Being an international student is an exciting experience, but it can also be challenging. As a student with limited funds, you may find yourself in a situation where you do not have enough money to cover your expenses. However, there are many ways that you can get out of this situation and overcome temporary poverty as an international student.
Know your expenses
The first step to overcoming temporary poverty is knowing your spending. First, make a list of all your expenses and include everything from cell phone bills to insurance. Then take a look at the list and see how much money you spend on each item each month – it might surprise you! Read each item on the list carefully and think about what you spend money on. Finally, try not to spend more than 1/3 or ¼ of your monthly income on rent, food, and transportation alone. If you need more advice, you can ask students, or find their poverty essay examples, where they described the difficulties they faced while living in a foreign country during their studies and how they managed to overcome them.
If you are spending more than this, you may need to start cutting back on your spending. It is important to remember that the goal is not only to get out of debt, but to stay debt-free forever.
Budget while you earn
One of the best ways to overcome temporary poverty as an international student is to budget. Budgeting can help you manage your finances, avoid unnecessary spending, and even give you a sense of control over your own finances that may have been lacking before.
There are two types of budgets: while earning and when not earning. The first type is pretty straightforward—if you are working or otherwise generating income, then this is what will be right for you! The second type requires some creativity; however, with enough effort and research into different methods for budgeting without income, it can actually lead to success in managing your finances even better than if a person were constantly earning money from their job. Establishing an emergency fund is essential for the second type of budgeting, offering a financial safety net for unexpected expenses and bolstering overall financial security.
Work on campus: find a job that helps you save
Working on campus is an excellent way to earn money, learn a new language, and develop your skills. You will also be able to save more money by living with your roommates in the dorms.
Most universities offer work opportunities for international students, especially those who want to improve their English skills. The easiest way to find out about these positions is through your university’s website or by talking with an academic advisor at the International Office. If there are no jobs available or if you don’t want to take one of them, try applying for a part-time job in an area near campus like a restaurant or shop because many students work there while studying full-time at university.
Create a safety net
Don’t wait until you’re in a crisis to create a safety net that will help you overcome temporary poverty as an international student. Luckily, there are several ways to do that:
- Make use of your school’s resources. Many colleges offer services like free tutoring and financial aid counseling. Take advantage of them!
- Find community resources. Your city may have a wealth of nonprofits whose mission is to help struggling students just like you; check with your local library or university for information about these organizations’ offerings.
- Talk to other international students who have been through this before—they can tell you what worked for them when they were broke and how they got back on their feet again after experiencing temporary poverty as an international student (and how they prevented it from happening again).
Have a savings account
There are various reasons why you should have a savings account. First of all, it’s inevitable that something will go wrong and you’ll need money. For example, your washing machine might break down or you might need to visit the dentist for some major work done on your teeth. You also want to save money for big purchases that you may want or need in the future. This could include things like buying a car, getting married and having children, or even starting up your own business.
Finally, many students tend not to think about their future plans once they’ve left school because they’re having so much fun at university at present. However, if this is something which concerns you then start putting aside some cash now so that when it comes time for graduation (or other significant transition points) then there should be enough money put aside for whatever happens next!
Apply for scholarships and grants
Scholarships and grants are not loans, so they don’t need to be paid back. In other words, they’re free money! They can be difficult to find, but once you have access to them, here’s how to apply:
- Find scholarships/grants that apply to your academic field of study or personal interests.
- Keep in mind that some scholarship applications are due months before the start date of a program, so plan ahead. Also, take note of whether there’s an application fee and if this is refundable if you aren’t awarded a scholarship or grant.
- If possible, find out how much money will be awarded (in USD) from each organization before applying as this will help you determine whether it’s worth spending time on the application process versus looking at other opportunities.
Read Also: How Creative Writing Can Increase Students Resilience
Reach out to the student services center at your university.
If you’re an international student, the Student Services Center at your university can help. They can find scholarships and grants for you. They can also help you with your budget and give advice on how to save money. You should apply for a job on campus or off campus, if possible.
Do you know why this is important? Because when the economy is good, students don’t think about getting jobs during university because they have access to loans and scholarships that allow them to focus on their studies instead of additional work (in addition to their classes). However, when there are fewer opportunities in the world due to economic downturns like now—or even during times of peace—students need every extra dollar they can get!
Conclusion
If you find yourself in temporary poverty as an international student, do not beat yourself up. It’s not your fault and you are not alone. Many students have experienced this situation and they have all survived it.
Read Also: Strong Arguments for Studying Abroad – Why Study Abroad?
