Five Ways to Save

So, we’ve discussed budgeting. We’ve reviewed the ways in which it can help clarify the actual cost of your program and how to calculate finances. Now, how can you save your money to increase the amount going into your budget? Let’s talk about some ways to save.

1.) Skip Out On That Morning Coffee or Tea

If you’re anything like me, then you know the difficulties of getting up in the morning and how a nice hot cup of coffee can make it all the more bearable. That $3 coffee from Dunkin’ Donuts? Not a bad price for some morning solace. However, those $3 add up throughout the weeks and months. Rather than going through the drive threw, put that money in your piggy bank and just make your coffee to-go at home. You’ll save money and get your morning pick-me-up drink.

2.) Get Your Gordon Ramsey On

Does this mean yell at your toaster whenever it’s going a little too slow? No. It means that, instead of ordering takeout or eating at a restaurant, make a nice meal at home. In the grand scheme of things, you’re going to find yourself saving more on buying some groceries and dirtying some pans than having someone else make your food.
In the mood for Chinese? Look up some recipes and turn the evening into a cultural experience with friends, family or your roommate!

3.) Save Your Change

Sometimes, saving some change can be difficult, especially if you don’t keep physical cash on hand. A great way to save some change is by using an app that utilizes features like round-ups. For me, I use Acorns, a saving and investing app. It uses a round-up feature where it rounds your expenses to the next dollar (6.34 becomes 7 with the .76 cents going into savings). This is a great way to start saving some cash that’ll grow in the background. No thinking needed! When you’re ready to move it to your account just choose to withdraw from the app.

4.) Keep an Eye Out for Coupons

I’m not saying you have to be an extreme couponer, but you should definitely keep an eye out for some sales at the grocery store and coupons to get some extra cash off. If you do most of your shopping online, use applications like Honey that will automatically find you deals and ways to save. You can even compare the price of certain items on different sites so that you know you’re getting the best deal possible!

5.) Find a Job on Campus!

Whether you’re a first year, second year, or even in one of your final two years, there’s always a time to find a job on campus. By working on your university campus you can save gas money for traveling to and from work along with ware and tear on your car. You’ll be able to put that extra cash towards your program abroad!

I hope these five ways to save have been helpful to you! Looking for your next adventure or more tips on study abroad? Read more blog posts by our students!

–Shania Soler, Study Abroad Assistant (Tokyo, Japan)