January 29, 2024

How to Save Money in Poland:

Life Hacks from «Mark's Driving School»

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It’s no secret that training for Code 95 is a labor-intensive process. This involves not only your effort and energy but also impacts your wallet: besides training fees, you need to consider food, accommodation, city transportation, and other aspects. In this article, we’ll explain how to save money on essential expenses.

Accommodation

This is straightforward, and we won’t dwell on it long. Of course, you can choose independently between a hostel, apartment, or hotel. Or you can take our recommendation and stay at our partner hostel. Accommodation costs start from 700 PLN for 30 days or from 250 PLN for 7 days.

Food

Everyone has their taste preferences, but if you approach grocery shopping rationally, you can save a considerable amount by following store promotions and bonuses.

Upon arrival, we recommend installing apps from popular grocery stores to stay informed about all prices. You can not only see weekly item promotions but also save at checkout, as many items have lower prices through the app. Typically, different stores offer better prices for different items: you might buy dairy products at one store and meat at another.

List of stores with good prices:

Auchan
LIDL
Biedronka
E.Leclerc

Important! Make a list of products you eat and compare prices across all stores. This way you can choose your “favorite” store.

Interesting life hack: In the Biedronka app, besides useful information, you can shake the ladybug and get a special super-price on certain items. You can shake your phone every few minutes. But remember, such coupons typically only last for 24 hours.

Another way to eat is fast food restaurants. But we all understand that eating at KFC and McDonald’s every day can lead to stomach problems. There’s a solution – Warsaw has many cafeterias with tasty and inexpensive food – such networks are called Bar mleczny. For 25 PLN, you can get soup, main course, and even compote.

Remember that large stores and cafeterias are closed on Sundays, so it’s important to plan for groceries in advance. Of course, you can buy minimal supplies in small stores like Żabka, but keep in mind that products there are sold with a markup.

Mobile Communication

You can’t do without it!

In any case, you’ll need a SIM card, as searching for Wi-Fi 24/7 isn’t a very interesting use of time. So get yourself a SIM card and live worry-free. They are sold almost everywhere at checkouts. Here’s what the stand looks like. SIM cards must be registered with a passport.

The most cost-effective mobile operators are:

T-Mobile
Orange
Plus
PlayVirgin

By the way, Ukrainians and Belarusians can activate an Orange SIM card for free at a special point.

For everyone else, this operator has a promotion – a whole month of using any package (including the maximum volume package, which can be changed later) for just 1 PLN.

To use the program:

Install the application.
Select a tariff plan.
Before payment, enter the discount code: «FLEX» (in Latin letters without quotes).
Use all services for just 1 PLN!

This offer is temporary, however, the end date is not announced. Before trying to use it, check its validity on the operator’s official website.

Ukrainian language is available in the app!

City Transportation

Warsaw has time-based tickets, with the following costs:

20-minute ticket – 3.40 PLN
75-minute ticket: 4.40 PLN
90-minute ticket – 7.00 PLN
daily ticket (valid for 24 hours): 15.00 PLN
weekend ticket: 24.00 PLN

If you are here for initial qualification and will be taking public transport more than 20 times, it is worth considering purchasing a travel card or «Karta Miejska». The travel card is valid for all types of transport, including electric trains within the city.

A 30-day pass for Warsaw, including suburban areas (Łomianki, Marki, Ząbki, Konstancin-Jeziorna) will cost you 110 PLN.

How to get one:

Method 1 Visit any ZTM Passenger Service Center (Punkt Obstugi Pasazerow). You can find its branches in the passages of metro stations, for example: Centrum, Swiętokrzyska, Ratusz Arsenal, Dworzec Gdański, Plac Wilsona, Marymont, Młociny, Rondo ONZ, Nowy Świat-Uniwersytet, Dworzec Wileński, as well as at the Central Station and the Warszawa Zachodnia station.

Bring an ID document and a 3.5 × 4.5 cm photo. You can actually take the photo right at the Passenger Service Center or use a photo saved on your phone. The photo will be deleted from the system after the card is issued.

The card is made free of charge on the spot. If you lose or damage the document through your fault, a new one will cost 14 PLN.

Method 2 There is also the option of applying for a ticket online via the electronic Passenger Service Center (e-POP). Follow the link, fill out the application, and come to the point to pick up the card.

Method 3
Download the application form from the website and send the completed form by mail to the following address: City Transport Department 316/320 Grochowska St. 03-839, Warsaw with the note «Personalization of WKM».

Entertainment

New city – new opportunities. Warsaw has a large list of great museums. But typically, a standard ticket will cost you 20 PLN. There’s a solution here, too: each day of the week, different museums in the city allow free entry.

For example, on Monday you can visit the National Uprising Museum, and on Tuesday the National Museum (besides paintings, you can see real Egyptian mummies and ancient Greek statues). A complete list of free entries can be found online.

Online Course

Another way to save money is to enroll in an online course. The training is structured so that you need to come to us for registration and then return home. In other words, you complete the theoretical block online. Then after three weeks, you return to us for the exam.

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