Paige Kraynak is a student at Grove City College and an ISA Featured Blogger. She studied abroad with ISA in Galway, Ireland.
If you’re a shopaholic like me, pay attention. We are the kind of people who swipe our credit cards as if they are just pieces of plastic. But studying abroad can become a lot more expensive if you don’t plan and budget. Don’t worry, though, if I can do it, you can too! There are numerous ways to enjoy your time abroad without going bank crazy within the first month. Just take this little bit of advice with you when you come to Galway.
First off, if you have a kitchen, use it! There are grocery stores such as Aldi’s and Tesco’s with a great selection of food for great prices. And if you’re like me and don’t know how to cook, then I recommend looking up recipes on Pinterest. This is a great way to challenge yourself as well as pick up on something that you can take with you when you return home. The food in town is excellent and there are so many options. Make sure you eat out and try these places, but steady yourself and make a list of the affordable restaurants before you just head out and blow your money.
In Galway, there is a great store where you can just buy about anything you need- Penny’s. This store is very affordable and is supplied with clothes, bedding, room décor, cosmetics, etc. It has just about everything one needs when they travel abroad. That being said, even though the price is right, the material may not be. If you decide to go souvenir shopping, I recommend you pay a little more for the souvenirs. But if you are like me and didn’t pack enough socks and sweaters, Penny’s is the place to go to!
There are a lot of free things to do in Galway to keep you entertained. The Galway City Museum is a must-see. It contains a lot of Irish history and details about Galway that you probably never knew. The beheaded Pádraic Ó Conaire statue rests here as well as an actual hooker ship! And the best part about it? It’s completely free! For budget-consious college students, this is a fun way to spend an afternoon.
If you want to witness the Irish culture, many of the pubs have free traditional music daily. This is a great way to sit down, relax, and become immerse yourself in the culture. Not only do the pubs have the traditional music, but there are many street performers along Shop Street as well. They ask for donations as they play their set, but it is much cheaper than buying tickets to go see someone perform.
If you really try and budget, the cost of studying abroad can be much more affordable than you’d expect. You will be spending months here, so remember to not go out and blow your money in one night. There is much to do and see in Galway, so enjoy yourself and think before you spend.
The world awaits…discover it.