The Goods and Services Tax (GST) was introduced in April and as a higher education student, it’s good to know how this is affecting you. The good news is that your tuition fees, books and accommodation are not subject to GST. Here are some things that you might experience a little price hike:

Petrol and parking

Driving will be a little more expensive now. One way to counter this is to carpool with friends. That way, you’ll be able to square out the petrol and parking expenses, and even take turns driving every week.

Telephone bills

Most students will have broadband in their living accommodation. Make full use of those and get on Skype. It’s free and you’ll get to speak for hours without being too worried about racking up an extortionate bill at the end of the month. If you find that you’ve already used up all your data for the month, refrain from topping up. Try to keep your phone usage low and manageable.

Eating out

Try to cook at home. Having meals at home need not be boring and lonely. Organise a pot luck, invite friends over and cook together. Share some home recipes and talk till the wee hours in the morning.

While it is inevitable that you’ll need to pay GST, The Royal Malaysian Customs recommends that consumers ensure that they pay GST only to businesses that have been registered and authorised to charge GST.

To check a company’s GST status, click here.