If you landed paid intern work, you should be thankful because not everyone can get such an opportunity. Even if the pay is minimal, it's better than not receiving anything at all for all your effort and hard work. But if you're not lucky enough to get a paid intern job, there's no need to despair, after all, you will get the training you need in order to advance your career. Also, internship work is the key to getting a high paying job in the future.
Because of the low intern salary, you may find it hard to budget your money, especially if it is your only source of income. Below are some tips on how you can survive financially and ways to stretch your intern salary.
Figure out how much you really need
Calculate your daily expenses. This can include food, transportation, personal expenses, and rent. If you think you are spending more than what you earn, then it is time to minimize your expenses. One way of doing this is by walking to work. That is, of course, assuming that you live near your workplace.
Manage your money wisely
Oftentimes, we tend to spend more than we need to, especially on things that will make us happy. This is actually fine since we all have ‘wants'. But since you're still at that intern job, then you will have to wait until such time that you have a real job that pays well. One way of managing your money wisely is by separating your needs from your wants. For instance, if you are renting a very expensive apartment because you fancy having a big dining room, a huge kitchen, and a large bedroom, then it's just about time to wake up to the reality that this is just a want. It won't hurt you if you live in a simple one-bedroom apartment that costs less. Or if you can't leave your fabulous apartment for whatever reason, then try looking for roommates so you can split the rent with them.
Plan your meals
Planning your meals can help a lot in lowering your expenses. Aside from planning, you should also cook your own meals. This way, you are not only cutting down on the cost but you are aware that the food is safe and clean. When planning your meals, try to stick to fruits and vegetables. Not only are they are healthy but they are also very cheap compared to meats and processed foods.
Stay away from credit cards
Credit cards may have a lot of advantages, but if you only have an intern job, you should think twice before applying for a credit card. Ask yourself first if you can afford to pay for it. One disadvantage of having credit cards is that it will tempt you into buying things, including those you don't really need. You can also find it hard to keep track of your expenses when you are using credit cards. You may just end up with a bad credit record because you can't pay your bill.
Avoid things that can break your budget
One very common scenario is going out with friends or co-workers on paydays to have dinner or drinks. This will only cause you to break your budget. For sure, if you and your friends are enjoying the night, you won't notice that you have already drunk a few bottles of beer. Of course, it's great to bond with your friends, but you should know your limitations.
If you really think that the money you receive from your paid internship job is not enough despite the measures that you have taken, consider taking a second job. That is, if you have extra time, or you can work during the weekends or at night. There are a lot of jobs to choose from, such as baby sitting and tutoring, among many others.
Paid intern work can be difficult to find if you don't know where to look. There are actually a lot of paid internship jobs out there. One very popular website that has thousands of available paid intern work is InternshipCrossing.com. Don't waste your time with unpaid internship work. Log on to InternshipCrossing.com now and land that paid internship job of your dreams!
