Fall quarter I studied abroad in Bologna, Italy and it was the most amazing time I ever had in my life. The independence you experience while being abroad is like no other, but for those who worry about finances or are not financially stable enough to be abroad, then here are some tips for you.
1. Know your meal plan
While I was abroad, I lived in an apartment with a meal plan that was a mix of meal tickets for a small coffee shop and pizza place nearby and a stipend for my six roommates and me to buy groceries to cook in our kitchen. Unfortunately, there were times that didn’t feel like I would have enough to eat but I survived by rationing and not indulging too much. I recommend knowing your meal plan and if you don’t have one, think of ways of how you might want to budget your meals such as creating a grocery list of easy prep meals and setting a budget of how much you’d like to spend eating out each week. Luckily, eating out and buying groceries isn’t as expensive as it is in the U.S. but it will take time to find the right places.
2. Purchase tickets ahead of time (except for museums)
I used GoEuro to find transportation tickets to travel throughout Italy and if I could afford to go outside the country, I probably would have used it to find tickets to visit other countries. I found that purchasing tickets ahead of time saved a lot of money and taking the bus saved even more. The bus takes longer and isn’t as nice as a train or plane, but in the end, you save money that you can use to spend in other ways.
Also, don’t believe in people or ads that say you’ll save money buying tickets for museums ahead of time or being able to cut the line, you’ll actually end up spending more money.
3. Look for thrift shops
Bologna is known for its outdoor weekend markets and thrift shops. I bought sweaters for 2 euros each and a beautiful wool jacket for 10 euros! If you want to save money and be sustainable, I would recommend researching thrift shops and outdoor markets to go to. Let’s be honest, European clothing quality is better than most American brands, so finding anything labeled “Made in Italy” at a thrift store is a great find.
4. Find events and venues to visit for free
Film fests, food festivals, and local events are almost always free to go to and experience. This is a great way to check out how the locals celebrate, especially on holidays. You never know what you will be able to discover from these events and if you’re looking for something even more exciting, check out what monuments are free to go to. Remember you’re surrounded by ancient monuments with great historic significance, so anything you discover will be an experience. Another great tip is to find out when museums and monuments are free to go to, this is usually something like the first Sunday of every month; I was able to visit Pompeii for free this way!
5. It’s ok to say no
Not having money while in Europe isn’t always the best feeling, especially when the people around you invite you to go out all the time or ask what countries you’re going to visit. If you’re like me, just appreciating the fact that you’re in another country is amazing enough. While it was hard and sometimes embarrassing to say no all the time, I had to remind myself that I shouldn’t have to feel bad about it. My dream has always been to visit Italy and I was living out that dream. I loved every moment of my time abroad and I can’t wait to return one day to see and do the things I couldn’t do the first time around.
