How to afford Studying Abroad
Tips and tricks to save money and budget while studying abroad
You’ve just committed to studying abroad in a new and exciting city. You’re planning your trips, figuring out what to pack, maybe signing a lease on an apartment. While it’s overwhelming, you’re stoked for this new adventure ahead. Until it hits you…how in the world am I going to afford all of this?
Take it from a student who studied abroad in Copenhagen, Denmark, also known as one of the most expensive cities in the world! I quickly realized that I was going to have to budget my food spending once I paid $10 for coffee and my breakfast totalled $20! As a gal who loves shopping, I also needed to add this important line item into my budget. And, this was in addition to travel expenses such as airfare, hotels, and activities…Yikes! Budgeting became overwhelming really fast!
The first thing I did was ask myself, “What do I want to spend my money on?” I know, you’re probably thinking, “Well duh,” but so many students find themselves overspending due to the excitement of being in a new city…sometimes spending money on things that aren’t worth it to them. So, I decided that a $10 morning coffee wasn’t worth it, and became a tea drinker instead. I also turned to cooking at home so I could save some money and enjoy the restaurants I was traveling to on the weekends, rather than ordering a side salad or chicken tenders because it was all I could afford.
But maybe your $10 coffee is the only thing that brings you joy in the morning, or maybe you dread cooking at home. That’s OK! Then find other ways to cut your costs. One of my hacks for finding cheap eats was using the app “Too Good to Go.” This app allows restaurants to sell their unsold food at discounted prices towards the end of the day to help eliminate food waste. In Copenhagen, I loved eating at places like Fabro and Pico Pizza, which both serve delicious Italian food under $15!
Some other ways I cut costs was planning trips based on which flights were cheapest. For instance, I would’ve loved to visit Greece, but the $300 plane ticket wasn’t in my budget. On the flip side, there was a $45 plane ticket to Paris, so I jumped at that opportunity and bought the ticket. Europe is amazing, so regardless of where you visit, I guarantee you’ll have a great time. Don’t forget about trains and buses, either! I had a friend who saved over $400 taking a train to Oktoberfest instead of flying. Plus, the views are way better compared to an airplane!
On the topic of air travel, do not pay for an overhead bag. These costs can add up quickly, and suddenly you’ve spent far too much money on a bag that you didn’t even need. I recommend buying a travel backpack that fits perfectly under the seat in front of you. I had the North Face Base Voyager Travel Pack, and I fit my whole life into it— and I’m a chronic over-packer. A weekend’s worth of clothes, toiletries, a change of shoes, and even my hair dryer fit in that bag! There are cheaper items on Amazon too. I also recommend planning outfits in advance, so you know what you will wear and you won’t waste space on any unnecessary items.
My final tip is to look for student discounts anywhere you go. Most museums, castles, and other cultural attractions offer free or discounted admission with a student ID. I was thrilled by the number of student discounts I got for seeing the castles in Copenhagen. I even got into Versailles for free with proof of a student ID. Some airlines offer a version of a student discounts too. SAS Airlines, for example, has a “Youth Ticket” for ages 12-25 that offers airfare at discounted prices.
Budgeting for abroad can be hard, but it’s definitely not impossible! You don’t want to be worrying about money when you’re trying to live your best life abroad. Trust me, that can seriously kill the vibe. It’s all about finding little tricks to save money here and there, so you can have the best semester abroad!
