Now that many of you have experienced your first semester, or first few quarters, as an international student you probably have already established your routine. Although we all try our hardest to manage our finances, it is an ongoing process and there is always room for improvement. Now that you have figured out what works for you, it might be a good idea to create a new budget going into 2016, to save some dollars and cents where possible. Here are some tips on where to begin making some financial changes.

Eating Out
When you are in your first year of college, for most people it is the first time being away from home. What does this mean? This means that your cooking skills may not be like your mom´s home cooking. Most college freshmen have some type of on-campus meal plan, but sometimes it is inevitable to want to mix it up a bit and decide to go out to eat with friends or order in. After now being at school for a couple months, you probably have started to figure out what places you like to eat at off campus. In order to create an effective budget you have to take the time to reflect and track where all your money went this past semester. If you felt like you were spending a lot of money eating out, then this is a good way to save money. Part of being an international student is experiencing international cuisine, so it’s not about giving it up just balancing it out a little more.

Buying Books
One thing that most students never expect is how expensive their course textbooks can be. As a new student, you are normally directed to the campus bookstore to buy new or used books. However, nowadays there are so many more options. There are so many websites that offer a platform for college students to buy and sell their new and used textbooks. You’ll be pleasantly surprised when you find out that you can usually get it cheaper online than at your school’s bookstore. Most schools also offer the option to check out textbooks from the school library, which for many people works because it forces them to make the extra effort to go to the library and study.

Making Extra Cash
Every semester or quarter your schedule changes and the amount of free time that you have may increase or decrease. However, if you felt that you were able to manage your first semester well and have been thinking about working, then the start of a new semester if a great opportunity. As an international student you can qualify to get an on-campus job. The beginning of a new semester is definitely a great time to start the job search, because there may be new job openings available or certain departments are in need to fill positions as soon as possible. If you think you will be able to balance your time well, then an on-campus job could be a great opportunity to make a little extra cash while gaining work experience and creating new relationships.

For more information on where you can cut some corners to save more money click here!