University teaches you a lot: solving equations, meeting deadlines, how to survive on three hours of sleep. But one thing it rarely teaches you is how to build good money habits early on. 

You don’t need to be rich, a finance bro, or the next Warren Buffett to start investing. The trick is simple: do it for the habit, not for the profit (yet).

Build habits

Allocating 5 to 10 euros a week into something basic like the S&P 500 index (which tracks 500 of the largest publicly listed U.S. companies) builds discipline, and a mindset that your future self will thank you for. 

You won’t notice the gains immediately, just like you won’t notice one gym session, but over time, consistency compounds quietly. Research the power of compounding investing and you’ll get what I’m talking about. 

Get a student job

A student job in the Netherlands is honestly one of the easiest wins you can get. You can even get one at TU/e, by becoming a tutor. It pays well, and the hours are usually very manageable, think around 8 hours a week.

Have a look at DUO

In addition to that, the Dutch welfare is also very generous. Dutch students are generally eligible for student finance through DUO, but many international students can also qualify for this if they work a certain number of hours each week. This can significantly boost their income. 

So, you can combine a chill part-time job with these student finance products, and you can end up earning a surprisingly solid amount without sacrificing your studies or social life. Being an international student from Greece, I was honestly surprised by how much a simple student job can earn you.

Bring your own food

TU/e has plenty of convenient food options (yes, SPAR is there), but relying on these every day is a fast track to spending way more than you realize. A sandwich here, a snack there, and suddenly your weekly budget is gone. 

The smarter move? Bring your own food. It doesn’t have to be super fancy, just something simple, filling and nutritious that saves you from impulse buys. You’ll spend less, eat more consistently, and still have money left for the things that actually matter.

Create some structure

Staying on top of your money doesn’t require a lot, a bit of structure goes a long way. Use something like Microsoft Excel or Google Sheets to track your expenses: rent, groceries, travel, nights out, random coffees—everything. It might feel unnecessary at first, but once you see where your money actually goes, things will click fast. 

You’ll notice patterns, cut down on useless spending, and avoid that “where did all my money go?” moment halfway through the month. A simple spreadsheet gives you more insight and more control.. After all, what are we engineers without a bit of data analysis? 

Get a bike

If you’re in the Netherlands and don’t have a bike, you’re doing student life the hard way. Everything revolves around cycling here and Eindhoven is very bike friendly, so you NEED to get one, but of course be smart about it! 

You can go for a subscription service such as Swapfiets (where everyone will know you’re international) at around 20 euros a month including repairs, so no stress. 

Or you can buy a basic second-hand bike for about 60 euros from Marktplaats and be done with it. Either way, don’t overthink it, just make sure you have something with two wheels and a good lock.

Consider investing

Building money habits is not just about skipping SPAR sandwiches or tracking coffees in Excel, but also about learning what to do with the money you save. Start small, stay curious, and consider joining B&R Beurs Eindhoven, the university’s investing association, for expert lectures, company visits, networking, and a lot of fun along the way.