NUMBER ONE TIP:

Stop converting everything into INR. This will only depress you. Think in USD, s
pend in USD.
1. Books:
Text books are costly. Especially if you're in business school. Luckily, you can
find soft copies of most books online. If you're honorable (unlike me) and have
the syllabus prior to leaving India, buy books here. Most publishers charge a d
ifferent amount in India.
2. Phone:
This is for the poor souls with a significant other in another country. Phone ca
lls can take a toll and skype is not always possible. IndiaLD costs $0.01 a minu
te. Google voice costs $0.01 to call India. Do NOT buy a phone on contract. You
will end up paying much more.
3. WiFi:
Coffee shops are your friends. Most coffee shops like Starbucks, Peets etc have
free WiFi. Please tip the Barista. This will help you stick around and use the W
iFi without getting the stink-eye.
WiFi passwords in most Hotel lobbies is just "Guest"
4. Jobs:
It is illegal to work for an American company off-campus while on F1 visa. It is
not illegal to work for an Indian company (registered in India) you own; provid
ed you get paid in Indian rupees and pay taxes in India. Not even for services r
endered for an American company while you're living in America. Put 2 and 2 toge
ther. Be smart.
5. Use the Cloud:
Evernote is awesome. I took all my notes on my iPad, and could access this anyti
me, anywhere on any computer. Save soft copies of all your documents on Dropbox.
Use IFTTT. Put the internet to work for you.
6. Shopping:
Shop for clothes and gadgets only during sales. Major sale days are Black Friday
(before thanksgiving) Christmas, Veteran's Day, Labor Day and 4th of July. Chea
p clothes are cheap because they last less. Buy good quality stuff that is durab
le.
7. Network Network Network.
Your college is not going to find you a job. Your connections are. Your degree a
nd your GPA doesnt mean much in the united States, but a recommendation does.
8. Credit score:
If you have long term plans of living in the United States, you will know that c
redit score is everything. But you cant get a credit card without a credit score
. Get a secured credit card from a bank. If you deposit $500, you get credit lin
e of $500. This is like a debit card, but if you make payments on time, this boo
sts your credit score which will be helpful when you try to buy a car, rent a ho
use or whatever.
9. Banking:
Banks give you cash ($50-100 is quite common) when you refer a friend. Your frie
nd gets money too, just because he was referred by you. Gather 10 classmates, on
e person refer the other 9 for a zero balance account, collect the referral mone
y and split equally. This is free money, and can be done unlimited number of tim
es.
Get a Videsh yatra card from SBI or Axis or whatever. Your parents can refill th
is from India, and you don't pay a dime on Western Union or remittance fees.

Get a second zero balance account from an online bank like Charles Schwab or All
y. These banks don't charge you anything when you use an out of network ATM, Zer
o foreign transaction fees, and EVEN REFUND THE MONEY OTHER BANKS CHARGE YOU!!
10. Social life:
Hang out with people from other cultures and races. This will help you a lot mor
e than you realize now. Especially locals can be very helpful with connections,
and you enrich your personality by learning good things from other cultures.
When in doubt, tip 15%. Tip in taxis, tip in restaurants, tip everywhere. Saving
$4 a day wont help. Service people remember bad tippers.
What to take and not to take from India:
Dont be silly and carry food. This is pointless. You'll save very little.
Instead carry a good cooker. This is hard to find here.
Dont carry winter clothes. It is pointless and useless and ineffective. Buy here
.
Carry a nice suit or two. You'll get excellent quality suits from Reid and Taylo
r for cheap. The suits you buy here are made in India anyway and cost 5 times as
much.
Dont carry soap and oil and rubbish like that.
Carry some medicines you typically need, Have a prescription for every pill you
carry.