily using this app for years).
As with anything, there are benefits and drawbacks to using the app:
Pros: You can download the books from anywhere (I have successfully accessed and downloaded books over WiFi in Taiwan, Korea, Thailand, Norway, Sweden, Guadeloupe, England, Turkey, India, Morocco, Ecuador…). Also, free is a great price for something that you wanted to access anyway!
Cons: if you are not a patient person, you might have to remain on the waitlist for months before you can access a book if there are people who have placed holds on the books before you. I have been able to download a book immediately, and I have also waited 9 months for a book before.
But, again, I love not spending money on books.
5. Check for free entry days in your host city to save on entertainment.
Many major cities have fabulous museums that have occasional free (or reduced) entry days. Also, museums typically offer reduced entry for students.
(And some countries – we’re looking at you, Norway – allow student fares even if you don’t have your ID).
My favorite thing in Paris was the free museums on the first Sunday of the month. While I had to meditate whilst maneuvering the crowds, I loved paying just the Metro fare to visit the Louvre… Again.
6. If you are under the age of 26, try to get student discounts.
For the most part, you would only have to show your university ID or your passport (some places accept a copy) in order to receive student discounts to save on service costs.
This can be applied to transportation, entertainment, and maybe even food.
However, some places may give discounts for services for people of student age (even if you aren’t in college anymore).
7. Ask one of your new host friends for a language, food, or cultural exchange.
If you are thinking of enrolling in language classes or want more out-of-class experience with a language, ask one of your new friends!
I have been known to “pay” my friend in admiration, coffee, food, and language exchange.
8. If you are traveling with a group of people, check for group discounts.
This goes primarily for tours, transportation, and lodging (depending on the size of your group).
A great example for a group of 4 people is that, in Korea, the KTX (the high speed train that traverses the country) has four-top tables that are sold as a package of 4 and are cheaper than 4 seats individually.
9. Compare everything.
From visiting a grocery store that is farther off the beaten path to roaming down multiple side roads to find the cheapest meals, it is important to compare all prices for all services to save money overall.
If you are in a country that values haggling, know when and where you are able to haggle so that you do not unintentionally offend a vendor!
10. Check your local visitors’ center – or a religious center – for free things to do.
I have managed to find a number of free festivals, as well as weekly cultural events while abroad (most of the visitors were small children, but I learned a lot about the culture!).
Here are just some of the cool things I have done for free because of asking someone or a visitor center locally:
- Scuba dive under the Eiffel Tower (twice, because if it’s free, why not?)
- Participate in a Lantern Festival (and write my wish on the lantern!)
- Get a guided tour of… A million different cities
- Practice tai chi in a park at dawn with a bunch of Chinese seniors
- Salsa dance under a bridge with hundreds of others at night in Mexico
- Walk the entire High Line in NYC (okay, this is a stretch… but it is my favorite thing to do in NYC AND it’s free!)
- Dance the night away for the Fete de la Musique in Paris (complete with free metro access all night)
- Attend free weekly traditional Korean musical and theater performances
- Participate in a traditional tea ceremony in Japan
- Tour the many block stretch of the night flower market in Bangkok
- See the impressive changing of the guard ceremonies in many countries (I have to give this one to Norway – it was almost an interactive experience)
What are some of the things you have done to save money when abroad? Share in the comments below!
Related posts:
The Truth about Homestays: Pros and Cons
Why Travel with an Emergency Cash Stash
The One Thing All Students Need to Do by the Time They Go to College
11 Things You Need to Research Before Traveling
Checklist: Things to Do During Your First Week Abroad
As always, check out the Resources Page for more funding opportunities!