I hope that this column has so far been helpful to readers and that it’s got you to start thinking about your financial health differently. This time around, I thought I’d share a bit about my life as a student, from a financial perspective, of course.
I’m an international student, and I spent about four years working full time before coming to Camosun. I’ve also been working part-time while studying. Everyone’s circumstances and experiences are unique, but hopefully you will find something useful from my experience.
My biggest expense after rent is usually groceries. When I first arrived in Canada, I didn’t know what things should cost, so I had no way of telling if I was overpaying. I remember spending the first couple of months doing a lot of price comparison by going to different grocery stores and just taking photos of prices. (I must have looked very suspicious because I was once approached by a store manager who wanted to know what I was up to.)
Eventually, I developed a good idea of what things cost, and then I discovered the weekly flyers. It may be an over-exaggeration to say that they were life-changing, but they did change the way I did my groceries. I now plan my weekly meals based on flyer deals, and try to stock up on things when they are on sale. I’ve also learned a lot about storing food items to keep them fresh. Just last week, I bought a month’s worth of bagels on sale after Googling how to store them.
Part of the fun of living in a new city is checking out the dining scene. I maintain a Google Maps list of restaurants in Victoria that I would like to try. Whenever I manage to stay under my grocery budget or pick up some additional shifts, I add to my dine-out funds. Then I make plans to visit a restaurant to celebrate small milestone events, such as the end of mid-terms or exams. This gives me something to look forward to, and a chance to take a break from my terrible cooking.
For recreation, I follow the Camosun College Student Society’s Instagram page to stay informed of upcoming activities it organizes, as they are a great way to have fun and make new friends. I try to go to these activities whenever my schedule allows.
In general, I’d say that I’m enjoying my student life even though the current inflationary environment makes money tight. While it is important to manage your finances well, I think it’s just as important to enjoy your college life. I wish everyone a great summer.