A month and a half has gone by since I have arrived in Japan, and I can't even begin to recount all the new things I have experienced. Though I must admit finding and making time to explore outside the prefecture we are staying in does take a lot of effort. As someone who can be extremely money conscious at times, I find myself less inclined to travel far due to the compounding costs of small expenses. As someone who is working with minimal money, I have had to find cheap ways to travel and cheap places to eat. The food part has been relatively easy due to the cheaper food prices in Japan, but the travel costs are almost unavoidable unless I want to walk a day to my destination. Unfortunately, for this IES Abroad program semester we were not allowed to buy or rent bikes to get around. This was definitely a highly disappointing fact to learn since I am positive that getting a bike would have seriously reduced to cost of travel by a lot. I digress, y'all are here to learn about the tips and tricks of living a cost-effective lifestyle whilst studying abroad and I am here to deliver! These tips will also just include general advice I have for travel as I feel it is useful insight.
I have found that I have both saved a ton of money and have enjoyed myself a lot more when I venture out to lesser traveled areas. Often, I have found myself in a place where the locals don't really speak or understand English but boy is the food I find there so much tastier than what you'd find in a popular collab cafe. If you're like me and stress about money at times I also highly recommend budgeting out how much you want to spend each month. It doesn't have to be concrete or absolute, you can use it as a guideline to have an idea of how much you are spending. Plus, the occasional splurge is also needed when you are out an about. By that I mean any big trips you have planned or if you have a place in mind you want to go to. There is a fine balance between spending money for the heck or it and spending money because it's something you really want and or need. There are so many adorable and cute things in Japan and they always look so enticing to buy and bring home, at the same time I don't need five of the same things just because they are on sale. So, in short, be smart and wise with how the money goes down the drain!
Editor's Note: We're proud to amplify unfiltered student voices through our Correspondent program, recognizing that every study abroad adventure is unique. We value student feedback on their experiences, and we encourage students to collaborate closely with our Center staff regarding any questions or concerns as they may come up while abroad and adjusting to life in a new host city. Due to previous incidents involving students riding bicycles and differences in traffic laws, the Tokyo Center Staff advises students against using bicycles during their time abroad in Japan. Students with questions about health and safety before they depart should contact the Dean of Students Office at 800.995.2300.

Jorja Burbano
Hello Hello! Welcome to my about section where I tell you about myself. I am an avid reader, so much so to the point where I have a mini library in my room. I also dabble in both crochet and sewing in my free time, usually outside in a park. <3