Budgeting hacks every student should know

University can be expensive. Between tuition, living expenses, and going out with friends, monitoring your bank account and spending wisely can feel next to impossible. Luckily, many students have had this experience and collected clever budgeting hacks to help you “get the most bang for your buck,” as the Americans say.

In episode 15 of the Tiksu to UniTartu podcast, host Vincent Arata speaks with fellow student Hanna-Reet Ruul about budgets and saving money. Hanna studies music at the University of Tartu’s Viljandi Culture Academy and has previously lived abroad. In her time as a student, she has picked up many money-saving tips, which she shares in her conversation with Vincent.

They start by discussing ways international students arriving in Estonia can stay budget-minded as they travel from Tallinn to Tartu. For students taking the bus, Hanna says the cheapest way to get to the bus station is by tram. It’s also convenient, with tap-to-pay stations onboard. Public buses also depart regularly from the airport and are a good alternative if the tram isn’t running or you need a slightly different schedule. You can plan your public transportation journey using the Visit Tallinn website.

LuxExpress is the most popular long-distance bus company in the Baltics and offers direct buses to Tartu from both Tallinn and Riga. This is another way Hanna recommends saving money – depending on where you’re coming from, flying to Riga may be cheaper than flying to Tallinn. If you’re liable to get carsick or prefer travelling by train, Elron offers regular trains between Tallinn and Tartu every day. There are two stations in Tallinn. The main station, Balti jaam, is in the Telliskivi neighbourhood, a short walk from the old town. This station is a good option if you have decided to spend some time exploring the capital before making your way south to Tartu. If you’re in a hurry or heading directly to Tartu after getting off the plane, Ülemiste might be a better option. Ülemiste station is a 10-minute bus ride (or 20-minute walk, if you’re travelling light and want to save even more money) from the airport.

Planning ahead is also a good idea. Some companies offer discounts if you purchase tickets in advance. Regularly checking their websites or following their social media pages is also a good way to keep an eye out for sales, especially around holidays. Additionally, looking into whether your chosen method of transport offers a student discount is another way to pinch some pennies, though you might need to show proof that you’re a student when presenting your ticket, so be sure to read the fine print before purchasing.

One of the biggest costs for students is accommodation. This can take up a large portion of your budget, so it’s important to find housing that won’t break the bank. If you have the chance, Hanna recommends touring the dormitories to see if they meet your needs, since they are often the cheapest option for students (if you can’t visit in person, check out the virtual tour). However, if dorm living isn’t for you, Hanna recommends using Facebook to find your future home. You can either look in the Marketplace or join one of the many real estate groups. There, you can look for sublets, roommates, and long-term lease options. She suggests looking early and often, as suitable housing tends to be snapped up quickly by eager students.

Another big expense is food. One of the simplest budget hacks is to cook for yourself instead of eating out all the time. Cooking for yourself tends to be cheaper than ordering takeout or going to a restaurant. Plus, the leftovers can last for several meals, making cooking more cost-effective. If you’re cooking for yourself, be smart about how you make your purchases. Hanna mentions that getting a client card for the stores you frequent can save a lot of money. Many stores offer member-only discounts, and some even offer personalised discounts after using the card for a while, so that you can save money on your most essential items.

If you have time, you can even shop around and go to multiple stores to make sure you’re getting the best price. To avoid going back and forth between stores, check the prices online or in-app before heading out. Some stores also offer end-of-day discounts on perishable items, so if you’re planning your dinner for that night or the next day, going about 30 minutes before closing is a clever budget hack. If you’re an online shopper, Hanna recommends checking out Sumena.ee. This online shop offers discounted prices on items that have passed their “best before” date, but not their expiration date, as well as bulk essentials like cleaning products and toilet paper.

Estonia’s winters are notoriously cold and snowy. Anxious you’re not adequately prepared? Hanna has a budget hack for that, too. Thrift stores abound in Estonia, and there are several excellent ones in Tartu. The most popular stores are the Humana stores. They regularly update their collections, and if you time it right, you can get incredible discounts on already cheap items. Hanna especially suggests checking out stores that might look a bit sketchy, especially if they are in a small town. Those places tend to have hidden treasures for cheap, since they get less traffic than stores in big cities.

Some thrift stores also sell furniture and kitchen supplies. If you’re running short on glassware or utensils and don’t mind having mismatched sets, buying second-hand can be an excellent way to bulk out your collection without spending a small fortune. Uuskasutuskeskus has a wide selection of not only clothes but also glassware, household linens, and other sundries, as well as an online shop.

As a student, you can also get discounts on more than just bus fares. While the University of Tartu doesn’t issue student ID cards, you can sign up for the International Student Identification Card (ISIC). There is a small fee associated with doing so, but once you have it, you can get discounts on museum visits, theatre tickets, and much more. The best part is that because it’s an international organisation, you can get discounts if you travel abroad, too! Similarly, the Erasmus Student Network (ESN) in Tartu also offers a student card that gives you discounts on events and shops throughout the city.

Finally, creating a bank account in Estonia is also an effective way to save money, especially if you’re coming from outside of the Eurozone. Setting up a local bank account and transferring your money can save a surprising amount. By transferring and converting larger amounts of currency at once, you can lower those pesky conversion fees. Hannah also has two bank accounts, and her direct deposit is split between them. She says this makes accessing one of the accounts more annoying and discourages her from using that money when she doesn’t have to. It’s not the most practical solution, but she says it works as an emergency fund in case a large, unexpected cost surprises you, like your computer breaking.

While budgeting can seem daunting, you don’t have to create a spreadsheet of your finances to save money. Finding ways to save money in different parts of your daily life can lead to big savings. Hopefully, some of these tips and tricks will inspire you. Student life can be expensive, but it doesn’t mean you have to be flat broke!