Traveling on a Budget

 

Welcome Back to Maren's Abroadventures!

This week is all about how to save money on your study abroad trip, since you may be surprised by how much you spend so quickly. Time really does fly by when you're having fun!


Metro Card
          To make your Metro experience as easy as possible, it is handy to get the unlimited one-month MetroCard when you first arrive. This gives you more time to relax and plan when you will go to an in-person appointment to get your unlimited three-month card. The smartest way to do this is to plan on getting your three-month card right after you have less than three months left. For example, after arriving on September 1st, I obtained my one-month unlimited card. Then, I made sure to get my three-month card at the end of September, before my one-month card expired. This way, you will avoid having your card declined and won't have to worry about it again.


Free Sites
       As Jameson has previously mentioned in this blog with more tips to save money, he expresses how there are so many free places to visit around Barcelona and Europe for free, and it is important to take advantage while you can. James says, "So many cities in Europe have local parks, markets, breathtaking Cathedrals and Churches, or even museums that are completely free! With just a quick Google search, you would be surprised to see how many free options are available anywhere in Europe. 

Utilities
       To help make Manuel's life easier, it is important to be cautious when it comes to utilities. This will help in the long run, so you and your roommates don't have to pay additional charges at the end of the program. Things such as taking showers, turning lights on, and devices plugged in while not in use are all examples of easy ways for charges to add up. Make sure to keep an eye on your toilet to make sure it isn't constantly running, and be on the lookout for any leaks.


Hostels
Be open to trying new things! Instead of always opting for comfort and luxury, try sleeping in a hostel for weekend trips. It is very important to read reviews to make sure they are clean and safe, but it is important to keep an open mind. While it may not be a lot of people's first choice, you will save a lot of money and most likely never see these people again.


Food and Groceries
          Living in an area where it is so easy to go to the supermarket each day to just get one or two things seems fun, until you realize the smaller purchases do add up. My advice would be to try and plan your meals so you do not just buy everything in the grocery store that sounds good in the moment, or you may end up with lots of snacks instead of actual food. Another idea would be to get with your roommates and try to plan a dinner together so you can each buy some ingredients and help cook, which can save time and money for the amount of food you get.

        One place that I would recommend for getting more bang for your buck would be Mustafa's Germüse Kebap. They only have about 3 items on their menu because they specialize in kebabs. While the kebap's are both good with chicken or falafel, both choices come in just under 7 euros, with chicken at 6,90 and the falafel at 5'90. You get so much food for what you order without feeling guilty about spending lots of money.



It is important to live your life to the fullest abroad without breaking the bank.
See you next week!





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