✈️📚El estudiante que fue a clases todos los días… ¡en avión!
Bill Zhou, alumno de maestría en la universidad de Berkeley, decidió no rentar ni compartir piso cerca del campus. ¿La razón? El precio 💲
Calculó que vivir cerca del campus le costaría entre $1,600 y $2,500 USD al mes solo en renta. En cambio, decidió seguir en su departamento de Los Ángeles y volar para asistir a sus clases.
⏰ Su rutina: despertaba a las 3:30 a.m., tomaba un vuelo de las 6:00 a.m., llegaba a la Bahía a las 7:30 a.m., asistía a clases todo el día y regresaba por la noche.
📌 En 10 meses hizo 238 vuelos, los vuelos entre Los Ángeles y San Francisco tienen una duración de 1 hora y 25 minutos. Su tiempo total de viaje acumulado fue de casi 76 mil minutos, aproximadamente 53 días de viaje. y gastó unos $2,400 USD (aprovechando boletos gratis o con descuento que había acumulado por viajes anteriores).
💰 Con este plan logró ahorrar más de $10,000 USD en vivienda.
No falt ó a ninguna clase y terminó el programa con excelentes calificaciones. Una hazaña de disciplina
Flying daily for classes is an unconventional but cost-effective strategy that some students like Bill Zhou have adopted to manage high living expenses near university campuses. Typically, rent costs close to major universities can range from $1,600 to $2,500 per month, which can be a significant financial burden. Bill Zhou's unique approach involved commuting by airplane daily between Los Angeles and Berkeley, covering a 1 hour and 25 minutes flight each way. Over ten months, he took 238 flights, accumulating nearly 76,000 minutes of travel time, equivalent to approximately 53 days spent flying. Despite the seemingly exhausting schedule, Zhou’s strategic use of discounted and free tickets helped him spend only around $2,400 on flights, making this approach financially advantageous. This method demonstrates the importance of creative budgeting and the willingness to incorporate discipline and time management to reduce living costs. It also highlights how frequent flyer programs can be leveraged to make daily commutes more affordable. Furthermore, this example sheds light on the rising housing prices near university campuses and the lengths students might go to manage educational expenses. The story of the student who travels by plane daily is also covered in popular media, with headlines emphasizing his commitment and punctuality, such as “Y NO FALT NI UNA CLASE ESTUDIANTE VIAJA TODOS LOS DIAS EN AVION A CLASES PORQUE LE SALE MS BARATO QUE RENTAR,” underscoring the feasibility of this approach. While this is not a common approach, it encourages students and commuters to think beyond traditional housing and transport options, considering all variables, including time, cost, and convenience. This case may inspire other students in high-rent areas to explore alternative commuting solutions and effectively balance their academic and financial responsibilities.
