8 tips to save money as an international student in Australia

If you own a car when you study in Australia, discount fuel vouchers can be earned at Woolworths, Coles and IGA. Each supermarket is linked to specific fuel stations; Coles is linked with Shell, Woolworths with Caltex and IGA with Puma (Do take note that such deals may change and not all fuel stations are linked to supermarkets - so check this before you start filling up!).

Shopping around for the best deals on your weekly grocery sessions can result in fantastic savings. From personal experience, when I shopped only at Coles or Woolworths, I would easily spend a minimum of $70 a week for myself (disclaimer – I don’t eat red meat, only chicken and fish) and sometimes up to $100 depending on what I needed that week.

A good deals website is Scoopon, which allows you to get vouchers for activities you want to do or places you plan to visit when you study abroad in Australia. Sign up for the emails and get the offers delivered straight to your inbox.

Another deals website, Groupon has local deals too – just pop in your location and they’ll tell you what deals are available in your area.

Did you know that many food and beverage outlets offer freebies when it’s your birthday? Most have conditions, such as being a club member or having a certain number of days to claim your perks – but they are so worth it! Some of my favourites include free churros for 2 at San Churros, a free Boost juice, a free Cold Rock ice cream and even a free meal from Nandos. (Again, promotions and deals like these may vary or change so do check before visiting.)

From telecom providers to gas providers! Why not take a look at some of the other competitors who might offer a better deal. Just by asking, you can save money! I also managed to get a discount on my Foxtel package. Sometimes it just takes a phone call and you might save more than you think.