Seriously, I love that I’m a girl.

And there’s no time in the day that this thought is emphasized more than at 8 a.m., while I’m waiting for the train, anywhere in the world.

Seeing wave after wave of suited men pass by never fails to make me wonder if guys ever feel stifled—or at the very least, bored—from wearing the same thing, day after day, for years upon years of the time they clock in the work force.

Sure, dressing up for work is a pretty straightforward process for guys: dress shirt, black slacks, nice silk tie, good leather shoes, expertly tailored black suit. Throw in a briefcase or laptop bag, and you’re good to go. Knowing the way guys’ minds work, I can safely assume that they love the simplicity, practicality and efficiency of it all.

But, come on, for the rest of your lives?I’ve got a few clever ideas that might liven up your work wardrobe and maybe even the rest of your day.

As always, proceed with caution—take note of your company’s corporate culture before trying anything too creative, and adjust your choices accordingly. ‘Cause giving your boss a heart attack? Never a good idea.

The Glasses

To all the bespectacled males out there, don’t throw out your glasses just yet! Geek chic is now officially cool thanks to celebs like Kanye West and Jay-Z, and more and more guys who are wearing their readers even when they don’t need them.

Feel like a change of frame is in order? A more modern choice would be a rectangular, cat’s eye style in solid black, or if you’re the daring type, try different colours like blue, burgundy, light grey, or tortoise shell.

The Belt (Buckle)

Another great way to jazz up a work outfit without attracting too many awkward stares? Your belt buckle.

While the thought of wearing a huge chunk of metal at your waist may conjure images of rodeos and cowboy hats, you might be surprised to find that there are tons of styles available out there that are classy, very cool, and definitely office-appropriate—and no, they don’t include pictures of eagles or horses. As a rule, use your office’s corporate culture to figure out how creative a choice you can make.

The Necktie

While I wouldn’t suggest donning your bright yellow Spongebob necktie to an important office meeting, there are other options besides solids and stripes for neckties.

Skinny ties look more youthful, fresh and current (in short, you can get away with them), and you’ll be able to change up your look without sacrificing professionalism. If your office’s corporate culture allows it, you can even try experimenting with subtle patterns and slight metallic finishes for added impact.

The Cuff Links

One of the best ways for guys to add a little personality to their work outfits is to wear what they love on their sleeves—literally! Cuff links come in all sorts of shapes, designs, textures, and metals, and there’s bound to be a pair out there that expresses who you are perfectly.

And since cuff links can easily be hidden by a suit or jacket if needed or exposed to show a little bit of personality, you have the license to be more creative, whether that means wearing your iPhone, a mini Porsche 911, or The Beatles on your wrists.

The Case

We all agree that first impressions last—so why not leave a good one while handing out your all-important calling card? Networking is one of the most important aspects of any job, and those first few moments can often make or break a deal (and sometimes even a career!).

Show a little of your personality with a unique business card holder that will ensure the person you’re talking to remembers you and not the guy schmoozing the entire room. At the very least, it’ll serve as a great conversation starter—and a possible ticket to your dream job.

(You may have noticed that almost everything featured in this article is from Etsy.com. Etsy is an online marketplace for vintage and handmade items, and it’s a virtual mine of unique, one-of-a-kind stuff that you won’t find anywhere else. If you’re thinking of trying a few of the ideas above, it’s definitely worth a visit. Trust me, you won’t come out disappointed!)

It’s early morning. Cup of coffee in hand, I stare at the sea before me. Navy, black and white meet my eyes.

Nope, this isn’t some tropical paradise. It’s my work wardrobe.

If you’re anything like the millions of fresh grads out there, figuring out how to put together office-appropriate looks can be a challenge.

Sure, you’ve done your homework and invested in the pieces that will last: a well-crafted blazer, a nice pair of slacks, a knee-length skirt with just the right amount of give and a carefully chosen cadre of button-down shirts.

Does anyone else think it’s all a little boring?

But fear not, fellow grads, with a little creativity and some “closet shopping,” even the most work wear-challenged can achieve sartorial success. Read on for more inspiration!

A-line or pencil skirts may be your go-to for work wear, but there are so many other cuts and lengths available.

Some silhouettes you can try are tulip, pleated, bias-cut, ruffled, high-waisted and bandage.

A caveat, though: never, ever wear a miniskirt to work. Not only does it look severely unclassy, it will probably give others the wrong impression of you and that just isn’t worth it. H&M, Dynamite and Forever 21.

Think cocktail dresses are only for parties?

You can easily make yours do double-duty by pairing it with black tights and a tailored blazer. Cuff the sleeves up to your elbows for a look that’s more casual cool.

H&M, Forever 21 and Smart Set.

Instead of a regular button-down shirt…

Wear a sleeveless tunic blouse and top it off with a longer-length cardigan.

Cinch everything with a skinny belt to look more put-together.

Jacob and Forever 21.

Blazers don’t always have to be black and business-like to be boardroom-worthy

Grey or beige jackets work just as well.

Choose well-constructed pieces with interesting details, such as ruched sleeves or ribboned belts, or lightweight but sturdy fabrics, such as Tencel.

H&M and Suzy Shier.

The “safari” look is in for spring

A belted shirt dress or jacket will let you ride the season in style.

You may not be able to travel to an African jungle (yet!), but at least you’ll look the part while sitting pretty at your desk.

Smart Set.

Contrary to popular belief, a bubble skirt can be work appropriate

Just pair it with a neutral-coloured sleeveless blouse, a long cardigan, peep toe heels, some jewelry, and you’re good to go!

Forever 21 and H&M.

What are your favourite “unboring” work outfits?

You know that shoebox your bills, receipts and bank statements call home?

It’s time to clean it out.

Although I recommend sorting through those important documents more than once each year, I realize the reality of life’s day-to-day craziness sometimes demands a little procrastination. And with thoughts of spring cleaning (and unfortunately, tax season!) running through our minds, now is the perfect time to get started.

Here’s a handy list of the financial papers you should either keep or toss, and how long you should hang onto them.

Short-term files (1 month to 3 years)

• ATM receipts and bank deposit slips—shred once accurately reflected on bank statement
• Bank statements—one to seven years, depending on whether your bank has them available online
• Credit card statements—shred once you’ve paid, but keep if they list tax-deductible expenses or charitable donations
• Utility bills—either shred once paid or keep for future reference as they may be used as proof that you pay your bills on time if you want to rent an apartment or open a new bank account
• Pay stubs—keep until you get your T5 at the end of the year, then shred
• Medical bills—keep for at least one year, in case there’s a billing error that needs to be disputed
• Papers regarding stocks or bonds—shred quarterly statements once year-end statement is received
• Receipts for items under warranty—keep until warranty expires
• Receipts for minor items or day-to-day debit/credit—shred after confirming the amount charged is correct, but be aware that depending on the type, amount and reason for the purchase, they may be necessary for insurance and tax filing

Long-term files (minimum 7 years)

• Income tax returns, including receipts and supporting documents—keep for at least seven years: tax returns can take up to three years to be audited and the Canada Revenue Agency can challenge you up to six years after if they suspect your income was under-reported
• Cancelled cheques—keep in case you need to show proof of payment or for tax purposes)
• Savings account records—shred quarterly statements when you receive the annual statement and keep annual statements until you decide to close the account
• Buy/sell trade confirmations for investments—keep for as long as you own the property and for seven years after: this allows you to track your cost basis and the taxes you owe
• Receipts for major purchases, such as jewelry, furniture, cars, computers, home improvements, etc.—keep with other purchase documentation for proof of value in case of loss or damage, as well as home insurance and warranty records
• Charitable donation receipts—keep for six to seven years for tax-filing purposes
• Receipts for tax-deductible expenses—this may include charitable donations, medical prescriptions that you haven’t been reimbursed for, receipts for rent paid, etc.
• Original brokerage agreements and trade confirmations—keep until you sell the security and report the gain/loss
• Original credit card lending agreement—keep while you are still maintaining the account
• Phone & utility bills—only IF the bills are tax-deductible because you work at home

Permanent files

• Birth certificate—keep in a safety deposit box
• Social Insurance Number (SIN) card—store with birth certificate, and avoid carrying it around unless you’re filling out necessary paperwork
• Passport—avoid using as an ID  unless there’s no other option
• College transcript
• Medical history file
• Will, Living will, Durable Power of Attorney
• Military service records (if applicable)
• Life insurance policies (including those with your employer)
• Contracts and other legal papers
• Stocks, savings bonds and securities
• Proof of payment of debt or of money owed to you
• Retirement plan documents (along with annual statements)
• Marriage, separation and divorce documents
• Real estate deeds, titles and property surveys
• Mortgage or insurance payments—keep for as long as you own your home
• Booklets and information on employee benefit plans as well as health and disability insurance
• Other insurance policies—keep until they expire, except for liability policies with “occurrence” coverage: occurrence-based policies cover you for damages that occur while the policy was in effect, even if the claim happens after the coverage expires

Check out the rest of the Your Money series, which breaks down those tricky financial terms so you can understand them.

As I stood waiting at a corner in downtown Vancouver, a guy wearing nothing but face paint and a familiar red-and-white flag streaked by, shouting at the top of his lungs.

I didn’t bat an eye.

While the 2010 Winter Olympics will most likely be remembered for all the records it managed to break—and create—in Canadian sports history, it also produced an ardent degree of patriotism that, for two whole weeks, managed to overwhelm an entire nation’s fashion mindset.

Walking along the streets of Vancouver was an education in just how many jackets, shirts, toques and red mittens emblazoned with the Canada logo could be worn at once. Yet, cheesy as it may sound, nothing made me feel more proud to be Canadian. For once, it was OK to be brimming with all the national pride you could muster—and be garbed head to toe in Canadian gear while you were at it.

My experience of the Winter Olympics was fantastic, and two weeks of cheering and celebrating have given me a lot to reminisce about. But if there’s one good thing that came out of Canada’s hosting the Winter Olympics (and believe me, there’s so much more), it’s that Canadian pride is back in full force—and from what I’ve seen, the rest of the world is just as excited to be clothed True North style.

Those red mittens

These notoriously hard-to-find red mittens have practically become the unofficial fifth mascot of the Winter Games. Priced at $10, they’re one of the cheapest souvenirs you can get, and it doesn’t hurt that various celebs, athletes and politicians from around the world have been spotted wearing the ubiquitous hand warmers.

Hbc started selling the mittens last fall as a way to raise more funds for our athletes through the “Own the Podium” program. Original sales expectations of a million pairs by Games’ end turned to three million (and counting), with Bay and Zellers stores practically selling out of the mittens as soon as they leave the packing box.

Anything with the words “Canada” on it

While those cool quilted Canada jackets the athletes wore were definitely the most coveted outerwear of the Games, any item with the official Canada logo sold like hotcakes. Canada hoodies and shirts were popular among spectators and athletes alike, and you could not walk down a single street in downtown Vancouver without seeing a toque or scarf bearing the beloved symbol.

Suzanne Timmins, creative director of Hbc’s Olympic collection, recent told Elle Canada that the font isn’t just any arbitrary creation. “We sloped the A’s so that they look like mountain peaks and circled the C, almost closing it, to denote Canadian unity.”

The Team Canada Hockey Jersey

Everyone from Olympic gold medalist Scott Moir to Prime Minister Stephen Harper donned the Team Canada jersey in support of our men’s and women’s hockey teams’ quest for gold, and the rest of the puck-loving population of Canada was just as unwavering in their support.

Though the logo will be discontinued after the Games, it still gives a nice nod to Canada’s history and culture in its design. Look closely and you’ll see indigenous Canadian symbols such as an eagle and a thunderbird within the red maple leaf logo, a design choice meant to give tribute to Canada’s founding nations.

In Part 1, we suggested a few ways to drop some subtle hints to the moochers in your life.

But if all else fails? It’s time to start getting serious–with a little role playing, natch.

Turn the tables

Since you’re always helping your friend out, try to see if he or she will do the same for you.

Conveniently “forget your wallet” the next time you go out, ask to loan some cash, borrow a favorite shirt or DVD, and see what happens. Doing this may feel odd at first, but it’ll give you the chance to see your friend’s “true colours” and gauge if your relationship is based on more than the amount of money in your pocket.

If you know for a fact that your friend is just stingy about money, mention that it’s his or her turn to foot the bill, and suggest that the plan won’t push through if you have to pay for everything again.

“Can you cover for gas, since I’m driving? Oh, you can’t? Okay, I was having second thoughts about going, anyway.”

“Since we watched the game at my house last week, let’s do it at yours this week. Well, if we can’t find someone to host, maybe we should cancel. I can host once in a while, but not every time.”

Have a heart-to-heart

If your friend still can’t seem to change his ways, it may be time for a private one-on-one. For all you know, he may actually be going through some rough financial patches at the moment or may have difficulty managing his money and feels embarrassed about discussing the problem with anyone else.

Approach the issue as delicately as possible: “I’ve noticed that you’re having a hard time pitching in when we go out. Is everything okay?” Listen to what he says, and try to give non-judgmental advice or offer to help out as much as you can if the problem goes deeper than that.

But if it turns out that your friend is simply a “moocher” and has no plans of changing his ways, you can either choose to stage an “intervention” of sorts with several of your mutual friends in an effort to save the friendship, or decide once and for all whether the friendship is worth saving.

It’s a tough call, but if you feel that you’re being used and confronting the situation hasn’t helped, then maybe you’re better off spending your time and wealth with real friends—friends who give back as much as they get.

We all know at least one: the friend who loves to tag along for drinks and conveniently “forgets his wallet,” or that co-worker who borrows $10 here and there and just happens to overlook the very important act of paying it back.

Though it would be easy to ignore someone’s “mooching” for the sake of friendship, it isn’t always easy to ignore your thinning wallet or dwindling bank account—especially if the only thing getting in the way of its growth is the fact that you’re always paying for someone else’s dinner.

Have a few freeloaders in your life and don’t know how to deal? Read on for some inspiration.

Joke around

To start things out on a lighter note, playfully “nudge” at your friend’s conscience. Smile and say, “You sure you’ve got your wallet this time?” before leaving for a restaurant, or if he or she wants to borrow something (and you know you’re never going to see it again), deflect the awkwardness: “Pretty soon you’re going to have my entire wardrobe/DVD collection/!”

The key is to let your friend know that you’re on to him or her, but that you’re not making a federal case out of it—yet.

Go “Dutch”

You may feel a little wary about doing this at first, but if you’re serious about nipping the problem in the bud, always make it clear that each person should pay his or her fair share.

If your friend insists she’s not hungry but picks at your food, make an excuse that you’re coming down with something and it might be better for her to order her own dish. You can also casually mention that you’ve only got enough money for your own meal or movie ticket, or make it clear when planning your night out that you guys are going Dutch: “Sorry, I can’t cover for you right now…I’m all tapped out, too.”

If all else fails, ask for separate cheques. If you’re worried that other people might see this as poor etiquette, you can pass it off as an “auditing” issue: “Hey, budgeting is serious work…I’m writing this off as an expense, so I’ve got to have a separate receipt so I don’t screw up!”

Assign in advance

Freeloaders take advantage of spur-of-the-moment awkwardness to force you to cover for them, either out of your reluctance to confront them about the issue or your desire to avoid making a scene. If you want to beat them at their game, pre-empt that moment by assigning them certain things or duties beforehand.

For example, if you’re planning a road trip or dinner party, make a list of what each person is bringing, and ask your friend what he wants to contribute. If he mentions that he’s having some trouble financially, empathize and suggest that he bring one of the cheaper items, or propose that he cook something instead. You can lend a hand if he says he doesn’t know how, but make sure you’re there to help in the kitchen, not to pay the grocery bill!

If you’ve got a roommate who never does her chores or avoids paying for shared expenses, put up a whiteboard clearly outlining each of your responsibilities and cross out each item as it gets done. This will make her mooching obvious, and hopefully encourage her to cross out more items on her side of the board.

Still not working? Stay tuned for Part 2, which will involve a role-reversal of sorts and gets down to the nitty-gritty!

I’m going to go on a leap of faith here and say that I believe every Gen Yer knows what he or she is getting into (read: possible career repercussions) when posting last night’s beer keg party photos online.

But if you thought that all you were risking by posting that one shot of you wasted on your friend’s living room floor were countless job opportunities and the respect of your boss, think again. It could also cost you the ability to be approved for credit.

In a recent “The Working Guy” blog post, author Christopher Null mentions that credit companies are now able to use the information you make public on social networking sites to determine whether or not they should lend you any money.

Since credit companies have only been able to size you up based on your demographic information up until this point, they’re now supplementing that data with whatever information you allow everyone else on the World Wide Web to see.

That includes photos of your trip to Mexico, comments and updates on what you or your friends are up to, your profession of eternal and undying love for shopping in your profile—even the kind of people you like to hang out with. And because you’ve made this information free for one and all to see, it’s perfectly legal.

Analyzing your personal info helps credit companies determine what kind of credit products to offer you and whether or not you’re eligible to receive certain loans, cards or benefits. Depending on the content you’ve volunteered online, this could either help or hurt your chances at applying for credit.

For instance, regularly putting up photos of your shopping conquests won’t make Visa too happy, but sharing how you managed to save money here and there is likely to leave a good impression. Another thing credit companies are on the lookout for: “deadbeat” friends on your list who look like they live on their parents’ couch and love to borrow your money.

While the secrecy involved in this process makes it hard to accurately measure just how much these factors could affect your credit rating, it’s important to be aware that these methods are in full effect for some credit-oriented companies. Thus, Null suggests taking serious steps towards cleaning up your online image if your credit situation is in a precarious “borderline” state.

The solution? Simple: set your privacy settings so that only friends can see your profile, and delete anyone you don’t really know all that well to protect both your privacy and your credit.

JourneyEd.ca and Studica.com

The task of upgrading computer software or hardware is one that I face with an odd mix of excitement (I’m all for my laptop running faster and better, of course!) and trepidation, since it usually sets me back several hundred dollars.

And for a student on a limited budget, that can be a pretty big expense to shoulder.

Rather than pay the full retail price, visit sites like JourneyEd.ca or Studica.com to get academic discounts on programs like Adobe Photoshop and Microsoft Office.

It’s as simple as emailing or faxing your proof of academic status (usually a combination of your student ID, class schedule and a letter from your school with its letterhead) to take advantage of the discounts.

UltimateSteal.com

Although almost all colleges and universities have an MSDNAA (Microsoft Developer Academic Alliance) subscription, some students may not get access to these discounts because they aren’t part of the faculties that are allowed to use the subscription.

Plus, some university stores charge just as much or even higher than retail for certain programs.

If you’re looking for Microsoft products in particular, be sure to check out UltimateSteal.com before buying elsewhere – it’s an official Microsoft site specifically targeted to students and it often offers the newest Microsoft programs at rock-bottom academic prices.

Case in point: Windows 7 Home Premium Upgrade, which retails for $129.99, was offered on the site for only $39.99.

The only downside? The site usually sells just three products at a time and each offer has an expiration date, lasting only a couple of months at most. Act fast!

According to the National Association of College Stores, students spend approximately $702 USD a year on textbooks.

Considering that this adds up to about a fifth of the average tuition cost per semester of a regular college degree when converted to Canadian dollar values, what’s a cash-strapped student on a budget to do?

Sell your (lovingly) used textbooks

The best way to fund this semester’s textbooks purchase? Sell your old tomes on sites such as TextbookExchange.ca or Amazon.ca, which allow you to directly advertise the titles you currently have to the sites’ respective customers.

It’s much easier than looking for buyers on your own and you have the added advantage of working with a well-established customer base.

The best part is you won’t spend anything unless the textbooks you put up for sale are purchased, since almost all the sites offering this service waive their listing fees. Once the books get sold, though, a percentage is usually deducted from your quoted sale price for the merchant’s commission. Amazon in particular deducts 15% of the sale price while TextbookExchange.ca takes about 12.5% in commission fees, so take that into consideration when pricing your books.

Compare before you snare

If you thought comparison shopping was only for retail merchandise, think again. Sites like BooksPrice.com, BIGWORDS.com and CheapestTextbooks.com make it easy for students to find the best deals for textbooks on the web. Just input the title of the book, its author or ISBN, and the search engine will give you a thorough rundown of where you can purchase it online and how much it costs on other sites.

On the flipside, if you’re interested in finding out the highest price being offered for the used textbooks you want to sell, enter the appropriate ISBNs into the BuyBack Textbook Search and you’ll get a list of the best places to earn top dollar for them.

Choose older or international editions

Before you decide to spring for brand-new books, ask your professors if previous editions would work just as well. There are often very few differences between two recent editions (more so if you find the edition directly preceding it), and you’ll be able to save tons—it could mean the difference between $150 for a brand new textbook and $15 for a used one!

If an older edition won’t work, consider buying international edition textbooks. These are textbooks that have been published at a lower production cost for sale in foreign markets and are often soft covers with black and white photos and illustrations. Buying an international edition means you get a brand new textbook at a price approximately 50% lower than what most bookstores charge for full-priced books.

A word of warning: some international editions don’t include the supplementary material or CDs included in the full-price version, so if your professor requires the add-ons, make sure they’re bundled with the books before you click “buy”.

Textbooks, digitized

If you’re the kind of person who prefers a more “digital” interface, consider downloading your textbooks from sites like CourseSmart and CafeScribe instead. Not only is it cheaper than buying a hard copy of a book—you’ll save as much as 50% off the original retail price—but you’ll also save yourself the hassle of finding another space for it on your already-crammed bookshelf. Plus, you’ll be reducing your environmental footprint, which is a pretty worthy goal in itself.

Unfortunately, unlike their paper-based cousins, e-textbooks can’t be resold after the student is done with them, and subscriptions usually allow only a limited one-to-two-semester access to the material. Likewise, stringent copyrights prevent printing more than a few pages of the book, and as of this article’s publication, the technology available can’t support the reading of e-textbooks on Kindle (although a new app for the iPhone and iPod Touch has recently been released by CourseSmart).

Still, it seems more and more schools and students are embracing the idea of tech-based education in lieu of the traditional paper-and-pen method, which makes this a trend worth looking into.

“Blockbuster” for textbooks

(McMaster University, University of Waterloo, Wilfrid Laurier University)

For the lucky students of the three schools listed above, there’s another option: textbook rental courtesy of moarBOOKS.ca. The rental lasts for one semester and the books must be returned no later than five days after the end of final exams (moarBOOKS goes by each school’s calendar), or the student can opt to buy the book or books as well.

The best thing about the service is that it’s tailored to meet each school’s specific needs. Case in point: only the most current editions are rented out (coinciding with those in the university bookstore) and the savings offered are calculated according to each school’s bookstore prices.

To search for books, input the course title (i.e., Anthropology 1A03) and you’ll get a list of the books required by each professor teaching the course for the semester in your school.

The site has a great return policy in case you drop out of the class (30 days with full refund), but careless students beware: a replacement fee will be charged for “excessive highlighting” on the rented books and they must be returned with minimal markings, no water or food stains, and without any missing or torn pages.

Another argument against rental? Buying used often costs just as much, and you won’t be burdened with all the restrictions, so depending on how you are with your belongings, choose your approach accordingly.

Check out the rest of the How to Stretch Your Dollar series, which provides tips, resources and links to help you save as much money as possible!

Although there is debate over which is the better of the two, ISIC and ISE cards are the most recognized ID cards for travelling students worldwide.

If you’re considering taking a trip, whether within North America or to a far-flung locale in Europe, I strongly suggest investing in at least one of them.

ISIC (International Student Identity Card)

Cost: $22
One-time payment.
Valid for 16 months, based on the academic year of the country where you applied for the card.

ISIC cards are strictly for full-time students 12 years and older attending a secondary school or post-secondary institution (there is an equivalent card for teachers, the ITIC, and for youth aged 12 to 25 not currently in school, the IYTC).

The ISIC is the most globally-recognized student ID and it offers 32,000 discounts in 106 countries. It also provides a 24-hour ISIC emergency helpline you can call free of charge anywhere in the world to get immediate access to legal, medical or travel advisors.

Another perk is the ISIConnect, which allows you to save up to 70% on international calls from 75 countries and gives you access to voicemail, SMS services and a free email account. ISIC cards are also the only recognized student ID by VIA Rail Canada, which charges student fares for cardholders in economy class for all destinations, all year round.

ISE (International Student Exchange) Card

Cost: $24
One-time payment.
Valid for 12 months from date of purchase.

The ISE card is available to students, faculty and youth under 26 years old, and it offers unparallelled emergency assistance: basic medical expenses up to $2,000 USD and evacuation coverage up to $5,000 USD, applicable anywhere around the world.

The card also provides a 24-hour helpline in case you encounter an emergency and require legal, interpreter or embassy assistance. The Emergency Roadside Assistance Program, valid anywhere in North America, is another great feature offered by the card.

In addition, ISE Card student rates can get you up to 50% off entrance fees to various tourist destinations worldwide and provides substantial discounts for a number of establishments and transportation options as well. Also helpful: the ISE Card gets you a 25% discount off an adult ticket on Greyhound in Canada.

As a general rule, do some research on the country you’re visiting to find out which card would be more useful, as some places only recognize the ISIC while some give better deals to ISE cardholders.

For instance, ISIC is the only recognized card for train travel in Sweden, but the National Express Bus Co. in the UK only recognizes the ISE card.

Check out the rest of the How to Stretch Your Dollar series, which provides tips, resources and links to help you save as much money as possible!