4 Tips To Live On A Student Budget In Slovenia

One of the most peaceful and picturesque places to be on the European continent is Slovenia. It is made up of polite and highly well-mannered Slovenes who are ranked among the most educated in the world. More than 80 percent of the population traces its origins to the native Slovene and the rest comprise Italians, Hungarians, Serbs, Bosnians, and Croats. Despite the apparent domination of a singular ethnic group, multiculturism is encouraged as the local culture is foreign-friendly and harmonious. In the backdrop of such a progressive environment, it is expected that students, local or international, find themselves in a thriving environment.
In comparison to a number of its European counterparts, it may not invite as much international crowd. However, the situation is getting better with the advancement of its many universities on international charts. It houses a very limited number of universities of which the University of Maribor and the University of Ljubljana take the top spot. Moreover, institutional reformation from time to time has inspired confidence in students from all over the world.
While everything sounds very rosy and hopeful here, things may not be as easy-going you thought. Slovenia may not be a cheap country and this means you will need to think about more than just completing your university program. You must learn the ways to survive on the generally limited student budget.

Here are a few suggestions to offer on how to go about it:

1. Take advantage of food discounts and subsidies
   Like most European countries, Slovenia extends a favorable treatment to students. You just need to have your student card and you can avail yourself of many discounts at food outlets. This system is called Studentski Boni. It simply means that students are eligible to eat subsidized food so long as they are registered in the system. You will receive a code on your phone, which will be used to pay for meals at a restaurant. Under this system, you can have as many as 20 meals per month. A typical serving of the Studentski Boni would contain a soup/salad, a main course, and a dessert.
2. Get an ESN Card
   I should have talked about it first, but whatever the case we are talking about it right now anyway. ESN Card basically stands for the Erasmus Student Network Card. It is offered to those students who are part of the Erasmus program and supports international students in availing of affordable options throughout their time of stay. The moment you come to the country, make sure you apply for the ESN card as it will help you procure discounts on a number of items at several locations.
3. Free entry to Museums and festivals
   Slovenes have had a rich history and culture that has been duly preserved in the many museums in the country. Some museums allow free entry on certain fixed days to encourage an inquisitive temperament. For instance, the National Museum of Contemporary History and the Museum of Contemporary Art in Ljubljana allow free entrance every month’s first Sunday. Over here, several festivals happen throughout the year. Most of these festivals are free, which means you can save tons and have your fill of enjoyment. For example, in the capital, a Festive Fair is conducted before Christmas that is lined up with food stalls and bars and features music concerts. You can attend this festival for free!
4. Share your apartment or stay with a local
   A student budget is limited, as I said. However, even in the case of a high-end budget, you should consider saving on accommodation. Get a roommate to split your bills with. Living independently and alone can really make your stay expensive. You can find apartments for rent on many websites such as erasmusu.com and bolha.com. In case you are not comfortable with this idea and want to surround yourself with more people, then consider staying with a local. A lot of students stay with a local for a reasonable amount of time, which helps save a lot of time and resources. It is, however, advised that you stay in a makeshift place of accommodation for a few months, get used to the local conditions, and find better deals. This is important because you will need to know the place in person to understand how it actually functions.