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Road Trip On A Budget

May 12, 2023 By: Sweet Frugal Life2 Comments

How to save money on a family road trip.

My family and I are currently in the process of preparing for a spring break road trip. We are so excited to spend quality time together and look forward to visiting a few sights, like the Grand Canyon, Zion National Park, and more! Traveling by car can be a very frugal way to sight see, but like any vacation, expenses will add up quickly. Today I’m sharing a few tips to help you road trip on a budget.

Budget Friendly Road Trip Hacks

I am a huge proponent of the fact that you can still have FUN, enjoy life, and live on a BUDGET. It’s possible!! Planning a vacation around a road trip is a great way to have fun without spending a lot of money. However, expenses can add up on, even when traveling by vehicle.

So, here are a few ways you can save money on a family road trip…so that you can spend your hard earned money in other ways.

1. Plan Ahead

One of the most important parts of road tripping on a budget is to plan ahead. I suggest planning for your road trip a few months in advance (or as soon as you decide to travel). There are a lot of factors to consider when making a good road trip plan. Don’t forget to include:

Making a budget (don’t forget to include gas, food, attractions, and miscellaneous)
Researching/planning places to eat, sleep and things to do
Meal planning/prep for foods you will pack and make yourself
Looking over the best route for driving

As you are making your road trip plan be sure you plan as frugally as possible using the tips below. Give yourself enough time to research and plan ahead so that you will be able to find the most affordable options and frugal hacks.

Related: The Best Budget Travel Tips

How To Save Money on Road Trip Food

There are many ways to save money on road trip food. Below are a few of my favorite hacks!

2. Pack Your Own Food

One of my favorite parts of road tripping is the food. There is just nothing better than munching on snacks, while listening to a good audiobook, and watching the scenery go by! To save money on road trip food is important to pack as much as you can from home.

Buying food from gas stations and restaurants will get expensive fast. And most tourist grocery stores will have higher prices than your local grocery store. However, if you plan ahead (remember that little planning tip we already talked about 😉 ) and pack your own food in the car, you will be able to save a lot of money.

Here are a few of our favorite food to pack on a road trip:

Fresh fruit
Carrot sticks
Deli sandwiches
Bagels with cream cheese
Peanut butter sandwich
Granola bars
Muffins
Pita wraps
Nuts
Jerky
Popcorn
Pretzels
Yogurt
Salad

3. Skip Restaurants & Eat At The Grocery Store

Ok, hear me out on this one!

If you don’t love the idea of packing your own food for your budget friendly road trip, then consider stopping at grocery stores along the way to eat your meals, rather than stopping at restaurants to eat.

You can get delicious, high quality food at grocery stores, with much lower prices than you would spend at a restaurant. We love stopping at grocery stores for foods like deli sandwiches, friend chicken, fresh fruit and salads. Try it, you just might like it!

4. Stay At An Airbnb

Staying at an Airbnb is an easy way to save money on food expenses. Most Airbnbs will give you access to a full kitchen, making it possible to cook all of your own meals, instead of eating out.

However, make sure to look at all of the hidden costs when booking an Airbnb to ensure that you really will be saving money. The cleaning and extra fees can really add up, which means that sometimes it isn’t always the cheapest option!

5. Stay In A Hotel With A Microwave/Fridge

You don’t have to book accommodations with a full kitchen to cook your own meals. A hotel room with a microwave and fridge will provide all that you need to whip up a few easy meals.

Here are a some of the meals my family likes to eat in our kitchenette hotel room:

Breakfast:

Muffins
Yogurt parfaits
Fruit
Cereal
Oatmeal

Lunch & Dinner:

Mac and Cheese
Sandwiches
Bagels with Cream Cheese
Fruit
Protein Drink
Salad
Cup of Noodles

6. Bring A Reusable Water Bottle

Avoid spending money on water bottles by packing your own reusable water bottle and filling it up with free water where available!

I personally love this Stanley dupe water bottle. It has a lot of really cute colors and great reviews.

7. Eat Out For Lunch Instead of Dinner

If you do decide to go out to eat for a few meals, make sure to eat out for lunch instead of dinner. Most restaurants will offer a cheaper menu during lunch hours, so that you can get the same product for a better price.

8. Stay somewhere with a free breakfast

Make sure to always book a hotel that offers a free breakfast. A free breakfast will give you one less meal you’ll have to pay for during the day. Take advantage of the free breakfast by filling up so you can eat lighter for your other meals.

9. Split A Meal

A great restaurant hack to save extra money is to order one meal and split it between two people! This gives you two meals for the price of one! You could even decide to eat half of your meal and then save the other half for lunch the next day!

Related: How to Save Money When Eating Out

10. Take Advantage of Happy Hour

Many restaurants offer discount prices during happy hour. It’s easy to do a quick google search to find restaurants nearby that participate in happy hour. Plan your meals around those times and restaurants for the best discounts.

How to Save Money On Sleeping Accommodations

Taking your time and using patience is the best way to book budget friendly sleeping accommodations. There are deals available…but it takes a little bit of searching and research!

11. Shop Around For Sleeping Accommodations

Prices for the same hotel can differ on each website. Make sure to take your time comparing multiple websites to find the best deal.

Next, call the hotel directly to ask if they can offer you an even lower price than what you found on the website. Often if you call the hotel directly they will give you an even better deal than you found online.

Another option for finding good hotel deals is to use a bidding website, such as Priceline. We used Priceline when booking a hotel for our trip to New York City and ended up staying in a beautiful hotel, with a fantastic room and in the perfect location….and it was a great price!

Make sure to book your hotel using the Rakuten cashback app! It will often give you an extra 1-10% cashback on your hotel stay.

Related: The Best Cash Back Apps

12. Consider Camping

If you are really wanting to save money on overnight stays, you might want to consider camping somewhere. Camping can be a much cheaper than a hotel room, especially if you already have your own camping equipment.

You could camp while sleeping in your car, or pack along a tent and sleeping bag to set up. My kids love to camp and any chance we get to do it into a fun family adventure. Camping is a great way to see new places while enjoying the fresh air.

Related: Easy Tin Foil Dinner Recipe

13. Stay With Friends Or Family

Another super cheap way to save money on lodging is to ask friends or family if you could stay with them for a night. They will love being able to catch up and host their loved ones!

Make sure to bring a nice thank you card or fresh flowers to show your gratitude!

How To Save Money On Entertainment

Try to have some fun while on your road trip! My family loves getting to enjoy some of the fun things each of our destinations has to offer. Fortunately, there are so many fun and free things you can do while traveling which makes frugality easy! I’ve listed a few ideas below for your road trip on a budget!

14. Visit Free Attractions

Road trips are a great way to see more of the world, and a lot of that can be done for free! Look for free museums, zoos, or road side attractions that you can stop and visit. Your family might also enjoy going on a hike, picnic, or playing in a nearby lake.

Talk to locals, and do some online research to find the best free attractions in the places you’ll be visiting. You just might be surprised at how many you find!

Related: Free Things To Do In Salt Lake City
Related: 20 Free Things To Do In New York City

15. Get A National Parks Pass

An annual National Parks Pass is only $80! There are so many fun and interesting things to see and do in our national parks, that $80 investment can bring a lot of fun and memories to your road trip.

There are also a few frugal hacks to purchasing a national parks pass, you can read all about them here.

16. Use Coupons

When planning activities for your road trip, be sure to look into any coupons available. I like to find coupons using Groupon, searching on google, or checking local facebook groups.

17. Free Audiobooks

Listening to audiobooks is a great way to pass time while driving. And guess what?!?! You don’t have to spend any money to listen to audiobooks! There are so many free resources out there for your enjoyment! Be sure to check out my full list here: Free Audiobook Resources.

How To Save Money On Gasoline When Road Tripping

One of the bigger expenses when it comes to a road trip is paying for gas. As fuel prices keep climbing, consumers continue to look for new ways to save money. Here are a few tips that might help.

18. Drive Smart

The first way to save money on fuel is to drive smart! Smart driving will help you get the most out of your car mileage.

Slightly changing the way you drive can make a big difference on your fuel consumption. Slamming on your breaks or speeding up quickly will hurt your gas mileage. Instead, try to get into the habit of accelerating and braking slowly and gradually. It really does make a difference!

You’ll also find yourself saving money by driving at a decreased speed. Driving at a speed of 65 mph is a good rule of thumb to get the best gas mileage.

Related: More Ways To Save Money On Gas

19. Use Upside Cashback App When Getting Gas

I’ve recently started using the free GetUpside app and loving it! All you have to do is download the app and you will be able to see the gas offers in your area. Choose the offer you want, the offers I’ve received have been anywhere from 15 cents/gallon – 1 cent/gallon cashback. After you select the offer you want to redeem, just go fill up with gas and scan your receipt into the GetUpside app. It’s all really easy! I’ve been using it for about a month and have earned $10 already! Yay!

20. Use the Gas Buddy App

The best way to find which gas station will be the best deal is to download and start using the free Gas Buddy app to help you find the cheapest gas in your area.

It’s really easy to use! Just download the app and enter in your location. The app will then search to find the gas prices near you. Scroll through your options until you find the best deal and use that station to fill up!

The prices will change and vary day to day, so check the app each time you need gas.

Other Ways To Save Money On Your Road Trip

Here are a few other ways you can cut costs on your next family road trip.

21. Avoid Traveling During Holidays

Holiday travel tends to make prices in all areas increase. If you can, try to plan your trips over non-holiday weekends. This will save you money on gas, activities, and lodging.

22. Pack instead of buy

Reduce the amount of items you will have to buy on your road trip by planning ahead and packing as much as you can. Don’t forget to pack medication, band aids, all of the shoes you will need, jackets, and any other gear you think will be useful.

There is nothing worst than getting to your destination to realize you have to go to the store and buy something that you forgot to pack.

23. Avoid Toll Roads

Toll roads are often an unexpected expense. Make sure to plan your driving route to avoid having to pay these tolls.

Use google maps to find the best non-toll road route. This is easily done by clicking on the “avoid tolls” button in the “plan route” section.

24. Invite A Friend

Inviting a friend on your frugal road trip is another great way to reduce costs. Together you can split the cost of gasoline, lodging, and even meals at restaurants! Plus, you’ll make countless memories!

In Conclusion

Don’t let frugality stop you from exploring and having fun. Instead, have fun in a frugal way! I hope these ideas help you to have an incredibly fun road trip on a budget!

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A road trip on a budget is possible!

How To Save Money On Your Universal Orlando Vacation

August 5, 2022 By: Sweet Frugal Life2 Comments

Tips for Universal Studios on a budget!

Our family recently got home from a fun vacation to Universal Studios Orlando. We had so much fun spending the week together as a family, making memories, and riding all of the fun rides with our 3 kids. One of my goals for this trip, and every trip we take, is to have a memorable vacation without having to spend a ton of money. So, today I’m going to share exactly how to save money on your Universal Studios vacation! I hope it will help each of you be able to take this trip, even if your budget is tight.

Disclosure: “We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.”

Best Tips to Save Money On Your Universal Orlando Vacation

Any vacation will cost money, but there are some tricks you can do to lower the price a little bit. Learn how to save money on your Universal Orlando vacation below!

1. Stay At A Hotel With A Kitchenette

One of my best budget travel hacks is to book a hotel that has a small kitchen, or kitchenette. This was a huge money saver for us! We ordered groceries from Walmart and had them delivered to the hotel the first day that we arrived. I also saw a lot of people using Amazon Fresh to get groceries delivered.

Using our kitchenette we were able to eat all of our breakfasts and lunches in our room, and only ate out for dinner.

Hotel Breakfast Ideas:

Cold Cereal
Instant Oatmeal
Muffins
Yogurt
Granola
Fruit

Hotel Lunch Ideas:

Mac and Cheese
Sandwiches
Bagels with Cream Cheese
Fruit
Protein Drink
Salad
Cup of Noodles

2. Book Discount Universal Tickets

When purchasing your Universal Studio tickets, make sure to buy them from a discount retailer, you’ll be able to get the best deals and a few added perks! I bought our tickets from Undercover Tourist and was so impressed with the price and ease of the purchase.

A couple other discount retailers I recommend are Costco and Get Away Today (use code SWEETFRUGAL for $10 off your Get Away Today vacation package!).

Related: Our Budget Friendly Disneyland Vacation

3. Split a Meal

Another great way to save money at Universal studios is to split a meal between two people, instead of buying one for each person in your group. All of the meals that we had at Universal Studios were very large portioned, making it easy to buy one meal and split it two ways!

4. Skip Park-To-Park Tickets

Universal Orlando sells two different types of tickets. You can either purchase a single park per day ticket or a park-to-park ticket. The single park per day ticket will allow you into one of the Universal theme parks each day. The park-to-park ticket allows you to visit multiple parks in one day.

Now, I totally think the park-to-park tickets are convenient and fun, but I still recommend skipping buying them. Why you might ask? Well, first off each park is huge and can easily fill an entire day. It takes a lot of time to get to each park, so we prefer staying and enjoying one park each day. The amount of time it takes to walk around one park, and then walk to the next park, and then walk around the other park just doesn’t make much sense to me.

The second reason I recommend buying a single park per day ticket is because it is much cheaper than the park-to-park tickets. You can see the exact same attractions for a cheaper price. I personally don’t think it’s worth the extra money.

Now, honestly, I give this tip with a little bit of hesitation. If you are a big Harry Potter fan, than paying the extra money *might* be worth it to you. The only way that you can experience the Hogwarts Express ride is if you have a park-to-park ticket. The Hogwarts Express was closed when we were there, and at first I was really sad about it, but now I don’t feel like we missed much by not riding on it. We were still able to experience all of the other incredible Harry Potter attractions.

Another exception I would make to my advice of skipping the park-to-park pass is if you only plan to attend Universal Studios for one day. If you only have one day for the park, buy the park-to-park….but if you are going to be there for multiple days anyways, then save yourself some money and purchase the single park per day passes.

5. Visit During The Off Season

One of the easiest ways to save money on your Universal Orlando vacation is to plan your visit during the off season months. The cheapest months to go to Universal Studios Orlando is in January, February, or September. Not only will Universal Theme Park tickets be cheaper, but so will hotel rooms and many airfares.

Related: The Best Budget Travel Tips

6. Skip The Express Passes

Another extra you can purchase is the Express Pass. The Express Pass is in addition to your regular Universal Studios ticket. This amazing pass gives you the ability to cut to the front of the line on almost every ride (all but two!). It is a great way to save time, ensure that you can ride all of the rides, and stay out of the heat.

I was jealous of every single person who was using the Express Pass, however I do not recommend you buy one…..and here’s why:

The Express Passes are really really expensive. Like, more than double the cost of your ticket expensive. Plus, I don’t think they are necessary!

We visited Universal Studios during one of the hottest, busiest times of the year….and we were still able to ride on every ride that we wanted to ride in. Yes, we had to stand in long lines, yes it was hot….but we survived! And saved a ton of money in the process!

Standing in long lines is not the most fun way to spend a day….but it doesn’t have to be a terrible thing! To help make the experience a little more enjoyable make sure to bring a lot of water, a mist spray bottle, snacks and some fun games. Before our trip I downloaded the Heads Up app onto my phone and we had so much fun playing it while standing in line. We were even able to make a few friends this way!

7. Fill Your Water Bottle At The Free Coca-Cola Freestyle Stations

One of my favorite Universal Studios money saving hack is to fill up your water bottle with ice water for free at the Coca-Cola Stations around the park. These stations are available in multiple locations (you can find exactly where on the Universal app).

You can bring your water bottle into the park and fill it up for free with ice water at any of these stations. Many of them even had free cups available for anyone who didn’t have a water bottle. It’s a great way to stay hydrated while at Universal Studios, without having to spend money on drinks.

My kids loved using these collapsible water bottles, they were lightweight to carry around, and then pull out and fill up whenever we came to a freestyle station.

8. Pack Food Into Park

Buying food inside of Universal Studios is expensive. You will save so much money if you pack your own food into the park each day. We like to pack a backpack full of snacks, sandwiches, and fruit. This way we can bring it with us around the park and we don’t have to pay for a locker.

Related: Family Trip To San Diego

9. Purchase Souvenirs Outside Of Universal Parks

Souvenirs are a fun part of traveling and visiting somewhere new. We love bringing home a memento or two from our travels.

The problem with souvenirs at Universal Studios, is that they are very expensive!

Fortunately, you can buy the exact same products (or very very similar) for much less if you buy them outside of the park.

For cheaper Universal souvenirs check out Amazon, Target and Walmart. You can even buy an interactive wand on eBay for cheap…and use it to cast spells while at Universal Studios! Turn around and sell it once you get home again!

10. Choose A Hotel Off Site

You can find a lot of great hotel options within the Universal Resort. However, if you are trying to cut costs, I recommend booking a hotel outside of the resort hotels. You can find a lot of great value hotels on International Drive.

Just remember, when booking a hotel off site to add in the “extras” you will be paying. These extras might include: resort fees, shuttle bus, parking, etc. I still think you can find good deals, even with these extras, but the extra costs can be a shock if it wasn’t planned beforehand……and we don’t like surprises when it comes to our pocket book!

11. Buy Tickets In Advance

Universal Studios tickets prices tend to increase the closer it gets to a specific park date. You will save much more money (and time!) if you buy your park tickets in advance. I recommend getting them as soon as you decide to go, months in advance is best!

12. Stock Up On Extras Before Traveling

You will get the best bang for your buck if you buy any miscellaneous items at home rather than waiting until you get to the theme park. These extras might include:

Prices on these miscellaneous items increase drastically once you get to Orlando, with an even bigger increase if you purchase them inside the Universal Parks.

13. Take The Bus

To save money on transportation try using the Orlando public bus system, instead of Uber. Rides on the bus are only $2 each, or pay $4.50 to ride the bus for the entire day, such a good deal! Look through the bus routes here to see if any of them will work for you. It might be slightly inconvenient, but you can’t beat the price!

Related: 20 Free Things To Do In New York City

14. Book A Hotel With A Free Shuttle

Many hotels near Universal Studios offer free shuttle service to the park. When you are trying to find the perfect hotel for your family, make sure to check to see if they offer this shuttle service. It can save you a lot of money in the long run.

15. Utilize Free Universal Lockers

I don’t recommend purchasing a locker at Universal Studios. Yes, it would be so very convenient, but it costs money, and we are trying to save money! Right? Right!

When preparing for a Universal day only pack items that can fit into a small backpack. You can carry this backpack around with you and it will be allowed on most rides. The rides that don’t let you bring a backpack are: Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit, Men in Black, Revenge of the Mummy, Harry Potter and the Escape From Gringotts, Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, Hagrids Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure, The Incredible Hulk Coaster, and Jurassic World Velocicoaster.

However, each of the rides that don’t allow backpacks will offer FREE lockers for you to store your backpack! They are easy to use and completely free. All you have to do is use your barcode from your ticket, or use a barcode pass issued to you by an employee within the ride. This barcode will open and lock the locker door for you to use before and after the ride.

So, instead of renting a locker all day, keep your backpack with you and rent one for free when you need to!

In Conclusion

We had such a fun time visiting Universal Orlando this year. We are huge Harry Potter fans and just loved drinking butterbeer, walking through diagon alley, and exploring all of the fun details of the park. I hope that you are able to visit and that this article helped you learn how to save money on your Universal Orlando vacation.

Pin For Future Reference

Have so much fun on your next trip! I hope you have some good ideas about how to save money on your Universal Orlando vacation!

The Best Budget Travel Tips

May 11, 2020 By: Sweet Frugal Life2 Comments

Sharing my best tips to travel cheap!

Do you long to to see the world, but finances are always holding you back? I get it, I have this inner struggle almost daily. But guess what I have finally learned……you CAN travel while on a budget! We have successfully traveled to Disneyland, Kauai, New York City, and more, all without spending a fortune. You can do it too, you can travel, make memories, and see new places….it just takes a bit more planning, and a little more effort. Today I’m sharing 17 of my Favorite Budget Travel Tips! I wanted to gather even extra advice, so I asked my amazing Instagram followers for their budget travel hacks as well. My wonderful followers delivered with some great responses and budget travel tips.

I am a member of online affiliate programs. I will be compensated for purchases made from links in this post. All opinions are my own.

Budget Travel Planning

One of my favorite parts of traveling is planning the trip (I know, I’m a little weird!), it’s so fun to research and dream about our upcoming vacation. If done correctly travel planning can save you a lot of money.

1. Plan Ahead

One of the most important budget travel tips is to plan thoroughly. Plan your trips well ahead of travel time. This will give you the time needed to search out the best deals, learn the peak travel times, and begin your travel Sinking Fund. I prefer planning at least a year in advance; but anywhere between 6-12 months is ideal.

2. Research

Study, research, and learn everything you can about the place you want to go. Read travel blogs, check out books from the library, and regularly look at travel websites to watch for deals on hotel and flights. This gives you a good idea of how much the trip will cost, so when you see a good deal, you will know it’s a good deal.

3. Be OK With Less

We have all seen the picture perfect vacations, with the expensive restaurants and luxuries. It is fun to dream about these ideal vacations…but it’s more fun to be debt free!

Learn to be OK with a vacation that is maybe less than glamorous. Ask yourself, “are you going on a vacation to relax and make memories, or to have the best pictures to show all of your friends????” I bet it’s to make memories!

Most of us want a trip that is fun and relaxing, one where we can rejuvenate and make memories. This can all be accomplished WITHOUT the fancy resorts. Be mindful of your personal reality and financial situation.

This might mean your vacation will be a camping trip, or a stay cation. For some it just might even be a stay at a resort island. No matter the trip you can afford, love it, embrace it and make it the time of your life!

4. Make a Budget and Stick to It

After some thorough research you should have a good idea of how much your trip will cost. Use this information and your monthly income to make your trip budget.

Write this number down and commit to it. You will find it extremely easy to spend a little extra here, and a little extra there, and before you know it you have gone FAR over budget. Practice self control and don’t allow yourself any wiggle room.

Related: How to Make a Zero Based Budget

5. Travel Sinking Fund

Once your travel budget is in place, you need to make a Sinking Fund. This will be a fund you save into over a long period of time.

Choose your target travel date, and divide your Sinking Fund by the number of months until travel.

For example: if I had a budget of $1000 and wanted to travel in 6 months, I would divide $1000 by 12 and get $84. I now know that I need to save $84 into my sinking fund each month to have enough money to cover the trip.

6. Travel During Off-Peak Times

If possible plan your travel dates during off-peak travel times are for your specific destination (this will vary based upon where you are going). Traveling off-peak will save you money on flights, hotels, and activities. You’ll also be treated to less crowds! (my fave!).

Off peak traveling does come at a small sacrifice. To save money you might not have the best weather or specific circumstances, but it will save you money, focus on the positive!

More Travel Planning Tips From Instagram:

mommypa123:

“Besides having a vacation sinking fund, I buy stuff for vacation after season on clearance.”

melfinaw:

“RESEARCH RESEARCH RESEARCH”

jane_tern:

“Trailer or RV travel instead of hotel.”

sellybelly:

“Travel off season! Sometimes waiting just 1 week after “peak” times can save you hundreds.”

Savings On Traveling

Now that you have planned your trip, it’s time to start traveling. Here are a few ways you can go on a vacation, without breaking the budget.

7. Tuesday Travel

Tuesday is the secret budget travel date. This is the day of the week when airfare is the cheapest. Try to plan your travel dates around Tuesday for the best deal.

8. Road Trip

Seriously consider driving to your destination instead of flying. The costs are significantly less, and some of the best family memories can be made in a car! Really!

9. Incognito Browsing Window

When you are searching flights, change your browser to incognito. Websites use cookies to monitor your browsing habits; if they see you are searching for a particular flight, they will raise the prices. Fortunately, with an incognito browsing window you can look at flights without being seen by cookies (yay!).

10. Only Pack Carry-On Luggage

Most airlines charge for all checked luggage. Save that money and only bring a carry-on suitcase.

Honestly, this is so hard for me (I like to pack options….)! I am that person who is always sitting on my suitcase, trying to pack my clothes down while zipping it up at the same time.; all while looking longingly at my pile of clothes that didn’t fit into the suitcase (cue sad violins).

But, even though I don’t like to pack less, it is WORTH IT! And truly, I never miss that extra “stuff” once I’m on vacation.

11. Check Multiple Airports

When booking flights check all airports in the area you are traveling to. You can usually find much cheaper deals at a smaller, less popular airport in the area. This might mean you have to travel a little further to get to your final destination, but the savings is worth it.

What’s Instagram Saying????

thingsilearntalongtheway:

“Flying isn’t the only way to get around. I once took a 12 hour overnight bus to save $500.”

amandaraybould:

“Pack half of what you think you need to pack so you don’t ever have to check a bag!”

hayleebroadhead:

“Use the Gas Buddy app.”

kkrhea12:

“Gate check your bag for free instead of paying when you initially check in, $25 saved!”

How To Cut Costs On Travel Food

We all have to eat, and food costs money, especially when on vacation. Try these frugal tips to save money on food while traveling.

10. Pack Your Own Food

Save on food costs by packing as much of your own food as you can. If you’re driving, pack a cooler full of cheap, quick to fix meals.

If you’re flying use Walmarts Free Grocery Pickup to order your groceries online, and then pick them up when you get to your vacation spot. Always pack your own snacks and a lunch to eat at the airport. Airport food is so expensive!

11. Book a room with a kitchen

When booking a hotel room, find one that has a small kitchen. This will help you prepare more food at the hotel and save on expensive eating out costs. Or, even better stay at an Airbnb Rental.

I love to make easy, quick to fix meals while traveling. We like oatmeal, sandwiches, frozen dinners, etc.

12. Restaurant Gift Cards

Buy a few gift cards on Restaurant.com for restaurants in your travel destination. These gift cards are sold at a discounted price giving you more food for less price! (yay!)

You can also buy restaurant gift cards at Target. If you use your Target Red Card you will get 5% off your purchase, including gift cards!

13. Share Meals

When eating out order one large meal and request a few extra plates. You can all share the one meal together. Most waiters and restaurants are happy to oblige to this request!

What’s Instagram Saying?

flybytheseatofourpants:

“Bring your own food, eat out once a day. Use credit card hotel points.”

garnishathome:

“Book an Airbnb with a kitchen so you can do some, or all, of the cooking yourself.”

theresa.runn:

“I make pizza the night before our travel day so we save money and time by not having to stop for lunch.”

Where to Stay

There are so many rental options available right now that vacationing does not have to include staying at a hotel. Be willing to get creative when finding a place to stay.

14. Rent a Home

Consider renting a home from Airbnb instead of staying at a hotel. The prices are much lower than hotels, and we love having a little extra space for our family.

15. Earn Cashback

Always book your hotel through the Rakuten website. This is the easiest way to earn cashback.

Rakuten partners with many popular travel websites, such as Travelocity and Priceline, to give you cashback on your normal purchases. Many hotels offers 10% cashback on hotel room bookings. This is free money, don’t miss out!

It’s so easy too! Simply log into Rakuten, click the website name you want to shop on, and book your room as usual. You will receive your cashback check every few months in the mail.

********Bonus: Sign up for Rakuten using this link and you will get an EXTRA $20 cashback after you spend $20 (which is so easy to do if you’re traveling!)**********

What’s Instagram Saying????

jane_tern:

“Trailer or RV travel instead of hotel.”

3girlsmom29:

“Don’t buy anything at the hotel.”

Anonymous:

“I find that boutique hotels have modern looking interiors at a fraction of the cost of staying at a big hotel chain.”

Entertainment

What’s a vacation without some entertainment? Try a few of these frugal hacks when choosing your entertainment options.

16. Free Activities

Every city you travel to will have free activities to do, you just have to search for them. Take some time, do a little research and find the free activities every where you go. Spend the day at a beach, explore a new park, go on a hike or explore a free museum. You might just stumble upon a secret treasure.

Related: 20 Free Things to do in New York City

17. Use City Pass

Explore a new city using a a City Pass, or something similar. City Pass gives you huge discounts on the top city attractions, and is available in most large cities.

What’s Instagram Saying????

stewbrosmom:

“We always do Restaurant.com, Groupon, Living Social for discounts on food and activities.”

chantelle.hitchock:

“Camping is cheap. Also, travel near national parks – hiking is free! Pack snacks for road trips.”

garnishathome:

“Google the best free sights/activities for the area you are visiting and plan ahead.”

In Conclusion

A good vacation is such a great way to unwind and relax! You can enjoy this without going into debt or spending a fortune. Just remember to do your research and plan smartly. I hope you enjoyed these tips to travel cheap!