Traveling and exploring new locales and sites is one of the greatest adventures you can experience in your life. With the conveniences of modern travel, it’s possible to go almost anywhere in the world in the matter of a day. But, airline tickets and hotels can really get expensive. If you’re like me, you’re always looking for some budgeting tips for travelers to save a few bucks while still having a great time.
During my travels, I’ve discovered that I don’t need a lot to travel in style. I’ve got a list of inexpensive and useful items that really save on frustration and money when I’m traveling. Here’s my list of top budgeting tips for travelers.
Get Your Discounts
You’re going to have a budget for your jaunt (and you should know what it is), so protecting and stretching your cash resources is just smart. Read these budgeting tips for travelers to take your budget further.
- Invest in a small wallet that you can easily tuck into your bag or pocket. Even better, get one with a secure wrist loop. You want to stay away from a wallet that you may set down and forget.
- If you’re eligible for discounts of any sort, like senior or military discounts, make sure you have your ID cards. Don’t be afraid to ask about discounts when making purchases, even if there’s no sign advertising it. You never know what might happen.
- If you are planning on lodging at one or more hostels, invest the ten bucks for the international Hostel card. This will get you about a 30% discount-it adds up fast, especially if you stay at several hostels during your trip. This card will pay for itself in no time.
Be Prepared
The old boy scout motto “Be Prepared” will serve you well during a trip. It’s also a wise budgeting tip for travelers. Spending money on small, but costly, items will put a big dent in your cash fast. Think ahead and include these small items in your packing.
- Medications. Those convenient little single use packs of over-the-counter medications are expensive. Pack small bottles of any medications you may use. Label bottles if you’re transferring medications from the original container to avoid confusion later.
- First-Aid Kit. You can purchase small, pre-packed first-aid kits at any department store for a couple of dollars. Having antiseptic, antibiotic ointment and band-aids on hand for any minor injuries will save you from purchasing over-priced supplies on your trip. This can save you some bucks on unplanned medical costs or even worse, an avoidable illness on your journey.
- Sewing Kit. Again, this is something that requires an investment of one or two dollars. A small sewing kit takes up very little space, is lightweight and can save you the embarrassment of walking around with a big hole in your pants.
Food and Water
One quick way to really blow your traveling budget is by purchasing drinks and snacks at small stores or in the airport terminal shops. Including a few easy items in your bag can save you a ton of money and you’ll still stay hydrated and avoid those nagging hunger pangs. These budgeting tips for travelers will keep you from making an impulse purchase because of thirst or hunger.
- Carry some nutrient and calorie packed snacks with you. Meal replacement and protein bars are a great alternative to an expensive and unhealthy bag of chips from a vending machine. Small containers of peanut butter with a few crackers can hit the spot, especially if you don’t have any other options around. This smart budgeting tip for travelers can save you a bundle.
- Make sure you have a refillable water bottle with you at all times. Refill it with clean water every chance you get. You’ll always have it on hand and staying well hydrated, especially during air travel, can help you avoid becoming ill. And, there may not be clean water available in some of the places you end up exploring.
- Carry a folding insulated bag. If you’ve got some day trips on your agenda, you can throw together a packed lunch in just a few minutes for just a little bit of money. Freeze a water bottle to keep things cool and use it for your water supply as it melts. It’s great for that hiking or biking trip where there may not be restaurants anywhere around.
- Invest a small amount of money in to one of those compact reusable shopping bags. If you’re stopping at any food stores, you can skip paying a bag fee. The reusable bag can come in handy for toting items other than groceries, too. Another budgeting tip for travelers: it’s a great way to stow towels and sunscreen if you go to the shore for the day, or snacks and lunch for any type of day trip.