Tony in Australia: Where did my money go?

Tuition money? Check. Plane ticket? Check. Spending cash? Check.

Food money? Uh, whoops.

While I budgeted from buying textbooks to buying a ticket to see a kangaroo, I failed to plan for Australia's standard of living.

And two weeks in, I'm starting to pay for it -- pun intended.

Everything from a cup of coffee to a fast-food meal costs 75 percent more here than back in the United States. Even a bottled water can be a $3 investment.

Then the $1.80 one-way bus rides, snacks and meals, a 40-percent-more-expensive MacBook Pro charger, golfing, taxi rides and nights out started adding up.

After staring at the credit card charges -- which also has an international transaction fee -- I realized not seeing a kangaroo because of poor budgeting might be a possibility.

And nothing straightens out your priorities like not having money to see a kangaroo.

Luckily, I caught this trend early and committed to a couple lifestyle changes. I hope this blog raised awareness about budget managing overseas and no one else lets it get out of hand like I did.

First change is always having a full thermos. This saved me from countless $2.50 water bottles and $2 sodas that are about 40 percent smaller than U.S. plastic bottles.

Another is avoid buying coffee or snacks by caring food purchased from grocery stores. $6.50 for a muffin and a small coffee is a deal here. $6.50 gets me high cholesterol and a full stomach at a U.S. fast food restaurant.

Third is know the bus system. A 10-minute taxi ride can be $24.10 compared to a $2, 15-minute bus ride.

But most importantly, stock up on groceries like a bear preparing for hibernation and know how to cook.


For about $20, I've cooked this delicious (and extremely fulfilling) chicken-vegetable stir fry with sliced apples and spicy chilly sauce twice. For $5, you can cook a carne asada quesadilla with avocado and sun-dried tomatoes.

Even food ingredients cost more here, but three meals and leftovers roughly costs the same as a 10-minute taxi ride or 20 percent of my weekly rent in Australia.

I wonder if the expression "food for thought" came from this example?

I'm ashamed to release the difference between the first and second week's spending, but let's just say seeing a kangaroo is an option again.

Also, the best way to pad your budget, and trust me it pains me to admit it, is studying. After all, students are studying abroad and not playing abroad.

Don't be consumed by the glamor of being at a new country. There are literally hundreds of new things you could try, but make sure you know what the most financially responsible way to do it is.