Much has been written lately about the cost of university, and the growing number of young people place off by higher education referable the thought of so much debt after graduation. But, as the new term kicks off this month, it is clear that the recession has made the application process even more competitive as more mature students enrol, at the same time as jobs are cut, pay is frozen and more people find themselves without work. So what are the other options after college or sixth form?
Course, a gap year has long been an acceptable way to spend time after secondary school in order to build up your ‘life experience’ and to delight in some well-deserved freedom. But with so much concern about debt, can you really afford one? The simple answer is believably yes, but you must plot and budget carefully.
Whether you choose to volunteer close to home, or want to glide to the east coast of Australia, it is likely that you will need to save up some money for the experience. Of course, earning is one thing, but saving is quite another and it is vital that you’re taking enough money from your monthly pay and arranging it somewhere safe. The more research you can do on this at the moment the better as the best savings accounts available tend to be fixed term – meaning you are more likely to get excellent returns if you leave your savings alone for a certain amount of time.
Another positive boon to your funding could come from tax. If you’re only working for a few months before leaving and not working for the rest of the year, you may be eligible for tax back. If you earn £6,475 or less over a year you do not need to pay tax.
Once your funds are in place you need to estimate how you want to access it, and the currency (or currencies) you are likely to use. Internet banking is a fantastic way for travellers because it is free and is available 24 hours a day. After you know what currency you will need and where, it may also be worth considering a prepaid credit card – despite the terrible reputation there are certain credit card options available that are free of debt risk and allow you to take out foreign currencies abroad for no charge.
The next plot is to budget the trip. If you are travelling abroad it is becoming increasingly vital to take out travel insurance – and it is a excellent thought to research specialist gap year cover. If you are plotting any special activities such as extreme sports, ensure that these are included on your policy also.