A chat about spending and saving money

If I was to name a topic that is often discussed among us students, it is definitely money. How to save money, what to spend money on, how to stop spending money... The list goes on. Especially among us visiting student’s, money is a popular conversation topic. Therefore, I was really excited about my little chat with my friend Marthe about this very popular topic; money spending!

Marthe is a 23-year-old girl from Norway. She is studying Mass Communication at Hawaii Pacific University. Marthe has been living in Honolulu for about a year now, and since I only have been here for a few months, I was hoping she could give me some new information and insight in Hawaii and the prices here.

Marthe and I met up at her favorite place at the school campus; The coffee shop at Aloha Tower Market Place. She bought her regular coffee and then we sat down to talk. There was no doubt in her mind when I asked her what the biggest difference in prices on Hawaii is, compared to Norway.

- I thought that it was going to be way cheaper moving to Hawaii, since I come from Norway where everything is really expensive, but it was definitely not. It is kind of a different though, because it is more expensive to buy food and groceries here, but the rent is about the same as home in Norway.

The high prices of groceries, and especially fruit and vegetables is what surprised Marthe the most, and I can agree on that one.

Before going abroad, many students get a part-time job to earn some extra money. Marthe did that too.

- We get loans and grants from our government, and I believe that it is possible to live on that, but I also believe that it is good to have some extra money. One good thing about living here on Hawaii is that most activities are free, like hiking and going to the beach. I want to skydive and visit some other islands before I leave, so then the extra savings will be useful.

Despite the plans to sky dive and visit other islands, Marthe isn´t the biggest money spender. The tips she (almost) always follows is to make food home and bring lunch to school, and to not buy things on impulses.

- If I see something I want, I don´t buy it right away. Instead I go home and think about it for a couple of days, and then see if I still want it. Most of the times I forget what I wanted to buy in the first place.

These two tips are definitely good ways to start saving and stop spending so much money. On the question about what she spends the most money on in the daily life, Marthe was quick to respond.

- Definitely coffee. I´m trying to get better …