Top Tips for Maximising Your Money as an International Student in Aus

Work smarter, not harder.

This article is presented in partnership with ANZ Plus.

 

 

 

So you’re an international student who’s made it to Australia – the land of sun, beaches and endless fun things to do! 

Unless you don’t have the bank account to fund them… Living in Aus is expenno, and sticking to a budget is not easy. 

Lucky for you, we’ve got all the hacks you need to really make the most of your money while studying abroad. 

Don’t let the B word scare you – these are all simple savings shortcuts you’ll actually be able to use, we promise! 

Think twice about where you choose to live. 

Sit down and compare whether renting somewhere by yourself is better for your finances, or if living in student accommodation is.  

Sometimes student accom can appear pricey, but it often includes bills, furniture, a gym and social events too, so it may actually work out cheaper. 

If you do go out on your own and rent, be sure to share the house with others to save money (and meet new friends). 

Make the most of free spaces, like libraries. 

We get it – you don’t always want to be cramped up in your room studying.

It’s nice (and very productive) to change up the scenery. 

But that can often mean having to buy never ending coffees from the local cafe while you work… unless you head to a local library! 

They always have free spaces to study, plus, if you like to read or watch movies, you can get all the books and DVDs you could possibly dream of for FREE!  

Get yourself a second-hand bargain. 

There’s nothing better than the feeling of a fresh textbook, until you look at the price tag. 

Take advantage of the students that have come before you who don’t need theirs anymore, and will probably be selling them online at a fraction of the price.  

You can keep an eye on Gumtree or Facebook Marketplace to find yourself a steal, and don’t forget to sell yours when you’re done with them too! 

Two words: Meal. Prep. 

If you barely know the difference between boiling and frying an egg, then it’s time to learn some basic cooking skills because this will save you big bucks. 

You don’t need to be a celebrity chef to start meal prepping, and it can actually be super fun. Scour the internet for your favourite recipes, put together an ingredients list and head to the supermarket. 

While we’re on the topic of supermarkets, make sure to always look out for specials from places like Coles, Woolworths and Aldi, and sign up to their loyalty programs to accumulate points and bag yourself some bargains. 

Jump on board the public transport train (or bus). 

Most Aussie unis are pretty centrally located, so you shouldn’t have any trouble getting around on public transport.  

Most states and territories also have concessions available for university students, so definitely look into what you can do to get your tickets at a discounted rate. 

Better yet, invest in a bike and start cycling! It’s cheap and could cut out the cost of a gym membership! 

Get a part time job. 

If you’re on a student visa in Australia, you’re allowed to work 48 hours per fortnight while you study.  

You could pick up a part-time gig as a barista, or even speak to your university to see if they have casual jobs available. 

What’s even better is Australia is known for paying a living wage, rather than a minimum wage so say hello to some decent extra spending money! 

Take it one step at a time and be kind to yourself if you accidentally spend a ton of money on T-Swift tickets (definitely wasn’t me).

A little goes a long way so you’ll be hitting those savings goals before you know it!  

This article does not constitute personal financial advice. Before acting on any information in this article, you should consider your money goals and financial situation to ensure it’s appropriate to you.