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Internationals get Copenhagen cheap living tips

21/08-10 kl. 06:00 Culture / Life Science

Photo: Luci Ellis Full-degree students from the Faculty of Life Sciences learn how to survive in Copenhagen on a student budget

Life Sciences students from throughout the world found out how to get value for money in Denmark

by Luci Ellis

Let’s face it, Copenhagen is not a cheap place to live.

Around 50 new international full-degree Masters’ students gathered Friday as part of their introductory programme to the University of Copenhagen. Today's lesson was in cheap living.

Tricks and insider tips were presented by Danish student assistant Anne Fledelius, based on how she herself gets by on a tiny budget.

See pictures from the course here.

Kiosks are a rip-off

And the essentials were the first thing on the agenda: Food shopping, a bike, and water-proof clothes!

»Don’t buy anything in a kiosk, unless it is a Sunday and nothing else is open. The prices are too high!« says Anne.

Instead, she recommends buying the basics in Netto or ‘ethnic shops’ like near the square Halmtorvet in Vesterbro and near Nørrebro station.

Supermarket survival

For a rain jacket, Anne pointed the international students in the direction of the bigger supermarkets Bilka or Føtex.

After just two weeks in Denmark, the students have already learned the two most important phrases for supermarket survival in Denmark:

»På beløbet«. (meaning 'the exact amount', when paying by card, and pronounced something like 'Por-be-lurb-urt')

»En pose, tak« (one carrier bag, please)

Pricey second-hand shops

She warned the new arrivals against second-hand clothes shops in the city centre.

»They are really expensive. It is really fashionable to shop second-hand here in Copenhagen.« she explains.

»If you want the good bargains you have to go at least 20 minutes outside the city.«

»Gratis« is good

The presentation also covered topics such as cinemas, the university sport club and cheap night spots in Copenhagen.

But a number of the students seemed to have found their own way around already.

As one of the students herself summed it up, »There are just some Danish words you need to know. ‘Gratis’ is one of them. It means ‘free’!«

luci@adm.ku.dk

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3 comments

Write a comment

03/08-11 kl. 19:51 Francesca:

Need help to survive in copenhagen!

Hi guys, I'll be in copenhagen for a month, just for holiday I'll "take care" of an apartment of a friend. I don't have much money to make a great life, especially because my friend told me that living there it's really really expencive. So I'm looking for some advise of cheap life, where to go after dinner, or when can I shop low budget. I totally love erasmus party, probably because I'm an ex-erasmus too, so if you can give me any information of every thing you think it can be usefull to me! Thanks for your big big help!!! bye Francesca

07/10-10 kl. 15:16 Madhura:

Secondhand Shops

There are some shops which donate all the money to the church. They are super-cheap and also the clothes are of great quality.

06/09-10 kl. 10:49 L. Smith:

Second hand shops

There are lots of good and cheap second hand shops in Amager, Valby, Nørrebro and Vesterbro. You can quickly figure out if it is a real charity shop or a money machine. Some of the places also give you free coffee and let you go on-line for free.
I think that it is like anything else, where you have to figure out the level of pricing. Føtex is not always cheaper, either.
I mostly agree with this article.
If you are trying to make it on a tight budget, you have to be careful, since it is easy to get overcharged. Always ask what things cost and don't be shy about saying that you cannot afford things. A lot of stuff is overpriced in Denmark.

And Oatmeal. Oatmeal with raisins can save you if you learn to eat a portion of warm oatmeal for breakfast in the winter. It is cheap and fills you up and gives you vitamins and fiber. Plus, you really need something to get you through the cold days.

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