Seeing a tropical coastline does not have to be just a dream. Photo by Amy Douglas

BY AMY DOUGLAS
IN FOCUS REPORTER

Students have a lot of expenses that can make saving hard. There’s tuition, books, bus passes or parking passes that all have to be paid.

But, with the help of careful money planning and tools to help, it doesn’t mean that travelling is out of the question, said David Basilio, a financial services representative at TD Canada Trust.  Basilio planned for a trip of his own to Mexico in his final year of university.

Basilio said that students have plenty of options for financial help available to them such as lines of credit, loans, visas and their personal savings. Every person’s saving needs are different, so Basilio en courages talking to a representative to find the right option.

“It is important for students to experience and learn about the world they live in. It’s a big world and there is a lot to learn outside of the classroom,” Basilio said.

Katie Harris, first-year funeral services student, is going to Chile over the Christmas break for a wedding. While Harris’ parents helped her with the plane ticket, she worked for most of the summer to earn spending money for her two-week vacation.

She said that saving on a student’s budget isn’t easy, but that the trip and experience is worth the scrimping.

“I think everyone should have the experience of going different places,” Harris said. “Having pictures and being able to talk about it and just seeing different cultures – I think it’s really important when someone’s growing up.”

Basilio said there are a number of options available to the student who wants to travel. “Students can set-up pre-authorized payments which withdraw money on certain days to their savings account,” he said.

“They can open up tax-free savings accounts which allow them to deposit money and gain interest tax-free.”

As well, Basilio said, TD offers a program available called Simply Save. The program transfers money from a chequing account to a savings account every time a student makes an ABM withdrawal or a direct debit purchase.

Susan Mcguire, Michener Institute graduate, backpacked around Europe on her own dime in her second year. It was a great trip she said, but one she had to save for, which is about buying only what you need and less of what you want.

“It becomes in part about some of those lifestyle choices, probably with saving money. Who needs Tim Horton’s everyday,” said Mcguire.

“You don’t have to go out and drink every night, all of those things are really expensive.”