Weekend meal prep is the biggest money-saver while studying abroad: Expert shares practical moves to stay on budget

The first few days when most students land abroad are full of anticipation, anxiety and loneliness. The colleges do try to fill this gap by scheduling orientation sessions but, the first lesson they learn is not from a classroom, but from their bank balance.

When they start comparing the dollars with Indian rupees, they are in sticker shock. Ms. Namrata Pandey, Founder, La Mentora says, “Studying abroad is an investment in your future but also an expensive one. From accommodation to groceries, phone bills, eating out, toiletries, hair cuts - all of these add to the expenses.”

Everyday expenses—meals, transport, phone bills, laundry, and social outings—often cost more than expected. Without a structured budget, money can disappear quickly. Smart budgeting is less about restriction and more about awareness, discipline, and making informed choices. The difference between financial stress and financial stability abroad often comes down to one skill: budgeting smartly, consistently, and realistically.

Understand where your money actually goes

There is a pattern of how you spend your money. Type down every small expense to identify it. Daily living expense tracking apps also help you do that. From groceries to urging coffee runs might help you identify your wants from your needs. Once patterns emerge, you can clearly identify non-essential costs and make informed decisions about what to cut back on without compromising your quality of life.

Cook more, spend less: The biggest saver

Cooking is a savior for your budget. Eating out regularly may eat up your budget even before you realise it. Cooking your own meals, even a few days a week, can significantly reduce monthly expenses. Meal planning, bulk grocery shopping, and sharing costs with flatmates can further stretch your food budget without sacrificing nutrition. “You might not get the time during the week to cook, you could cook over the weekend, pack it up in different lunch boxes and freeze them,” adds Pandey, another effective way of utilising time and maintaining budget.

Make your student ID work for you

Your student ID is more powerful than you think. From public transport and movie tickets to software subscriptions and retail stores, student discounts can add up to meaningful savings over time. Using these benefits should be a habit, not an afterthought. “Those discounts could be at coffee shops, eating joints, amazon prime, spotify. All of these have student discounts and your student id is a very powerful thing to have with you,” she says.
“Don’t be embarrassed to use that discount, it was given to you as a student,” adds Pandey.

Plan for the “invisible” expenses

Not all expenses are predictable. Birthday gifts, emergency cab rides, sudden weather changes, printing assignments, or replacing essentials can disrupt your budget. Setting aside a monthly buffer of 5–10 percent helps absorb these costs without causing financial anxiety. “An uber trip that you might have to take instead of a walk because it was raining heavily one day,” she says, “adds on to those hidden expenses.” “Make sure you have also factored those expenses in, when you are budgeting,” suggests Pandey.

Don’t ignore everyday utilities and services

Small recurring expenses—laundry, printing, phone plans, internet top-ups—often get overlooked. Tracking these separately ensures they don’t quietly inflate your monthly spend and allows you to switch to more economical options when possible.

Use part-time work strategically, not casually

“If your country and visa allows for it, look for a part time job,” she advises. “Everyone earns when they are studying abroad, so there is no shame in doing that. Pick up a job, a couple of hours, earn some money, use that for anything you would want to splurge.”

A part-time job can ease financial pressure, but only if managed wisely. Instead of increasing discretionary spending, allocate earnings toward fixed costs, savings, or emergencies. Smart budgeting ensures your income supports long-term stability rather than short-term indulgence.

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