Money
Budgeting
Budgeting before you go will help you work out how much you need to save for Schoolies. If you're holidaying with friends, get everyone to work out the budget together.
List all your expenses
Start by listing everything that you're going to need for your holiday. If you don't know actual costs, make an estimate. Make sure your estimate is based on real prices and not just what you think the price might be. To help you, we've created this simple budget calculator.
Work out your individual costs
Add up everything on your list to work out a total cost. Divide this by the number of people in your group to get the cost per person.
If the cost per person is too high, you could look at adding one more compatible person to the group so that the costs are shared. You may need to look at cheaper accommodation. Units usually work out cheaper overall because you can store and prepare your own food.
Making your spending money last at Schoolies
Make sure you know how much money you have to spend each day. If you overspend on any given day, don't panic, just adjust your figures. Divide the amount of money you have by the remaining days. It may mean that you have less to spend some days. Here are some other tips:
- Buy groceries in advance and avoid having to visit convenience stores that may be more expensive.
- Prepare your own food in your accommodation rather than eating out all the time.
- Know how much money you have to spend before you decide where to eat.
- Don't feel that you have to split the bill with friends if they're ordering up big and you're trying to stick to your budget.
- When shopping, ask yourself whether it is something that you really need or not, as well as if it is within your budget.
- Take advantage of free or low-cost activities and events in your Schoolies area.
- If you're worried that you'll be tempted to spend, leave your credit and bankcards and extra cash at home.
- Try to 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, manageable amount.
- When you go out, keep some emergency cash in a pocket, shoe or sock, somewhere away from your wallet, just in case you lose it or it's stolen.
Spending at Schoolies
Remember to get a receipt for everything you buy at Schoolies. Receipts are important written evidence of who you paid, exactly what you paid for, how much you paid, when you paid and your method of payment, including credit card or cash.
Refunds and exchanges
Always keep your receipts as proof of purchase in case you need to return an item.
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 are entitled to ask for a full or part refund or free repeat service when a service is not of a saleable standard, doesn't match the description/advertisement/demonstration or does not do the job it is supposed to perform to standard.
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.
Last updated: 27 October 2008
