So, you’re going to live in Budapest soon, or perhaps you’ll spend a semester in Corvinus through a mobility program. It all sounds fun until you realize that you will have to deal with something pretty boring and sometimes even stressful – budgeting. Managing your finances as a student isn’t an easy task but it is definitely not impossible. How to spend your money in a way that you could have as much fun as possible yet you don't end up broke?
Know your resources
Are you relying on financial help from your family or you’re planning to be self-sufficient by working next to university? Perhaps you’re going to obtain a scholarship? If you’re uncertain of the source of your finances, you need to start thinking about this now.
Many international students arrive in Budapest with the idea that work and education can be done together peacefully. However, it can be challenging at times, so be careful with picking up a job in your first year. We will talk about part-time jobs later in the article, so buckle up!
Be sure to check out the scholarship options. Being a Stipendium Hungaricum student is a huge advantage in these terms. In case you are a self-financed student, you should pay attention to your academic score because in some cases a high academic score means obtaining a scholarship.
Consider your most important monthly expenses
What is "important"? Obviously, the rent you’ll be paying, the cost of bills, transportation and food. Those are expenses which you cannot ignore or postpone so considering them as a starting point of your expenses on a monthly basis is a good beginning. So how much is each component of your budget?
Housing: Varies, depending on your preferences. Just like everywhere else around the world, the size, the level of comfort, location and other factors play a role in the price. Generally speaking, your rent can be anywhere between 50 000 HUF (for a single room, for example) and 200 000 HUF (for a whole small apartment).
Bills & transportation: Bills also vary in accordance to consumption but gas and water bills rarely exceed 20 000 HUF. A monthly transportation pass for students is 3 450 HUF and your mobile phone bill can go anywhere between 4 000 HUF and 10 000 HUF, depending on the provider and the mobile plan you’ve chosen.
Food: Once again – depends. Do you eat a lot? Maybe you’re vegan or you’re a picky eater? Do you eat out or you prefer cooking each and every meal for yourself? You can expect a rough average of 10 000 HUF for food per week if you’re relying on the supermarket and cooking but that price can go up to 20 000 HUF if you constantly get take away food.
Be a smart spender
A smart spender is a person who knows how to spend. Try not falling into traps like buying unnecessary items, extra products or things that are seemingly “on sale”. Perhaps once in a while when you see that you actually can afford it – that can work. However, having self-control is essential, especially when it comes to purchases. Moreover, cutting out unnecessary things that drain your budget is a great start of spending smartly – cigarettes, alcohol, coffee and other items are literally emptying our pockets when it comes to daily expenses.
Extra tip: “Do I need this or I simply want it?” is a magical trick to persuade yourself into spending less. Being aware of your needs and desires and making a differentiation between them will truly open your eyes when it comes to expenses. Desires can wait for times of special occasions, needs cannot.
Try finding a part-time job
Being a university student, you can find a part-time job.
Here in Hungary, it is completely legal to work as an international student, so it is a great opportunity to earn so me side money for yourself and get a taste of an adult life. Spoiler: it doesn’t taste good all the time. Searching for a job as an international student may be challenging since you don’t know Hungarian, but there are still plenty of opportunities where English will be just enough. For starters, you may try looking for a restaurant with the national cuisine of your country, as they may be looking for people who know the language. That’s how a lot of students get employed. Other than that, Corvinus University also offers jobs for students, you get more information on the official webpage.
Working at Corvinus, you can get an opportunity to gain experience in a field that is related to your studies, which is a great place to start.
Having fun on a budget
So being a student truly goes hand in hand with having fun. How can you have fun and not end up broke for the week after a night out, though?
Set a budget for the night and don’t exceed it. Your wallet will thank you the morning after.
Go to affordable places. Knowing the price range offered at the place you’ve chosen is great when you’re planning a night out.
Look out for discounted beverages – bars often have discounts for students in Budapest.
Don’t go too far with the drinks.
Share with friends and pay together. Every price is better when halved.
Use apps or write everything down
There are great apps out there which are really helpful in this matter like Spendee Budget & Money Tracker. If you aren’t into the idea you can always use online calculators or write everything down in a personal financial diary.
Ask for discounts
University students receive a lot of perks in lots of places just because they have a student ID card. Learn how to take advantage of your status. The offered discounts may not be a lot, but it’s always a pleasure to have a good time and know that you managed to save some money. For example, Cinema City offers discounted tickets if you have a valid student card. The list of places that lower prices for students is quite long, so you should always check if there is an opportunity to play the “poor university student” card and get a discount.
Be in charge
Never forget that you’re the captain of the ship! Improve, adapt, track, spend smartly, learn from your mistakes and find the golden mean.
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