Tips for Travel on a Student Budget

Traveling on a student budget is never easy, but traveling while you’re a student is always really fun! Here are a few tips to help you travel without paying too much: 

1. Planes, trains and automobiles: Getting to and around while traveling can quickly drain your spending budget, so choose your mode of transportation carefully. Research flights on multiple sites, which gives you multiple deals so you can compare rates.

2. Packing: Reduce all the clothes you planned on taking, by half. One way to make your traveling easy and cost-efficient is to be an efficient packer. Pack as light as you can because it will make a difference, especially if you have to carry your suitcase on a bus or a train. Do a little research on where you plan to travel — what’s the weather like? Pack clothes that you can mix and match and that are right for the weather and area.

3. Research money to save money: Remember that an ATM always has fees and they can range in number throughout different areas. Be sure to check into your bank’s policies for ATMs and card use, especially abroad. Also check out the exchange rate for where you will be visiting. It may be best to get some foreign currency before you leave because some exchange counters charge large interest rates. 

4. Consider another student ID: If traveling internationally, be sure to get an International Student Identity Card (ISIC), which will give you access to student discounts on flights, entertainment and attractions. Most tourist destinations have student tickets that are much cheaper than regular ones, but only if you have a local or have an international student ID. 

5. Be flexible: Follow the deals! Travel during the off-season or even the beginning/end of peak tourist season because you will travel for much cheaper and it will be less crowded.

Allow your schedule to be a little flexible — some attractions and restaurants have deals if you come on certain days or at certain hours. Also check out those local places that may not be the nicest; some of the best meals you will find are tiny places that cost next to nothing when compared to the hot spots.

Follow these tips – find a cheap flight, pack your bags and set your budget. Now be financially responsible while on the best adventure of your life!
Bon voyage!

Budgeting Apps that Actually Help Save Money

We are always on the go and looking for a quick ways to save money. One easy way to make sure you’re saving time and money is by downloading a few apps for your phone. While there may be some up front costs, certain apps are worth the money in the long run. Here are a few of our favorite money saving apps.

Cartwheel- This free app is for Target shoppers, it offers new savings daily and simply scanned when you check out. 

SnipSnap- Just scroll through your favorite stores and select the coupons you want to use in the future. SnipSnap holds the coupons and sends warnings when the coupon are about to expire.
ShopKick-Get paid to go shopping with this app. Just walk into a store, earn rewards and exchange it for a gift card.
Happy Hour Finder- Find close happy hours and discovers specials before you go.
Campus Special- Use coupons in your area and earn loyalty rewards with every order.
Level Money- Get a snapshot of your spending habits and plan a new budget. Once you have a set budget, Level Money will keep you on track and let you see how much money you have spent.

These are just a few of the thousands of options out there to save money. Many of the apps have free trials so you can test it before you purchase it.

A Night at the “Movies” for Less

I know one of my favorite past times is the movies! But movie theater prices are on the rise to almost $12 a ticket without even including the overpriced food and drinks! I know there are few movies that come out that are worth almost what I make in two hours at my part time job. So what do I do for those movies on the fence where I would rather get the cinematic experience and not have to wait another 6 months to see it on DVD. Well here are some tips for you cinephiles out there:

1) Research your local movie theater(s). Many theaters like AMC and Regal have bonus cards and have student discount days to make your wallet feel better!

2)  If you are an extreme moviegoer, there is a card called moviepass where you can pay $30 a month and have unlimited access to as many movies in the theaters as you would like. Make sure your local theater is a participating one though!

3) Make it a double feature! Pay for one ticket and after your first movie is over, make your way over to a second movie that you are dying to see! Be aware of movie times though to make sure you are not missing anything!

4) Popcorn Time is a piece of software that you can download and it offers some of the most recent movies that are even in theater for free to access whenever you want!

5) If you are in a big city, check out free movie screenings for movies that are not even out yet. I know I am from right outside of DC and I have seen dozens of movies for free before they were even released into the theaters. Gofobo.com is a huge supplier of free movie screening passes

6) When all else fails, there is always Netflix and Redbox

Stay thrifty my friends

Colin

Spring Break is almost over and soon everyone will be back on their daily routine. While the break was a nice time to rest and recover from school, you may now need to recover from your break. Many students traveled and will soon be coming back to the reality of school and work. The shift from long, relaxing days to hectic, crazy schedules is enough to drive almost anyone crazy. To try to make the transition back to school a bit easier here are some useful and practically free ideas:

Try to reset your internal clock. If you were in a different time zone then the first days back will be a little rough. Try your best to adjust back to the change and slowly get yourself back to your old routine and sleep schedule.

Drink lots of water. If you drank on vacation you will want to make sure you are hydrated. This will make everything easier. Travel can also put a lot of stress on the immune system and drinking water will help keep your body healthy,

Avoid napping. It may seem crazy, but if you keep napping it will take longer to get back on track with your daily routines. Try your best to stay awake and keep your day as normal as possible.

Share your adventure. Make sure to show those close to you photos and stories of your trip. Talking about the time you spent on vacation will help you stay out of the after vacation slump.

Learn something new. On vacation there was always something to do or focus on. At home try to pick up a hobby or find a new interest. By keeping yourself busy you will be less likely to think of how much you miss break and also pick up a new skill.

Plan your next trip. While the last trip is fresh in your memory write down what you liked about the trip and what you would change. This will help make your next vacation even better. If you know what you want to do on your next trip you will be more successful planning it. After writing out your list, start planning the next adventure! Plan where you want to go, what you want to do or see and most importantly how you plan on budgeting for it!

Travel Deals for Spring Break 2015

First of all, always plan ahead. Plan how you will be traveling, whether by car, bus, train, or plane. Knowing your type of transportation is important because it determines a bulk of the cost, other than where you will be staying. Also take note how you will get around once you arrive at your destination. If you are driving there, it will not a problem because you will have your car. But it will be different if you are traveling there any other way. The best idea is to stay somewhere that has everything included and you won’t have to transport very far.

One way to plan ahead for the best spring break travel is to visit http://www.studentcity.com. StudentCity has been in business since 1987 and is one of the student travel industry leaders for spring, winter, and summer break trips. StudentCity has brought over 400,000 students to top destinations all over the world. College students are the main audience because unique experiences are offered with convenience travel packages for groups of all sizes.

StudentCity offers the total package, combining flight and bus transport, hotel or resort accommodations, and exclusive events. StudentCity therefore solves all previous problems that I mentioned before.

The steps to travel with StudentCity include:

1) Contact StudentCity or go online
2) Pick a destination and make your reservation
3) Pay your deposit
4) Make payment plan
5) Complete your final payment
6) Add your party package
7) Print travel documents
8) Travel!!
9) Arrive, Welcome Orientation, and Hotel Check-In
10) SPRING BREAK FUN

All in all, StudentCity is a great way to spoil yourself for spring break. Also you will still be working with a budget because this trip will supply for travel needs as a college students. Everything is included so you will not be paying extra money and you can book a destination with the best packages. StudentCity also allows you to create a payment plan for yourself and others in your group. Ultimately your trip does not have to be paid in full right away and individual travelers can pay his or her trip on their own when booking a trip in a large group.

Anyways have fun whenever your spring break way be and be sure to pick the best deals so you get to travel, while still living on a budget.