Savings and budgeting for study abroad programs- many students do not choose to study abroad because they are under the impression of ridiculous costs and are afraid that they cannot afford the experience. This is not 100% true. Study abroad is doable with great planning and here are some tips that may help students save for their trip:
- Look at what you’re spending and calculate where you can cut back
- Needs versus wants
- Morning coffee, snacks, dining out, whatever else you spend money on frequently
- Cancel memberships that you don’t use
- Gym memberships, online subscriptions
- Do more free stuff
- Hanging out with friends leading up to your study abroad trip? Look for free events to attend, cook dinner at home, have movie nights/game nights at home
- Ask family members and friends for hand-me-down travel goods
- Don’t stress about travel gear. Chances are, your friends and family have a lot of basic travel gear such as a suitcase, travel pillow, travel bags etc.
- Search for flights in advance
- Incognito mode on your browser
- Cheap flights calendar
- Cheapest days (Green)
- Most expensive days (Red)
- Find a bank that doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees or reimburses you for ATM fees–major US banks are your best bet. You can also apply for a credit card with no foreign transaction fees like Capital One or Bank of America (travel card)
- Budget according to your personality. What do you prioritize?
- The travelers- train ticket to Paris
- The partiers- night out dancing in Spain
- The shoppers- new shoes in Milan
- The food critics- tasty meals from the hippest spots in London
Brittany Phanivong, 2017
