Expenses Reviews
3.99 / 5 based on 163 reviews
Useful |
0
anonymous
Expenses
Main source of funding:
Family
Other sources of funding:
Family<br>
Personal savings<br>
Government assistance
Work opportunities:
It was not legal for me to work
Personal spending habits
I spent more money because of the difference in lifestyle, being an exchange student. I traveled heaps more, at least one weekend a month (usually more) because I wanted to see everything I could before I left. I also spent more money on nightlife, because I had a smaller class load than at home, and went out more. This is also influenced because students go out more here than in the states, because the drinking age is 18, so more people are going out overall than at US universities.
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Nightlife, Travel, Telephone, Overall:
was more expensive than at home.
Housing, Food:
was the same price as at home.
Accessibility of student needs
Second-hand household items
Personal comments
I think I was mainly surprised by the amount of money I spent overall. Yes, I may have spent more than necessary, but I never expected to spend what I did. You need to be prepared to spend heaps in the first few weeks, for incidental items and because you will go out and do more because classes have not started yet. After that my spending settled down, I began cooking for myself, which was very cost efficent, and saved money for trips. You need to learn how to budget or else it will get to expensive and you wouldn't be able to do all the things you would have wanted. An idea for an inexpensive weekend, would to go with an Aussie friend home for the weekend. You will get to see a new area, have a great time with your friend and it will be really cheap.
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0
xavierlebaron
Expenses
Main source of funding:
Government assistance
Other sources of funding:
Family<br>
Personal savings
Work opportunities:
I worked during my study abroad experience
Personal spending habits
Accomodation is usually a little more expensive in Melbourne than it might be in Lyon. This mainly due to the importance of finding a well located appartment. Melbourne is a wide spread metropolitan area and it is very easy to end up living 50 kms away from unioversity. Therefore, primary spots tend to be very demanded, which brings the prices of accomodation up.
Concerning the night life expenditures, the geographical distances also increase the costs realted to going out as in most cases a taxi ia required to return home (due to long distances). Further, the retail prices of spirits and beers are way higher than in Europe (where it is easy to buy cheap beer or other alcoholic beverages in supermarkets).
Travelling is fairly expensive in australia because there are great distances to be travelled between destinations.
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Nightlife, Housing, Travel, Overall:
was more expensive than at home.
Food, Telephone:
was the same price as at home.
Accessibility of student needs
Second-hand household items
Personal comments
A good surprise is the sustainability of the Euro currency on the world market. Ther exchange rate has been very favorable for the past few months and the forecats seem pretty optimistic. This gives a confortable financial leeway to budget students studying in australia.
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Useful |
0
arobinson83
Expenses
Main source of funding:
Family
Other sources of funding:
Personal savings
Work opportunities:
I worked, but it was illegal/cash in hand work
Personal spending habits
I ate out a lot so I spent more on food. Cell phones are ridiculous over there. It costs about 40 US cents per minute to call within Australia-even to call someone that lived down the street from me. It was much cheaper to call the US than any of my friens in Australia. I went out a lot more there than I do @ home so of course I spent more on nightlife. I traveled a lot in the little time that I was there so I spent a lot on that. I Just wanted to have fun so I really didnt care how much I was spending. I am definitely paying for it now that I am back at home and in debt..but it was definitely worth every penny that I spent.
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Telephone, Food, Overall, Travel, Nightlife:
was more expensive than at home.
Housing:
was the same price as at home.
Accessibility of student needs
Second-hand household items
Personal comments
I pretty much knew going into it that I was going to spend quite a bit of money so there were no surprises. The only reason I wont give this a good rating is because I am in debt now!!
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0
Jayme A
Expenses
Main source of funding:
Family
Other sources of funding:
Family<br>
Personal savings
Work opportunities:
I didn't explore any work options
Personal spending habits
Although the US dollar is worth more in Australia - there was more that I wanted to see and do while I was here. Traveling is a must once your here because the country is so beautiful and I don't know when I will get a chance to come back. I am more concerned with my studies in the US which do not give me much time to study!! Its a once and a lifetime opportunity so I wasn't concerned with money!!
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Travel, Food, Overall, Telephone:
was more expensive than at home.
Housing, Nightlife:
was the same price as at home.
Accessibility of student needs
Second-hand household items
Personal comments
Open an account with the National Australia Bank and have money wired. THere is no fee and no minimal balance required. This way you are not charged for the ATM services. Food is also purchased with cash a la carte - there are NO food plans which can add up!
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Useful |
2
tyde9
Expenses
Main source of funding:
Personal savings
Other sources of funding:
Family<br>
Personal savings
Work opportunities:
I didn't want/need to work
Personal spending habits
There are a lot of hidden costs here that I wasn't expecting. Paying for local phone calls by the minute in the halls really sucks!
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Travel, Overall, Telephone:
was more expensive than at home.
Housing, Nightlife, Food:
was the same price as at home.
Accessibility of student needs
Second-hand household items
Personal comments
When planing to travel, do your research! If you go the wrong way, it can cost you alot more. This counrty is also MUCH bigger than most people think... so sometimes it is worth the extra cost to fly somewhere, rather than try to drive or bus it. A two hour plane ride is much better than a 2 day bus ride :)
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Useful |
0
DoubleJ
Expenses
Main source of funding:
Personal savings
Other sources of funding:
Family
Work opportunities:
I didn't want/need to work
Personal spending habits
Food is a bit more expensive, so is calling home. On a happier note, the beer here is pretty cheap and rather tasty.
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Telephone, Overall, Food, Travel, Housing:
was more expensive than at home.
Nightlife:
was the same price as at home.
Accessibility of student needs
Second-hand household items
Personal comments
Buy calling cards and call during the off hours, it costs only 0.09/minute. Expect extra insurance charges when renting a car, if you're not 25.
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