Budget Saving Tips?!

I am glad you asked. With our currency fluctuations causing some of the most expensive exchanges in history, it's a good time to consider saving some cash now and again while in Paris.

First of all, if you will be living further than walking distance from school, get yourself a monthly transpass. It's named a Carte Orange and costs about 55 Euros (if I recall correctly). They are available at every "Tabac" in town. If you want to have a sturdier version of the Carte Orange and want to wait a couple of weeks to receive it, go for the Passe Navigo (in the meantime, you can still use the Carte Orange). It costs nothing extra, but is sturdy and easier to keep track of because it looks like a credit card or an ID rather than the paper-type business-card size Carte Orange.

Second, refills on soft drinks tend to cost you, so go with water, which they can refill for free :) And wine, of course, is a great option. Not free to refill, but France is a wine country, so you should explore your menus if you want to find a new favorite. while living in Paris, don't be afraid to try the local shops for baugettes, fromage, etc and make som emeals at home...you'll definitely save money by not eating out all the time. I would typically only eat out at lunch.

Third, don't take cash out on your Credit Card. On top of the normal international and ATM fees, they'll deck you 24% or more to take out cash on a credit line. You can typically use an ATM or Debit Card without much trouble. While in the US, see if your local bank has an agreement with a bank in Paris. Citizens Bank in Philly has an agreement with BNP Paribas in Paris that makes ATM withdrawls FREE! Meanwhile, TD Banknorth has no ATM fees anywhere in the world.

Fourth, take care of your tuition payment ASAP. If the currency swings down while you are in Paris, you will find yourself paying USD $2000 extra based on a bad exchange rate (ouch, that one hurt).

You may already know that you can come to Paris with your own medical plan. If you are under 26, they won't be pleased because they want you to buy the state-sponsored plan (which is a tedious process...one I skipped by purchasing my own insurance online), but don't worry- it works out fine to have your own. In you are over 26 years of age, it is compulsory you come with medical insurance to France.

If you plan on traveling Europe, get yourself a EuRail Pass (www.eurail.com). It can save you hundreds of dollars off last-minute train booking across Europe. I got the $600 Pass and it was good for 10 days over 2 months and good in 20 countries. It was very handy...especially because I could take an overnight train leaving at 8pm on Friday from Paris and arrive at my destination the next morning in time for breakfast (it would only count as one day, not two, despite being overnight).

If you fly, consider using Momondo for your flight searches. It does a great job of finding low-cost flights. And if a plane is flying from Beauvais, add on the additional 30 Euros it will take you to get a bus out to that airport (and the extra 90 minutes it takes the bus to get there). I recommend you stick with CDG and Orly for your flighs out of Paris, but sometimes the price difference is important enough to fly from Beauvais. I tended to use the train to leave Paris and a plane to return so I could max my time at the destination city.

Pay attention to your age. If you are under 26, you are considered a YOUTH. This saves you considerably on admission into certain museums and events. In fact, that Eurail Pass is cheaper if you are under 26.

Good luck in Paris!