It seems almost impossible, right? To save money while on the road. But there are lots of things you can do to keep the costs down so you can keep the travel flowing. My last trip to Asia with my sister was the only trip where I wasn’t on a strict budget as I was still working overseas. But all the rest of my trips have been taken with a finite amount of money and saving a few hundred dollars here and there meant I could travel further. Along the way, I developed a bunch of tips that made it a lot easier to save money while traveling.
Photo Credit: “Saving”
1) Be Smart With Your Money
This will matter more for those who are planning long term travel, rather than two week jaunts. Being smart with your money in terms of spending is important, but also how you save or hold it. I know of a few long term travellers who have invested money with fund management teams, such as Goodman Australia, and are making money while they’re away… considerable amounts of money too. This is a great option if you’re planning on hitting the year for or two and have a bit of capital you’d like to turn into an investment.
2) Couchsurf
I’ve already written a post on how much I enjoy Couchsurfing, it’s really great. Of course you need to do your research properly and make sure the people you’re intending to stay with are people you think you’d like to be friends with. As per the Couchsurfing rules, people are supposed to host you for free and it’s up to you whether you’d like to gift them something small in return. This is a great way to meet people and to keep your travel costs down.
Photo Credit: Scrambled Eggs by cookingclassy.com
3) Fly Low Cost
Lots of people complain about low cost carriers – they’re late, the seats are too small, and so on. I have flown extensively and like other people, I prefer decent airlines. More than anything, though, I prefer a few extra dollars in my bank account. I frequently fly low cost carriers in a bid to save money and extend my travels. My sister and I flew long haul to Asia on Air Asia and while she found the flight pretty painful, for us both it was worth the savings.
4) Skip Breakfast
Lots of people might think I’m crazy for saying this, but I routinely skip breakfast, even when traveling. It’s called “Intermittent fasting” and basically operates under the thought that eating within a smaller window of time prevents overeating. If you are eating out for most meals while traveling, chances are you’re eating considerably larger portions than when at home as well as foods that are probably higher calorie. Skipping breakfast (or if that is too much for you, having a small, simple breakfast) is a great way to save money and to keep your waistline in check.
These are my tips for saving money while traveling. Let me know if you have any other tips in the comments below.
