Going on vacation means you’re going to spend money. You’ll undoubtedly have to spend money on accommodations and travel, but you’ll also be spending money on food, activities, experiences, and more.
It’s okay to spend more money on vacation than you would when you’re at home, but that doesn’t mean you want to return to an empty bank account!
No matter where your travels take you, these four tips will help you minimize your spending so you don’t spend every dime while you’re on the road.
Don’t Carry Too Much Cash With You
If you have it, you’re going to spend it. After all, that’s where the expression “money burning a hole in your pocket” came from.
It’s a good idea to travel with a little cash, especially if you’re traveling abroad or visiting an underdeveloped area where credit cards aren’t the norm, but that doesn’t mean you need a ton of cash.
Set a budget and only carry that amount with you in your pocket. If you experience an emergency and need more money, you can always have some money wired to you from a friend or family member.
Don’t Eat out at Every Meal
If you’re traveling, you probably don’t have access to a real kitchen. Not to mention, you probably don’t want to spend all your time cooking when you’re on vacation! However, you can save gobs of cash by not eating out for every meal.
The obvious answer is to buy lunch meat and take advantage of free breakfast, but a few other ideas include:
- Use the warmer plate on your coffee maker to make pancakes
- Make ramen noodles in the coffee maker
- Wrap a grilled cheese sandwich in foil and cook it with an iron
- Cook steak in a cooler using hot water
Pay for Experiences, Not Stuff
Souvenirs can quickly suck up your cash, and the sad thing is, most souvenirs are cheap! Instead, focus on paying for experiences. After all, you didn’t decide to go on vacation because you wanted to go on a giant shopping spree!
If you do decide to buy an item or two during your travels, make sure it’s something authentic that you would still be interested in if you came across the item at home. Skip the magnets, snow globes, and shot glasses.
Look for Free Things to Do
Although your money is better spent on experiences and not stuff, that doesn’t mean you should blow your wad on experiences either!
Many cities offer free things to do, and many of those ideas are universal. For example, most cities have a museum or two that have free admission. Parks are a great way to get closer to nature. You may even be able to do a little beer tasting for free!
Don’t spend all your money on vacation with these tips. After all, if you spend less now you can use what you save to start planning your next big adventure!
