Budgeting as an International Student

1. Record your transactions and Set a Weekly Budget

2. Don’t Use Your Debit Card until you completely have no money at hand!

This, of course, ignores a few not-to-be-touched notes that you keep hidden somewhere just in case of extreme urgency.

3. You a are student, not some pampered personality or celebrity: dump brands

4. ATMs & Cash Commission

Each time you withdraw cash from any given ATM, do your best to maximize the amount withdrawn. You can often expect fees from both angles: the foreign bank's ATM, and your home bank for using a foreign ATM.

5. Maximise your income

6. Get a discount + Find out what you can get for free

Look out for deals, such as special offer haircuts and take advantage of money off vouchers, bogofs – buy one get one free offers - and student deals in restaurants, bars or at the cinema.

7. Turn unneeded things into cash

Amazon is a great place to buy and sell used textbooks. Worth knowing when faced with a £150 reading list. Auction sites like eBay/Facebook Buy and Sell groups are also good for getting rid of unwanted Christmas presents or misplaced purchases.

8. Don’t Overbuy

Recognize that you really won’t need more than one to four of each item, including glass and utensil sets.

9. Learn to Cook / Plan meals in advance

Walking back from a lecture, you’re likely to want to pick up lunch and a coffee with friends. Pay attention to jaunts like these – if they become too much of a habit, they will significantly impact your finances.

10. Start Saving

It’s a good rule of thumb to put at least 10 percent of each paycheck.