For the unitiated, “Girl Math” is when you justify spending money as saving money by jumping through a few mental hoops – such as by spending an extra $15 on Amazon to get free shipping.
So as a lighthearted and slightly helpful financial overview of my exchange experience from UCalgary to Oxford Brookes University, here are some Girl Math examples I thought about during my study abroad experience.
- If you exchange to a university with tuition more expensive than your home university, you’re getting a great deal
- Living in student accommodation is $30/night versus a minimum $100/night hotel, and you get a free transit pass, so it’s a super discounted vacation!
- Visiting a free museum in the UK is worth $30 equivalent in Canada. So visit many!
- Every $400 trip to another country basically saves $1000+ in flights that you’d have to pay to take that trip from Canada
- If you get a study abroad scholarship, that’s free money that you wouldn’t get otherwise
- Eating local food in another country is way cheaper than eating that food in Canada, so the more you eat, the more you save
- A £15 theatre show in the UK would cost minimum $60 in Canada, so you’d better watch some
- If you have an EU passport and are under 25, then you get to save ~$20 per attraction that gives you free entry
- Joining a student society gets you free/cheap cultural experiences
- Making friends abroad is priceless
While “girl math” is fun, there’s some truth to it… but make sure you have an overall budget and don’t overdo it ;).
Until next time,
Ana
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