Why Living Frugally During Your Studies in France Is So Important
Ever since Jalen and I decided many years ago that we wanted to move to France, we’ve been on a strict budget to make our dreams work financially. Both during our time as English assistants with the Teaching Assistant Program in France (TAPIF) and our two years as master’s degree students at the Université de Reims Champagne-Ardenne, frugality defined our spending habits. If you’re a student in France, and especially if you’re self-funded like us, an economical lifestyle is likely non-negotiable. Attaining a student visa or student residence permit necessitates demonstrating that you have at least 615 € per month to live on during your studies. Here’s why it’s imperative to use that money wisely while you’re a student in France.
Work Restrictions
Generally, student residence permits allow up to 964 hours of work per year. That means that working more than 20 hours per week is out of the question! Furthermore, making money online by freelancing or working remotely for a foreign-based company isn’t possible on a student residence permit. If your plan to support yourself during your studies necessarily includes working a full-time job or getting income from teaching English classes online, you’ll need to rethink your strategy. Crafting and sticking to a realistic budget that takes these limitations into account is vital to financing your studies without violating the legal terms of your residency.
Limited Time
During our time as graduate students in Public Law and Logistics, we realized very quickly that we had to commit massive amounts of time to attending class and studying every week. Furthermore, neither of us could count on having predetermined, unchangeable class schedules, and Jalen frequently had to attend classes on Saturdays! These conditions were, without a doubt, inhospitable to working part-time jobs to support ourselves. Though not every graduate program in France is the same, you should prepare in advance for this possibility as well. Living economically will allow you to focus on your studies instead of trying to squeeze in shifts at work.
Emergencies Happen
Budgeting only for the best-case scenario as an international student is short-sighted. Though it’s possible that emergency expenses won’t ever crop up during your studies, it’s always best to be prepared! Whether you need to purchase a new computer, move out following a break up, or even hop on an international flight, unexpected costs can devastate an unprepared student abroad. Building an emergency fund into your budget and saving the money you might otherwise spend on frivolous items will ensure that you don’t find yourself in a difficult situation.
Self-Sufficiency
Many students would prefer not to rely on family members, loans, or credit cards to get through their degrees abroad, yet find themselves doing so due to inadequate planning or expensive lifestyle choices. If you desire to be self-sufficient during your studies, you must understand that financial independence doesn’t happen by itself! Achieving self-sufficiency implies a careful analysis of your personal financial situation, outlining the steps you must take to afford life abroad, and sticking to the budget you create. Rigorous saving and careful budgeting may not be fun, but it ultimately means less stress during your studies.
While moving abroad as a student doesn’t have to cost a fortune, the fact remains that a frugal lifestyle will make it easier to abide by the legal terms of your residency, prioritize your education, deal with emergencies, and count on yourself during your studies. What are your favorite money-saving tips for students in France? Let us know in a comment!
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