You made it to your destination! Everything is freakin’ awesome…and then money stress rears its ugly head.
You know the feeling. The guilt when you buy something you know you don’t really have money for. Or you wake up after a night out and can’t even handle the thought of checking your bank account. Or you look in your wallet halfway through the trip and think gulp. Vacation isn’t cheap but it surely can be affordable. It takes a little discipline, but get rid of the thought that a trip cannot be done on a budget. Here are 5 ways to save money during your next trip.
1. TAKE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION AND WALK WHEN YOU CAN:
This is a big one. Transportation expenses can rack up – fast. First order of business: Get a ride to the airport. Second: Check on public transportation. An Uber from the Seattle airport to downtown is about $40. A 40-minute train ride? $2.75. Yes, it takes longer and can be intimidating to get the ticket and hop on going in the right direction, but you get great views, a feel for the city right off the runway and there is nothing wrong with asking for help and beginning to interact with the locals. And that $37.25 you saved? Get a coffee from the first Starbucks, a fresh breakfast piroshky, a round trip Ferry ride and a trip up the Space Needle. Tell me that’s not worth it. Not every destination is going to have public transportation, but definitely take advantage when you can. (P.S. Plenty more Seattle Tips here)
Another major saver: Your legs. Walk from one neighborhood to the next. Enjoy the city while saving some cash. You’ll run into little shops you never would have in an Uber or Lyft, you’ll walk off those extra beer calories and you will better understand the city vibe. Commit to an every other commute – if you Uber’d last time, walk. If you walked, feel less guilty spending a few bucks on an Uber.
2. SEPARATE YOUR SPENDING MONEY:
My average budget for spending money while on a trip is $100/day – with a bit of flexibility depending on the city. Somewhere like L.A. or New York City is going to have a larger spending budget than say, Portland, Oregon. That said, it’s typically where I start. 4 days = $400. Put $100 into separate envelopes with a goal of not dipping into the next day’s stash. Anything you don’t spend goes into the next day’s cash flow. Keep in mind, this is not an end-all-be-all and once your money is gone, you’re S.O.L (unless that’s how you want it to be) but it keeps you aware of what you are spending.
Having cash on you will give you a better handle on your budget. Swiping a credit card tends to have less impact mentally than physically giving someone the cash. And it’s not as easy to keep track of in one big wad, which is why I use the envelope technique.
That extra souvenir, unnecessary beer (yeah, I’m not sure that’s a thing either) or Uber ride might be considered less important when you actually understand how much money you have on you. Hold off on an unnecessary expense once each day, and you’re looking at an extra $50+ to spend on tickets to an attraction, a steak instead of a chicken sandwich or *gasp* money that can come home with you.
3. FOOD AND DRINK:
Two big highlights of traveling, and rightfully so. Who wouldn’t want to feast on some Texas BBQ, Chicago deep dish or Boston crab cakes? Or find the best local beer in town? When in Rome, right?
Of course we want to enjoy food/drink in a different city, but doing three full meals is going to fill your belly and empty your wallet. Give these tips a try to experience the city while still saving money.
- Light Meal + Snack + Big Meal: Wake up and have a light, healthy breakfast. Find a local cafe or coffee shop – insert Avocado Toast (Millennials… *eye roll*). This will keep you full and full of energy. Find yourself a heavier snack during the day that keeps you content up until the evening event where it’s time to splurge. Find the best food out there. Eat all of the tacos and drink all of the margaritas. You deserve it. This strategy will keep your food budget around $40/day. Extra cocktails budget, anyone?
- Research Happy Hour’s: Ahh, my favorite time. Did your friend give you a “must go” restaurant? Check out their Happy Hour menu. Plan to go between 3-6pm and enjoy cheap drinks and smaller versions of their meals.
- Have a Meal at “Home”: Staying in an Airbnb or hotel with a kitchen area? Take advantage by cooking for yourself. Stop by the Farmer’s Market and grab some local food options. Also, make sure to find out if your hotel offers breakfast or other food throughout the day.
- Keep Snacks in your Backpack: Have an apple handy, or some beef jerky or nuts. These snacks will hold you over and stop you from the unnecessary spending.
4. WATCH OUT FOR TOURIST TRAPS:
Don’t spend too much money on overpriced attractions. Often times, there are ways to get the same outcome much cheaper, with less people and more excitement. Checking out 360 CHICAGO Observation Deck in the John Hancock Building for spectacular city views? That will cost you around $25. Skip out on that and instead, take the elevator up to floor 95 (only a few below the observatory) to The Signature Room, an upscale restaurant that will not only provide an amazing view of the city, but will serve you a drink as well. A hand-crafted cocktail will be about $13 with a tip. Talk about more bang for your buck.
Choose 2-3 hot spots you want to check off your bucket list, but keep in mind that there’s a reason locals don’t tell their secrets. You can typically find more attraction hacks with a few minute Google search. Every city offers one-of-a-kind experiences that are often much cheaper, which brings us to #5…
5. $FREE.99
Mother Nature is your vacay-bestie. Every city offers something you can do for free while enjoying the great outdoors – parks, beaches, popular walking strips, viewpoints, and more. Central Park, The Magnificent Mile, the Bellagio Fountain Show, Pike Place Market, Venice Beach…all free and the list goes on. BONUS: Often times, these places are the best, most memorable parts of your trip.
VACATION IS MEANT TO BE STRESS-FREE
Don’t let money take that away. Use these simple tips to enjoy your trip from start to finish, and still experience everything you intended. A little research beforehand will give you a good idea of restaurant prices, attractions that are worth the cost and those that have the same experience elsewhere – for much cheaper.
Do you have other money-saving ideas while on vacation? Comment below. And if you’re at the idea stage of your next trip, don’t forget to check out 5 Tips to Save Money For Your Next Vacation.
Snacks are such a great tip! We always carry a few bars with us so we can be picky about when and where we stop for food.