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Budgeting
You should
work out a budget covering accommodation, food, transport,
clothing and entertainment. Travel costs and child care, if
applicable, should also be taken into account.
As a guide
you will need between A$7000 – A$12,000 a year for living
expenses. Married students need about A$5000 more a year for
a spouse and A$3000 more a year for each child.
Money
and Banks
Australian
currency is the only legal tender in Australia. Money from
other countries can be changed at the exchange facilities
located at international airports, banks and major hotels.
Travellers cheques are easier to use if already in Australian
dollars, however, banks will cash travellers cheques in virtually
any currency. Major hotels and some shops, depending on individual
store policy, will cash travellers cheques.
Banking
services in Australia are extremely competitive. Over twenty
local and numerous international banking groups are represented
in Australia. All major banks have many branches in each city
and regional centre. Normal trading hours are 9:30 am to 4:00
pm Monday to Friday. Most shopping centres have Automatic
Teller Machines (ATM) facilities. These machines can be used
for deposits and withdrawals 24 hours a day. Many department
stores, supermarkets and specialist shops have electronic
transfer terminals (EFTPOS) where cash withdrawals can also
be made in addition to purchasing goods.
Credit
Cards
The most
commonly accepted credit cards are American Express, Bankcard,
Diners International, Mastercard, Visa and their affiliates.
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