hello everyone! i’ve gotten some messages and questions about my experience studying abroad, so i thought i’d make a lil post about it to explain some of the more frequently asked questions!
budgeting really sucks, but hey, we gotta do it. it’s literally so easy to go abroad, see all the new, exciting things... and spend wayyyy too much money. it’s better to plan ahead. i know it can be fun to be ~spontaneous~ and ~wild~ but if you take a little time to prep yourself, it will save you so much stress later on. here’s a list of my top budgeting tips and tricks.
pick 3-5 things to do that are relatively “expensive” for your budget, but that you really want to do. while i was in london, that included afternoon tea at sketch, riding the london eye with champagne, and the churchill war rooms. i booked these in advance (or as far in advance as i could), then centered my budget around those things that were really important to me.
use cash all. the. time. if you’re worried about overspending, don’t swipe that card. you connect so much more with your money if you can touch it and then have to physically give it away to someone to buy something. when you run out, go to an ATM to get more, but keep track of how much you’re taking out. only use your card for absolute emergencies.
get dinners from convenience stores. i shopped at places like m&s and the co-op, which have really cheap microwaveable dinner options which will save your budget from eating out every night!
another good food option: food markets. i got amazing, fresh cooked pad thai from a food stand marketplace by the southbank centre in london. i loved it and it was still really reasonably priced compared to a sit-down meal elsewhere.
don’t drink your budget away. especially if the drinking age is lower in your host country, it can be easy to get excited about trying drinks while you’re abroad. not only is this dangerous if you’re not sober and somewhere you’re not comfortable with, alcohol is super expensive if you’re not careful. i usually stuck to only having 1 drink at dinner, usually a cider. if we went out, i got 2 drinks max - one “fun” drink and one “sipping” drink. i made it last while my roommates had shots and other things. just be really, really careful with alcohol. keep track, drink water, and be aware of your surroundings at all times.
take advantage of free things to do. this is a no-brainer. go to free museums, free shows in the park, free walking tours, samples, etc. you’d be surprised how much you can do for free if you keep your eyes open. most of the major museums in london are free!
book airfare at least 7-10 days in advance. if you’re going outside of your host country during your study abroad, be sure to schedule airfare with enough time to get the best rates. there are tons of reasonably priced flights that travel in the EU, so be on the lookout.
bring friends and stay in hostels! if you and friends are going, bring them and you can get good rates staying in hostels. being prepared is your biggest ally in budgeting abroad.
there you go, friends!! godspeed on your adventures abroad, and i wish you the best of luck! feel free to message me or shoot me an ask if you have any more questions, ideas for more study abroad posts, or asking about london! peace out homies!
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