Tag: monthly payments

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Saving Tips for International Students

Finding an apartment or house to rent in a foreign country is more challenging than you might think. Here are our tips for international students who want to find their new home!

 

Renting in a Foreign Country

Renting in a foreign country can be more complicated than signing a lease in the US. Most landlords expect tenants to sign year-long leases, which means you have to move out at the end of your contract. Landlords don’t want their property to sit vacant, so they often require that tenants pay rent on time and are prepared to terminate contracts if necessary.

In many countries where English is not widely spoken or understood, there is no grace period for paying rent (e.g., 30 days). Rather than waiting until month’s end before paying your landlord for his/her hard work, it’s best to let them know as soon as possible that you’ll be moving out soon so that they can plan accordingly—and maybe even give them some extra money!

In the United States is it standard to sign a lease for housing. When renting an apartment or house, tenants are responsible to pay rent every month as stated in their lease agreement and must abide by the rules listed in the contract. However, renting a house or apartment in a foreign country is more complicated than just signing on the dotted line. Some things international students need to know about renting include: contracts are usually written in the local language; there is usually no grace period to pay rent; most landlords expect tenants to sign year-long leases; and that finding housing before arriving is beneficial.  Heres a few pointers:

  • Contracts are usually written in the local language.
  • There is usually no grace period to pay rent as it’s due on the first day of each month.
  • Most landlords expect tenants to sign year-long leases, which means you should plan ahead about what you will need for your stay abroad and how long you’ll be there.

Living Expenses

Living expenses are one of the most important aspects of an international student’s budget. You’ll need money for rent, food, transportation and miscellaneous costs like laundry or getting a haircut.

The best way to budget for these expenses is by looking at your overall budget and then breaking it down into categories (rent; food; transportation). Once you have a rough idea of how much you need each month, look at what’s available in your area — whether that be on Craigslist or through word-of-mouth recommendations from friends who live there — and start shopping!

If it turns out that your budget is too tight or loose compared to what other students with similar financial backgrounds are paying on their own houses/apartments/condos around town, then think about ways in which you can save more money by cutting back elsewhere — maybe buying less clothing so as not go over clothing allowances? Or maybe taking advantage of cheaper utilities (gasoline/electricity) instead of going crazy with high bills every month?

Most students budget for their expenses prior to departure. However, living costs vary across cities and countries and most students find their budgets often stretch further than expected. In particular, international students find living costs in Japan and Canada are less expensive than those of other countries. Accordingly, it’s important to understand what kind of lifestyle you want while abroad because your rent will be your biggest expense followed by transportation and food. If you have never traveled before or rented an apartment or house before then renting a place can be confusing but not difficult if done properly!

 

Navigating Public Transportation

If you’re traveling by public transportation, it’s important to know how to buy a ticket and what your options are.

  • When purchasing tickets at a vending machine or station: You can use cash machines or credit cards.
  • When using the automated kiosks that accept coins and bills: You’ll need exact change (in U.S dollars) or only exact change if you’re paying with Euro notes; otherwise, select “credit card” and then enter your PIN number as instructed on screen (the default is 1234).
  • In order for this system to work correctly, make sure that all passengers have their fare before entering an elevator or escalator; otherwise, it will not be able to process the correct amount of money from all passengers’ accounts!

We hope this article helped you understand how to budget and prepare for living abroad as an international student.

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5 Things International Students Should Consider When Moving

Moving abroad is an exciting and terrifying prospect. It’s tempting to rush into it without giving yourself time to think about what you might need as a student, but doing so could end up costing you money in the long run. You’re going to be living in a new country for at least six months and maybe even longer, which means making sure that your move will be smooth and enjoyable is key. Here are five tips on how to make sure your international student experience goes smoothly:

The Country

  • The country you move to is important.

  • The country you move to will have a big impact on your life.

  • The country you move to should be somewhere that makes sense for you, and where people can be happy with their lives and get what they need out of it.

Weather and Travel
Weather can be a big factor in where you live. It’s important to know what kind of weather you’re getting into before making a decision, so do some research on the area and read up on their weather patterns.
Travelling can also be expensive, stressful and fun all at once! If this is something that interests you then make sure it’s worth the money spent on travel expenses (and don’t forget about your student loans). Be sure that whatever country or continent you end up living in has good public transportation systems which will help keep costs down while still allowing for convenience and ease of access throughout your daily routine as an international student living abroad.

Housing

  • Renting is often the best way to go for international students. However, it’s important to note that you may pay a premium for renting in your new city.

  • You may be surprised by how much space you need and what kind of furniture you need. Expect to spend more money than if you were living with roommates at home!

  • If possible, try looking at apartments before renting one of them; this will help make sure that everything works out like it should. It will also give you an idea of where things are located so that when moving day comes around (and there will be many), everything doesn’t feel like a huge ordeal!

Entertainment

  • Find a way to stay entertained.
  • Meet people, and make new friends.
  • Stay connected with family and friends back home.
  • If you’re going to be studying in a foreign country, it’s important that you learn some basic phrases in your host country’s language so that you can communicate with the locals when needed (like ordering food or asking for directions). This will also help keep up-to-date on local events and news—which might have changed since your last visit!

Food

Food is a huge part of the culture shock you’re going to experience when moving abroad. But don’t worry—it’s not as bad as it sounds! Here are a few things you can expect to eat in your new country:
  • French fries and burgers. These are staples for Americans and Canadians, but they’re also popular in other countries around the world (including Singapore). If you’re craving something salty and greasy, try ordering some deep-fried fish or chicken wings at your local restaurant instead of ordering pizza or pasta.
  • Curry rice with chicken/pork/bacon/chicken feet (if available). Many people enjoy Asian foods like this one when they visit their home countries; however, they might find them less familiar than their native fare because there aren’t many places where these types of dishes are readily available outside Asia itself (unless someone happens upon an Indian place while travelling abroad). However, even if there aren’t any such places nearby ,you can still try finding some authentic ones near where you live!

When you move abroad, it’s pretty hard to change things. Make sure you’re moving somewhere you know you’ll be happy!

  • You won’t be able to change things. This may sound obvious, but this is often overlooked when planning your move abroad. Try not to stress out over the fact that your life will be different once you leave home and start a new chapter of life in another country—you’ll have more freedom than ever before and can make decisions about where and how to live based on what feels right for yourself instead of someone else’s expectations of how things should be done. Plus, research shows that people who embrace change tend toward being happier than those who don’t (1). So if there were ever any doubt: yes—changing everything can lead towards greater happiness!
  • You should prepare for the worst case scenario by making sure all necessary documents are ready beforehand so nothing gets lost during the move itself (2). Then again…if something does happen along the route such as theft or loss…don’t worry; there are resources available online like PackingGuide which provides tips on packing safely while avoiding common mistakes people make when moving abroad (3).


In conclusion, moving abroad is a great opportunity for students to experience something new. It can be hard to adapt to a new culture and environment, but you can do it!

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Your old appliance is worth more than you think- before you throw it, consider selling it.

 
Whether you’re looking to replace an old appliance or just looking for a way to get rid of the one that’s been sitting in the garage since you moved in, there are plenty of options. And while it may seem like an overwhelming task at first glance, it doesn’t have to be! In fact, selling and replacing your appliances is actually easier than you might think—and it could save you some cash along the way.
 
Your dishwasher is worth more than you think.
  • Your dishwasher is worth more than you think.
     
  • Appliance buyback programs: If your appliance is still under warranty, it’s worth contacting the manufacturer to see if they’ll take it back. You may be able to trade your old appliance in for a new one at an attractive price—or even get cash back!
     
  • Appliance rental programs: Many people use their newer appliances as rental property because they don’t have room for them at home. But if this isn’t working out for you and there are no other options available (like selling), then consider renting out your old appliances through these companies so others can enjoy them instead of cluttering up space in their homes or garages. This way, everyone wins!
     
 
Do some research.
Before you sell your old appliance, do some research. You want to make sure that you’re getting the best price for it. Check out local classifieds and online sales sites like eBay and Craigslist. Make sure that any buyer can see the item in person so they can make an informed decision about its condition before buying it.
 
If you have an old appliance sitting in storage or outside somewhere, consider selling it—but only after doing some research on what kind of money people are willing to pay for similar items at that time period (if there’s an antique market).
 
Check to see if your appliance has a buy back or exchange program.
  • Check if your appliance has a buy back or exchange program. This is offered by the manufacturer, and it’s typically not available at all retailers. It may require you to send in your old appliance, so make sure you have proof of purchase if this is something that concerns you.
     
  • Consider renting an appliance instead of buying one new (especially if it’s just for a short period). Renting can be cheaper than buying new and it lets you try out different models before making a commitment on one model over another.
     
  • Wanting to buy some updated appliance units while not having enough cash? Trade-ins are your way to go. There are stores who would offer value to used goods and have this service arrangement to their valued customers in partnership with brands.
     
 
Try selling it yourself.
 If you’re not sure what to do with your old appliance, try selling it yourself. You can often find a buyer online or via classified ads in newspapers and on Craigslist. Check out Amazon and Ebay too — they usually have plenty of people looking for used appliances at good prices. Local appliance stores may also be willing to buy your old appliance if they know about its value as well as how much money you’d get from selling it (and whether or not they’d pay more than the store).
If none of these options work out for you, consider finding a repair shop that will buy your old machine—they’ll probably give you an estimate first before buying anything so that they know what kind of deal they’re getting themselves into!
 
Consider donating your old appliance and getting the tax benefit.
If you’re considering donating your appliance, here are some things to keep in mind:
  • You will have to pay extra for shipping. This can add up quickly if you need to ship several items at once and it will cost more than just sending it home yourself.
     
  • You may not get a tax deduction for the full value of the item (it depends on the type of donation). The IRS says that they only allow deductions up to $500 per item, but many charities give much more than that as part of their program.
     
  • If there’s any chance that someone could use this old appliance again someday (say, if it was donated by someone who moved away), then they should probably keep it around because they never know when they might need something like this again!

      
Selling and replacing home appliances isn’t as hard as it seems.
There are many ways to get rid of your old appliances. You can sell them, donate them, rent them out or give them away to someone who needs one.
If you’re looking at selling your appliance online and want to get the most money possible, there are several websites that offer free listings on their sites. These include Gazelle and OfferUp (which was recently purchased by Facebook).
If you don’t have time or energy enough to clean out your entire home before selling it off completely with an open house or yard sale—or even just a few rooms—you might want something more hands-on than just listing items in a virtual store front; this is where Craigslist comes in handy again!
 
There are many ways to get rid of your old appliances and make some money in the process. If you’re tired of trying to figure out what needs to be done but don’t have the time or energy, consider selling them through an online auction site like eBay or Craigslist. You’ll get a lot more than just a new appliance when you do this though because it’s also possible to sell your used ones for even more money! The next step is making sure that everything stays safe until after your auction date so that no one breaks into our house and steals any valuables from inside before we go shopping for replacements tomorrow morning 🙂
 
 
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Renting, leasing, or subscribing to an appliance? How does everything work?

There are several ways Australian homes can access appliances or the advantages of using an appliance for a set length of time, each with its own special features and advantages. These include renting, renting-to-own, leasing, laundromatting,  and subscribing.

 

What are some typical Australian motivations for leasing, renting, or purchasing an appliance?

 

  • To try out an item not previously used or  infrequently used, like a condenser dryer or heat pump dryer for a few months before deciding whether to buy it. (Try before purchasing!)
  • Only subscription services often provide premium appliance repair, replacement, or warranty options.
  • With long-term leases or subscriptions, one may obtain high-value appliances without incurring significant up-front costs.
  • Many users in Australia use rental appliances to control their cash flow.   Renting and subscribing to refrigeration and washing appliances fits perfectly.
  • Upgrading to the newest technology is popular in Australia, where customers frequently seek out the latest on trend appliances from air purifiers to robot vacuums. The ‘Upgrade anytime’ desire is  well satisfied by rentals and subscription services.
  • Younger generation: There is a generational transition; GenZ and Millennials seek to receive or experience advantages rather than possess them. This change is seen across all industries. As an illustration, one may get more value from a shared washing machine while only contributing what they really use.
  • Universities, hostels, AirBnb’s, co-living spaces, worker dorms, service flats, and co-living spaces frequently rent, lease, or subscribe to appliances for their tenants.
  • For landlords or tenants, renting or subscribing to equipment that corresponds to the length of a residential lease can be very convenien



Want to subscribe to an appliance with Whybuy?

 

1. Choose a Product

Choose the most up-to-date appliance that meets your requirements for superior performance, usability, and energy savings.

2. Subscribe

Choose a monthly membership plan with a set cost!

3. Supply and setup

Within 5 days*, you may have your goods delivered and installed! Our staff will set up your new appliance and offer advice on how to make the most of its capabilities. Additionally, we will remove your old appliance completely free!

4. Total tranquility of mind

Our hassle-free guarantee, which covers your product for the whole term of your subscription, gives you complete peace of mind. If, on the off chance, there is a problem with your appliance that cannot be fixed remotely in a matter of minutes, we will provide you a like-for-like replacement within 48 hours.

 

Please check out our FAQ section if you have any other queries regarding our subscriptions.

 

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The Three Most Important Appliance Success Factors for Satisfaction when Acquiring Appliances 

The appliance market is booming, and it’s no surprise that there are so many brands vying for your attention – some with deep cash discounts. But what is the right choice? How do you know which one is right for your needs? In this post we’ll explore the three most important factors for success in subscription appliances: brand, model and method of acquisition.

Brand
Brand is the first of the appliance success factors we will cover when choosing an appliance. For an appliance brand to be successful, it must deliver on its brand promise.  A brand promise is an expectation of quality and service that you have when dealing with a particular business or person. If the brand itself promises good quality products at affordable prices and meets the customers expectations in a previous sale, then customers will trust those promises more than ones made by other businesses who may offer cash discounts  and cheaper options.
Different brands have different promises. Electrolux, LG, Bosch, Fisher and Paykel, Samsung, Miele, and Asko all have their brand promises.  Fisher and Paykel is a relatively expensive brand, with the promise that it will last a long time and parts will be available for many years.   Miele and Asko are very expensive brands which come with extra prestige, with the promise of the highest quality, some confusing buttons which will mean no one but you can use it, and very long parts availability.  If you are considering buying one of these expensive brands, especially if you will be buying on finance and making monthly payments, you really ought to consider the subscription appliance market or subscription services instead.  Subscription services lets you to subscribe to an appliance usually with monthly payments instead of owning it outright, meaning you essentially have a lifetime warranty on the subscription appliance.  More on the subscription appliance market later.
 
Model
Model is the second most important of the three appliance success factors to consider.  There are two main things to watch out for in model.  First try and avoid buying a fresh brand new design, and this can be a bit difficult.  The fresh designs will usually be the most fashionable and often have cash discounts – but they come with a problem.  When a new model type first hits the market it often has design flaws – and you won’t know about them because there won’t be any reviews to go off yet – all you can do is trust the brand.  These design flaws often cannot be fixed, they’re just lemons.  Some brands are constantly updating their models – Samsung and LG are notorious for releasing a new design seemingly every 5 minutes.  Other brands like Fisher and Paykel tend to make incremental changes.  For example Fisher and Paykel fridges have the same basic design they have had for the last 30 years, and their frontloader washers for the last 6 years.  They don’t risk releasing a lemon and wasting time on gimmicky addons, but the downside is they might not seem as cutting edge and fashionable as other brands. 
The second consideration here we’ve already touched on – check out the customer reviews for the model online.  In fairness these are usually skewed to the negative, as customers who are dissatisfied about their appliance from a big business are much more likely to vent their negative experience than a positive experience.  A rating of 3 stars out of 5 or higher would be acceptable, but make sure to read the reviews and see if there’s a common theme.  For a good example try googling “Samsung SRF890SWLS reviews”.  
Method of Acquisition
The final of the three appliance success factors is how will you get the appliance.  Your choices are buying outright, buying on finance or credit card (with monthly payments), traditional rental, or the up-and-coming subscription appliance market and subscription services.  Depending on how you acquire the appliances 
Buying outright is pretty straightforward.  You have the cash, you buy it – you might even be able to get cash discounts.  Alternatively if you cannot afford to buy the appliance outright you use a credit card and pay for the appliance with monthly repayments.  Traditional rental is very similar to buying with a loan or credit card.  You rent the appliance and there’s usually a buy it for $1 clause at the end of the term.  Essentially though you end up paying a very high interest rate and get all the unwanted obligations of ownership as well.  For example once the warranty has run out, if the appliance breaks, too bad – that’s on you.  If you send it to rubbish you still have to pay out the rest of your term, and if you repair it, you’re responsible for the cost of repairs – and guess who pays for the cost of any damage like spoilt food or a flooded apartment – Hooray you do!
Subscription services for appliances is not just appliance rental by another name.  There are what appear to be small differences, but they compound to result in a completely different experience.  Subscription appliances are the more sustainable option helping to close the loop, and they’re also often the more economic option.  In the subscription appliance market customers usually make weekly or monthly payments, with no lock in contracts, so the subscription services can be cancelled anytime, and the appliances returned without further weekly or monthly payments.  With subscription appliances, the subscription services provider is responsible for the appliance working, you’re not actually paying to have a fridge or washing machine, you’re paying to have cold food, or clean clothes.  And if there’s a problem they will usually have customer protections, so you’re not out of pocket if anything goes wrong.  Whether you’re looking for a cheap appliance or an expensive one subscription appliances often makes more sense.  For example, if you are looking at buying an expensive washing machine it usually works out cheaper to subscribe, because you effectively have a lifetime warranty, and cash compensation for damage caused by flooding in many cases.  If you’re buying an expensive appliance for a long warranty, the subscription appliance market can generally offer a better option to suit you. If you’re buying a cheap, poorly built appliance with a short warranty – again the subscription appliance market generally has you covered,  A cheap washing machine is more likely to fail and ruin your clothes and flood your house, a cheap fridge more likely to fail and take your food with it.  Make sure you consider these risks when you’re buying.  A cheap appliance is much more likely to have a shorter service life than an expensive one as well.  Once all things have been considered it often makes more sense to go with more reliable, better quality appliances offered with subscription services.  Businesses in the subscription appliance market have a strong incentive to provide good quality appliances that are well looked after to avoid maintenance issues or compensation pay-outs under their protections.  So for the buyer looking at a cheaper machine, subscription services means they get a better quality machine, at a lower price once all things have been considered and with far greater flexibility to upgrade or downgrade their appliances as their life circumstances change – such as adding a member to their family, or downsizing from a house to an apartment.
We hope that after reading this article, you feel more confident about your chances of finding the right appliance for your needs. If you need any help with acquiring a subscription appliance, contact us today!