How to Budget Weekend Travel While Studying Abroad

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A huge reason I wanted to study abroad in Italy was its close vicinity to so many other countries. Being able to experience as much of Europe as I could in the time I was there was a personal priority for me. While a lot can be said for spending time in one city and really getting to know it, its rewarding to see as many new places as possible as well. With Rome as a home base, I hopped from Prague to Dubrovnik to other cities across Italy.

The first step to travelling during your program is to consciously budget for it both before and during your time abroad. If you know that you're going to want to visit other cities or countries on the weekend, know that it's going to cost more. So while you're saving money leading up to your trip, take this into consideration.

Additionally, try to limit your spending in your host city as much as possible until the end of the trip. If you have things you want to buy, but are wary they might cut into your travel budget, hold off on buying them until the end of your stay so that you know how much you have left, and that spending isn't going to negatively affect your travel budget.

Travelling in a group will also help make your travel cheaper. Split not only accommodations, but also groceries, transportation, etc. Also, use public transportation when travelling. Learn the bus or the subway systems and avoid travelling by taxis to save a bit of extra money.

Here's some additional tips for budgeting side trips while you're studying abroad:

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Girl Meets Dallas

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I welcomed in the new year in Dallas, Texas - my first time in the Lone Star State, I was pleasantly surprised by this poised and chic city. Although we were visiting to go to the Cotton Bowl (because what would Texas be without football? Clear eyes, full hearts, can't lose, y'all), we had some time to explore the wonderful shops, eats, and sights that Dallas has to offer. 

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5 Resolutions for Taking Care in 2016

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2016.  Page 1 of 365.  Your life is a story, this year a chapter - make sure you write a good one.

You've heard it all before.  Of course, there is a sort of calm sense of relief in having a blank page, the chance for a fresh start.  A chance to leave behind any negativity from the past year, and 365 new chances to wake up and potentially have the best day of your life.  But there is also the overshadowing pressure that comes along each New Year's to make a list of resolutions, often unrealistic.  We find motivation for a day or so before those goals begin to fade away. 

The idea of setting resolutions for myself this year seemed futile at first.  I shrugged off the idea, thinking that last year ended well, so I would just hope for that pattern to continue into the new year.  But the more I thought about it, the more I realized that resolutions don't have to be these grand life-changing goals.  You don't have to go gluten-free over night, or go from Netflix afficionado to triathlete in a day.  Rather, the beauty of resolutions are finding the little things that you can do now and that will gradually impact your life for the better.  It's about finding the little ways to better take care of yourself, your relationships, and your lifestyle.  Take away the pressure of resolutions, and suddenly there's a lot of beauty and wisdom in setting them.  Because taking care of yourself throughout the new year is the key to setting yourself up for a good chapter in your story.  The rest will write itself.

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