Schweizer charged time
In the aircraft I have flown, on the 300CB's and CBi's, there are two Hobbes meters as previously stated, the maintenance and the revenue. Maintenance meter is the one you read outside the aircraft, and is time spent with the weight of the aircraft off the support of the skids, ie. flying time and the hard work for the machine.
The one you read inside the cockpit is the revenue meter, and it measures time based on pressure in the transmission, ie. all the time that the transmission warning light is not on. It doesn't record before you get up to 2000 RPM on start up, or under on shut down and also if the throttle is chopped. For instance if you have done a simulated engine failure in the hover, and keep the throttle in detent the warning light is on and the meter not charging.
Some unscrupulous students have been known to pull the instrument circuit breaker when solo starting up and shutting down, which disables the inside meter - but this is dishonest, and will almost certainly be noticed by any observant operator, as the normal discrepancy between the two will be much smaller than usual.
If it's cost you're worried about, why not come to the US on an M visa, get your private and instrument, then return on a J-1 with 2 years validity to do your commercial and CFI, you'll save many thousands of pounds and have a great opportunity for work and travelling the States.