Money

Budgeting

Setting a budget before you go to Schoolies will help you to work out how much you will need and how much you will need to save. If you plan to share an apartment with friends, it’s a good idea to get everyone to work out the budget together.

Making a list everything you will need for your holiday will help you with your budget. If you don't know actual costs, make an estimate based on real prices.

If you think the cost per person is too high and you won’t be able to save enough money for the week, you can always add one more friend to the group or look at cheaper accommodation. Units usually work out cheaper overall because you can buy and prepare your own food.

Make your money last

Figuring out your total estimated cost and dividing by the number of days you are at Schoolies will give you your daily allowance. If you overspend on any given day, don't worry; you can adjust how much you have left to spend the next day.

Here are some other useful tips:

• buy groceries in advance or go to the grocery store with your friends on the first day so you can stock up. Avoid buying from convenience stores, like 7-Eleven that may be more expensive.
• most apartments will have a kitchen so you can prepare your own food in your accommodation rather than eating out all the time
• figure out how much money you can spend before you decide where to eat. You don’t want to get stuck with a bill that is more than you budgeted!
• 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. Order something within your budget and let your friends know this is what you owe when the bill arrives.
• when you’re thinking of buying something while shopping, ask yourself if it is something you really need and if it's within your budget.
• there are heaps of free or low-cost activities and events in your Schoolies area. Take advantage of them so you don’t have to use your spending money!
• if you're worried that you'll be tempted to overspend, leave your bank cards 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 each day or every couple of days.

• 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

When you buy and item, get a receipt and hang onto it in case you need to return it. Receipts 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.

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 can ask for a full or partial refund or free repeat service when a service you pay for is not of a saleable (or acceptable) standard, does not match the description/advertisement/demonstration or does not do the job it is supposed to.

However, 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.