They say, ‘Student life is golden’ and it’s true. The amazing experiences and exposure you get while studying at a university hardly have any match. And it’s better if it is in a country like Australia that has many top-notch universities providing world-class courses. So, if you are one of those lucky students packing your bags and leaving for the land Down Under to study soon, we’re sure that you are super excited. However, you don’t want to end up overspending while studying, so here are some tips that will help you save money. Read on.
1. Keep calm and pedal on
Cars are fancy and cool but they come with a bunch of expenses – parking, fuel, maintenance and more! While studying, it is best to stay away from all that and just get yourself a nice cycle.
Australian cities like Melbourne and Sydney often see people cycling for recreation and commuting. With all major cities having dedicated cycling lanes on roads, it sure won’t be cumbersome to pedal your way to the university and back every day. Not only will it save cost but also keep you fit.
You can rent a bike through platforms like Melbourne Bike Share and BikeNow and get to select from a wide variety of bikes. If you are new to biking, don’t worry. In Sydney, you can take a one-day AUD20 course on cycling through City of Sydney, and you are sorted!
Related: What Behavioural Science Teaches Us About Saving Money
2. Take a train and get on the right track
If all the wind hitting your cheek while you are whistling your way to the university on your bike does not excite you, don’t worry. Australia has plenty of public transport options you can take. Trains, trams, buses – you name it and they have it! If you are in Melbourne, you can save not just by taking public transport to and from the university but also by getting yourself a myki pass that can be used in trains, trams, and buses.
You can buy a weekly, monthly, or a yearly pass and travel cheaper than the normal tickets. What’s more? Students get a 50% discount on the full fare! We are sure you need no better reason to take the public transport now.
3. Rent your textbooks
When you are a student, accessing study material at low cost is your first preference. Thankfully, Australia has many options to rent textbooks or buy second-hand study material. Student support platforms like Zookal, which aim to save the time and money of university students, offer options to buy used textbooks or rent them.
Along with providing textbooks on rent, websites like Jekkle allow students to purchase etextbooks that are a lot cheaper than the actual textbooks and also easily accessible. If you still have to buy a book, log onto Booko, a price comparison platform for books and DVDs. It will tell you where you can buy that book for the lowest price.
Related: 4 Ways to Hoard More Books without Going Broke
4. Put on the apron
Eating out is expensive. When you do it every day, it can easily overshoot your monthly budget. It isn’t a bad idea to whip up a quick lunch every morning and pack it. YouTube is loaded with innumerable easy recipes so you don’t even need to get creative. Just hit the grocery store once a week and buy the essentials. You can also make your own coffee and avoid buying it from that fancy coffee shop daily.
Sure, it won’t taste the same (possibly healthier instead!), but the money you will save at the end of the month will only make it taste sweeter. Ditch cake shops and ice cream parlours for those midnight sweet cravings and instead, invest in a jar of Nutella (which can make almost anything taste heavenly) or a pack of Oreos.
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5. Sharing is saving
When you are a student, living like royalty isn’t an option. To save costs on accommodation, it is best to share it with a few others. Hunt the perfect house and roommates on websites like Flatmates, Flat Share, and Share Houses, among others. On these, you can check the house details and contact potential flat mates as per your preferences. Living with people will not only save costs but also ensure you have company in foreign land.
Related: 5 Silly Things People Do When They Think They Are Saving
6. Work part-time
According to the official website of Study in Australia, ‘Most student visas allow you to work for up to 40 hours every two weeks while your course is in session, and unrestricted hours during any scheduled course break’.
So, instead of whiling away time in cafes and on campus after university hours, pick up a part-time job. This will not only expose you to the work culture in the country but also help in paying your monthly bills. The boost it will give your resume for the future is a major benefit too.
And when you are booking your air tickets to Australia, don’t forget to use travel credit cards to get more bang for your buck on your flight bookings.
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