Having a stable financial source is essential for the success of any short-term or long-term plan. Starting to save early can help you be prepared for your child's education, retirement plan, or any emergency.
So, whether you're looking to study abroad or planning for your child's overseas education, here are 3 ways to start saving:
You'll need to know what your savings goal is in order to help you avoid extravagant spends. Create a budget plan for yourself in just four steps:
Step 1: Keep track of your monthly income
The best time to plan a budget is at the beginning of the month or at the end. List all sources of income including salary, allowances, interest on savings or even money given by relatives.
Step 2: Start with fixed expenses
Note down all fixed expenses such as rent, utility bills, phone bills, insurance premiums, children's tuition fees, or personal debts. Subtract this from your total income to see how much you have left over for other expenses.
Step 3: Track daily expenses
Categorise your daily expenses. For example, food, commute, clothing, entertainment and a few others. This will help you identify items which are over your budgets and where you can cut back.
Step 4: Set a savings goal
Once you know your personal finances and monthly expenses, carve out a savings budget for yourself. This budget should be defined as either short-term or long-term and it should be in balance with your income.
For instance, you intend to study abroad in the next 5 years, and the estimated cost of overseas education is approximately VND 2 billion. If you don't have a part of this sum in advance, you'll need to save up for VND 400 million/year for the next 5 years. But if you plan ahead, the amount to save each year will be smaller.
Every country has a different education system and so, every foreign school is not necessarily expensive. There are public universities and colleges in some countries that don't charge any tuition fees for international students, except administrative and registration fees.
If you are interested in studying at a free (or almost) university, Europe is an ideal destination. Europe has always been known for its high-quality but affordable academic programs because higher education there is subsidised. Germany, France and the Nordic countries are few of the countries that offer free higher-education to students, according to HSBC International, Banking & Resources.
According to the Value of Education, published in 2018 by HSBC Holdings plc, living expenses are the top of parental funding. Here's the list of living expenses and how you can save up some money:
For daily commute, the best option is using public transportation. If you want to get some exercise on the way to school, getting a bike is also a good idea.
However, as an international student, you may have to travel back home during breaks. International flights are expensive and it can be a worry when you miss home and want to visit your family. You can reduce the costs by booking your flights early or choosing an economical airline.
Simply leave your details and our Premier team will get in touch with you to help out.
Getting a scholarship is one of the most common ways to fund your education overseas. A scholarship can cover 100% or just a part of your tuition fee – either way it's very helpful.
Contrary to the common belief that scholarships are limited and the odds of winning one are very low, if you start your search early, winning a scholarship might not be out of your reach. Here's everything you need to know about scholarships:
These scholarships are often merit-based scholarships. Students can be awarded with these, based on criteria assessed by the university such as academic performance, achievements, talents etc. Some universities even have scholarships for students who exhibit the university's core values.
Merit-based scholarships, however, are not entirely limited to student's academic excellence. So, don't worry if you are not top of the class. Participating in extracurricular activities, community work and demonstrating excellence in leadership roles will make you a potential candidate for valuable scholarships. You can find all the information about scholarships on the website of the university or college that you want to attend.
This is sponsored by the government, from its budget for education purposes. You can look for scholarships offers both by your country's government or the government of the country you plan to study in. Government scholarships are said to be prestigious. If you successfully get one, not only are your tuition fees covered in full but your living expenses are also funded.
With all its valuable benefits, government scholarships are extremely competitive. Some of the prominent government scholarships you can check out are Fulbright (US government); MEXT (Japanese government); DAAD (Germany government); Chevening (UK government) and many more.
If you want to pursue an international degree and play your favourite sport at the same time, this scholarship is for you. Sports scholarships are not that common, so you might want to research and prepare everything about them a year or two prior to the commencement of your course.
Additionally, you might need to include all your sports achievements and awards in your application. Make sure to contact the university's coach, who will decide whether you can get a sports scholarship. The disadvantage of this mode of funding is that it's hard to get a full scholarship. Therefore, consider applying a few other savings methods to ease your financial stress.
Find out if your dream school is in the NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association). If so, you'll need to study NCAA's licensing process. If you want to know more about sports scholarships, check out the websites of National Collegiate Athletic Association, National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics and National Junior College Athletic Association.
Grants are often known to be a need-based financial aid. You don't have to pay back for this type of financial assistance. Therefore, this is a good amount of money to support your overseas education costs.
To be eligible for grants, you must prepare documentation on family income or furnish tax forms to prove your financial needs. However, the number of grants and bursaries are usually limited in a year, so you'll have to apply early.
Why do you need a scholarship? Which types of scholarships are best for you? Ask yourself these questions. If it's because of your financial situation, you should strive for scholarships that can cover full or most of your expenses during your study abroad.
If you have a specific major that you want to pursue, look for scholarships in that particular field of study.
Planning for your education expenses shouldn't be all about cutting costs and giving up your hobbies or entertainment to save up money. In fact, you can do more than just save by investing to grow your wealth.
The idea of investing to build wealth might not be familiar to some people, but it's the path to achieve your financial goals and enjoy your life better.
If you don't feel the rush to study abroad right after graduating from high school, you can prepare for the expenses by investing a small sum in mutual funds for a while.
This is an HSBC Premier affiliate program that helps you meet your financial goals.
With diversified portfolios, your money will be invested alongside many other investors. If you don't have much time or knowledge about investing, don't worry; the day-to-day investment decisions will be made by a professional fund manager.
Currently, there are different types of assets in the financial market such as stocks, bonds and other asset classes. Depending on the fund strategy, your money will be invested in one or more different assets.
Vinawealth Enhanced Fixed Income Fund (VFF)
VFF invests in government bonds and corporate bonds issued by highly creditworthy institutions, with the main investment objective of preserving initial capital and generating regular income in the medium-to-long term.
This one is considered a low-risk fund, suitable for investors who desire to achieve relatively stable returns in the medium-long terms.
VinaCapital Insights Balanced Fund (VIBF)
VIBF invests equally in bonds and equities. It gives investors the opportunity to participate in equity upside while limiting overall portfolio volatility.
This one is considered medium risk, suitable for investors who expect average and stable returns over the medium to long-term.
VinaWealth Equity Opportunity Fund (VEOF)
VEOF invests in the stocks of companies with large market capitalizations and high growth potential.
This one is considered medium to high risk, suitable for investors who expect high returns and can tolerate short-term volatility.
Vietnam Equity Spcecial Access Fund (VESAF)
VESAF invests in the stocks of companies with small and medium market caps and high growth potential.
This one is considered medium to high risk, suitable for investors who expect high returns and can tolerate short term volatility.
We are here to help you compare funds to find out which one is suitable for your preferences and needs on parameters such as risk level and investment strategy.
Once we understand all your needs, including your investment objectives and elements of risks you'll be willing to take, we can help you choose investments most suitable for you.
Working is one of the ideal ways to support your expenses while studying abroad. It's also the quickest way for you to adapt to the culture and lifestyle of the country you are in.
You can apply for an on-campus job to better connect with the staff, students and faculty. The experience will also look good on your resume when you graduate. If you want to apply for a job off-campus, here's how to find one:
Building connections is a great way to get employed. Try to make acquaintances with people around you – whether in your school or outside.
Participating in community events or volunteering for charity organisations is another good way to expand your network. This helps you meet more local people, who can refer you to a company in the future.
There are forums and groups for international students or people who settle abroad. You can find them on social media to get tips on job applications and even search for opportunities.
You will also find these forums to be informative and helpful, beyond just job hunting.
Studying abroad opens up a whole new world of opportunities for you. The experiences of an international education will shape you and prepare you for the future. If you start planning early, studying abroad won't really be a financial burden.
Join HSBC Premier today to make your dream of studying abroad come true!
