As a student, you likely have minimal spending money for fun things like travel. However, your student years are among the best times in your life to travel. This leads to a conundrum: how can you take advantage of the chance to travel without breaking the bank? The solution is to find ways to make travel budget friendly.
- Make Smart Financial Decisions
If travelling is a priority for you, make sure your finances reflect this. Cut down your expenses as much as possible, such as by winning as many scholarships as possible to fund your education. You may also need to make some sacrifices as to how you spend your money outside of traveling, such as by preparing your own meals rather than eating out and finding free activities on campus. - Find Opportunities to Travel Throughout the Year
Travelling over your breaks may be the most convenient, but it also tends to be the most expensive time to travel. For short trips, it may be worth taking a week off school during the semester. You can do this without missing any of your classes by creating your class schedule strategically, such as by only having classes on three consecutive days a week.
If you want a longer experience, consider taking off a whole semester or even an entire year. Spending more time in college isn’t always a bad thing — for example, you’ll maintain your student status longer, which means more time with student discounts.
It may also be possible to incorporate travelling into your experience as a student. For instance, you could study a semester, take an internship, or do research abroad. Alternatively, if you take virtual or hybrid classes, you may be able to study at your regular university while travelling. - Track Flight Prices
The biggest travel expense tends to be flights. Set up alerts to track flights to destinations you want to visit — and be ready to buy when the prices hit a low. If you’re flexible about dates (such as travelling during the off-season), you’ll be able to make your flights as cheap as possible. - Travel in a Group
Travelling with other students will mean you’re able to split expenses. This will save you money on things like accommodation, activities, and car rentals (bear in mind, though, it’s always worth researching public transportation). - Sign Up for Free Travel Programs
You can receive free accommodation (and perhaps also free food) if you volunteer while travelling. Many programs provide you with ample free time, meaning you’ll have plenty of opportunity to explore the area on your own. Some added benefits include making a difference to a cause that matters to you and learning useful skills for your resume. There are programs for doing everything from working on farms and helping in hostels to childcare and event planning.
To maximize your travel budget, aim to keep your costs down during the semester. The expense that will make the biggest difference is your accommodation. You can find affordable Fleming College housing where you don’t need to sacrifice your comfort at Severn Court. Units are fully furnished and pricing is all inclusive, covering utilities and internet. Plus, there are no costly meal plans, we have onsite laundry facilities, and you don’t need to worry about transport because you’ll be right across the street from campus. Apply now to start saving money on your student accommodation.
