Money
Budgeting
Budget before you attend Schoolies to work out how much you need to save. If you plan to holiday with friends, get everyone to work out the budget together.
List everything you will need for your holiday. If you don't know actual costs, make an estimate based on real prices.
If the cost per person is too high, perhaps add one more compatible person to the group or look at cheaper accommodation. Units usually work out cheaper overall because you can store and prepare your own food.
Make your money last
Know your daily allowance. If you overspend on any given day, don't panic, just adjust how much you have left to spend each day. Here are some other useful tips:
- Buy groceries in advance and avoid buying from convenience stores that may be more expensive.
- Prepare your own food in your accommodation rather than eating out all the time.
- Know how much money you can spend before you decide where to eat.
- Don't feel you have to split the bill if your friends are ordering up big and you're trying to stick to your budget.
- When shopping, ask yourself if it is something you really need and if it's within your budget.
- Take advantage of free or low-cost activities and events in your Schoolies area.
- If you're worried that you'll be tempted to spend, leave your credit, bankcards and extra cash at home.
- Avoid having your entire Schoolies budget on you in cash at any one time. Keep it in the bank and use an ATM card to take out a smaller amount.
- When you go out, keep some emergency cash in a pocket, shoe or sock, away from your wallet, just in case it gets lost or stolen.
Spending at Schoolies
Get a receipt for everything you buy. They are proof of who you paid, what you paid for, how much and when you paid, and your method of payment, such as credit card or cash. Always keep your receipts in case you need to return an item.
In most shops, you are only entitled to a refund, exchange or repair when the goods are faulty, damaged, don't match the sample/description or are unfit for their purpose.
You are entitled to ask for a full or part-refund or free repeat service when a service is not of a saleable standard, does not match the description/advertisement/demonstration or does not do the job it is supposed to perform to standard.
You are not entitled to a refund if you change your mind, decide you can't afford something or find the same thing cheaper elsewhere. You cannot ask for a cash refund if you did not pay cash.
Last reviewed: 29 September 2009
