How To Save Money While Travelling – 5 Practical Tips
Who wouldn’t want to spend less and travel more? All of us want to curb our expenses on the road, because we want to travel longer and experience more. Isn’t it? Before I give you my practical tips on travelling on a budget, let me tell you that I am not very good with money. I tend to spend more than I should. I am not naturally an economic person. You can rather call me a spendthrift! But, my ambition to travel more has persuaded me to become a budget traveller, which I don’t mind at all. Being a budget traveller doesn’t mean that one has to stay in dirty hotel rooms or compromise on one’s safety.
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| Photo source: babblzoom.tumblr.com/image/44161007999 |
Now when I have gained some experience on saving money while travelling, I can share the same with you guys. I can understand that travel can intimidate most people because it involves so much of money. The generalised opinion is that you have to be rich to be able to travel. But that’s far from the truth. If everybody had to be rich to be able to travel, then I guess, only a few of us would have been able to do it. I’d say TRAVEL IS FOR EVERYBODY – RICH OR NOT SO RICH.
How to do it?
Most people don’t realise that they end up spending so much of money on things that they don’t need or they wouldn’t like after a while. So, first and foremost, if you want to have a life of travel, set your priorities right. Think before buying an expensive watch or a pair of shoes!
Well, I am not going to tell you how to save money to be able to travel, because that’s all up to an individual. This post is all about saving money while travelling and experiencing more –
Jot down all your expenses.
It may sound funny, but jotting down each little expense is important to keep a tight rein on your purse strings. I have been doing it for a while now, and it has helped me a lot in keeping my budget under control. As soon as my trip starts, I make a separate word file for a record of my expenses – I write down everything from buying a water bottle to dining at a restaurant to accommodation fee. At the end of the trip, I know exactly where did my money go and I also know how much do I really need for a trip.
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| Photo source: Shutterstock |
Make use of local transport.
Nothing saves money more than the local conveyance in a city, because most of your money is demolished by private taxis. Don’t you agree? Take a bus or a shared auto instead of a hired auto or a cab. If you are worried about the comfort part, make your own judgement about it. If it’s too bad, find a middle ground – choose cheap transport option for short journeys and hire a cab for long ones. Also, if you have used local buses for five days in a city and you want to just take it easy on the last day, get a cab! It’s fine. You have to balance it out. You need to figure out what works for you and what doesn’t.
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| Get on the bus instead of a cab. |
Don’t keep buying water bottles every now and then.
Of late, I have saved a lot of money on my travels by just ‘not buying’ water bottles! Yes, it’s so simple and environmentally good, too. Get a water bottle from home and keep refilling it wherever you find clean drinking water. Enjoy a nice meal at a swanky restaurant with that money!
Choose accommodation that includes meals, and book in advance.
Today, it’s quite easy to find home stays that provide meals along with the room in the same rate. Do a deep research on accommodation options available, pick and choose, talk to the manager, negotiate the price and make the booking. It’s always good to book your accommodation in advance. It saves you a lot of trouble and money as well – you won’t have to drag your luggage from one place to another in search of a hotel, depend on a commission earner or call up different travel agents.
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| An accommodation with the meals is more cost-effective. |
Don’t buy things on impulse.
Lastly, forget shopping while travelling. If a girl like me can do it, anyone can! I am a typical girl who loves to shop – I love clothes and shoes. But, when I am travelling, I stay away from shopping. I am not saying that you should totally refrain from buying anything – you can shop a bit at the end of your trip if you are left with some extra cash. But, don’t let any retailer lure you into shopping for the sake of it.
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| Shopping is like a dragon. Stay away! |
Make use of credit cards!
I’m giving you one last bonus point – make use of credit cards. As a traveler, you can earn so many reward points, which you can redeem while you are on the road. For example, if you use your Chase Marriott card, you can earn some bonus points after you use your card for a certain amount.
What’s YOUR top tip to save money while travelling?
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