🎓💸 Student budget in the land of fjords: transport, food, textbooks — no unnecessary expenses

🚉📲 Travel passes and discounts: which fare to choose and where to buy

🏙️ Oslo (capital region)

For regular travel, a 30-day student ticket in the Ruter app is a good deal if you meet the conditions (age/student status). Single tickets do not have a student discount, so if you travel 3–4 times a week or more, a season ticket usually pays for itself. Detailed criteria and purchase information can be found in the Ruter app.

🏔️ Bergen (city of seven hills)

Buy tickets and passes at Skyss Billett and plan your routes at Skyss Reise. If you live near Bybanen and travel frequently, buy a pass; for occasional trips, buy single tickets. Check ticket types and purchase options on the carrier's website.

🔬 Trondheim (technology capital)

At AtB, student passes are valid up to a certain age (for some categories, up to 34 years old). Purchase and plan your trip in the AtB app. Please note that 7-day tickets for students are not available (you will need a longer pass).

💡 Life hacks:

— Count the number of days you spend on campus: if it's less than 2–3 per week, it's sometimes cheaper to buy single/24-hour tickets on busy days.

— Combo routes (train/tram + walking/cycling) save zones.

— Keep map and ticket apps on your home screen.

🍲🛒 Food: weekly plan, student cafes and shared kitchens

🍽️ Campus canteens:

— In Oslo, there is a network of SiO Food & Drink canteens and cafes with student prices.

— In Bergen — Sammen Mat & Drikke (campus cafeterias).

— In Trondheim — Sit Kafe (campus food outlets).

💡 Money-saving tips:

— Plan your menu for 3–4 days: grains/sauces + ‘variable’ vegetables/protein.

— Shared kitchens in dormitories/kollektiv: agree on a ‘shared cupboard for basic products’.

— Discount stores for buying ‘heavy staples’, fresh produce — at home when on sale.

📚💻 Textbooks and software: libraries, second-hand, subscriptions

📖 Libraries

— UiO (Oslo): lending rules, where to get and renew books — on the library website.

— NTNU (Trondheim): public library; basic rules and lending periods — here.

♻️ Used textbooks

— Bookis — textbook marketplace, students often sell at half price.

— FINN Torget — ‘Bøker’ section: search for courses/subjects by keywords.

💾 Discounted subscriptions and software

— GitHub Student Developer Pack — access to tools and credits.

— Microsoft 365 Education — check your eligibility for free/discounted access via your university domain.

— Adobe Creative Cloud for students — discounted subscription (check your region).

🏊‍♂️🤸‍♀️ Sports and leisure: gyms and swimming pools

— SiO Athletica (Oslo) — network of gyms, group classes, swimming pools; flexible membership options.

— Sammen Trening (Bergen) — clubs near campuses, student rates.

— Sit Trening (Trondheim) — gyms, swimming pool, group classes.

Tip: choose a club near your campus and another one near your home (day pass/clip card) so you don't waste your evening ‘windows’ on travelling.

📊 Monthly budget template (categories → scenarios)

Categories: housing, transport, food, textbooks/software, sports/leisure, communications, ‘cushion’.

Scenarios: economy (more second-hand + campus canteens), balanced (periodicals + cooking 3×/week), comfortable (sports club + some meals outside the home).

Steps:

— Write down your fixed expenses → set limits for variable expenses → factor in seasonal peaks (textbooks/winter/holidays).

— Once a month, check your subscriptions and ‘silent leaks’.

✅💡 A checklist for saving money without compromising on quality

• Transport: choose one ‘transport anchor’ (period ticket) and plan your trips/changes around it.
• Food: cook a large portion for 2 days + ‘fresh’ additions.
• Textbooks: start with the library and second-hand books; buy new ones only if they are must-haves.
• Software: activate student packages before purchasing paid subscriptions.
• Sports: campus gyms/swimming pools offer the best value for money.