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Want to budget and make progress towards your big picture budget goals, but also think that the thought of not having a vacation for a few years sounds terrible? Thankfully it doesn’t have to be all one or the other. It just has to be in moderation and planned so that you can still reach your big picture budget goal. Here are ten budget vacation tips to save money while on vacation.
1. Pick a vacation spot that you can get to by car. Use gasbuddy.com or the GasBuddy app to find the cheapest gas.
2. Consider taking a long weekend trip instead of a full week. You’ll still have tons of fun, but it will be more affordable. If you have travel as one of your savings goals for the year (read more about goal setting power), then you can even go to more places by doing them as long weekend trips.
3. If you pick a vacation spot that requires you to fly, travel on off days or times to get less expensive flights. Travel on a Tuesday for cost savings or consider early morning flights.
4. Travel with family or friends and share a house or apartment rental.
5. Rent a home, apartment, or suite instead of staying at a hotel. Check out airbnb using my link and get $10 off.
6. Now that you are staying in a home, apartment, or suite you can use your kitchen to save money. Cook breakfast or have easy things to grab and go. Consider eating some other meals in whether it’s sandwiches, pizza, or something fancier. Save money and eat healthier. Win win.
7. Bring reusable water bottles and drink the tap water if it is safe to drink. If you’re traveling by plane, bring an empty water bottle in your carry on. Once you get through security you can fill the bottle and avoid paying airport prices for drinks.
8. Bring a cooler, reusable ice packs and snacks for the trip.
9. Once you check into the rental, visit a nearby grocery store (or Costco) to get some supplies for the trip. I like to get a big bag of chips, granola bars, and some fruit at a minimum. Also consider buying alcohol at the store as it will be less expensive than buying it at a restaurant.
10. Make sure your rental includes sheets and towels. If it doesn’t, bring your own or buy them when you get there. It will usually be less expensive than renting them and, as an added bonus, you’ll be guaranteed that they’re clean.
Have any of these budget vacation tips helped make your vacation more affordable? Share this post on social media.