Saving money while traveling is all about planning. There are some things you can plan on easily, be it staycations, revolutionary war experience tours, etc. Tickets to shows. The price of airfare. Car rental fees. How much you want to spend on shoes. Food, though, is a little more difficult to budget for. You can have an imaginary number in mind that sounds reasonable, but then poof, the journey begins and your food budget gets smashed to smithereens. How can you prevent this from happening? Keep three main ideas in mind – be wary of food while in transport, avoid paying for drinks at restaurants, and bring your own meals to events when you can.
Planes, Trains, and Automobiles
A great way to rack up costs is to not be prepared to snack, or even have full meals, while traveling to and from destinations. Airports are notorious for huge markups and low-quality food, so having the right types of snacks is absolutely vital for keeping costs down if you’re going to fly. There are no dollar menus inside train stations. Stopping on the side of the highway at a greasy spoon when driving across the country is going to send your cash right down the drain. Prepare for these times, and have your own meals at the ready in advance.
Skip the Drinks
Adding soda, coffee, tea, or alcohol to a meal while out can double or even triple the overall cost of a meal out. Stick with the free water. Seriously. It is rude to bring your own drinks to a restaurant, but once you leave, you can buy whatever you want at a store or mart for a fraction of the cost. Spend that extra money on better food, or get an appetizer if you want, but it’s very impractical to spend $3 on 10 cents worth of soda. Coffee and tea also have crazy markups. By brewing your own tea later, you can turn a $4 drink into a 5 penny one. Some experts will recommend skipping drinks and desserts, as that scoop of ice cream can really bring costs up.
Pack a Lunch While Going To Events
The Ihu Nui Sportfishing company suggests bringing your own food on tours and activities. This is great advice, and is one of the best ways to keep costs down, so that you can focus on the quality of your adventure, as opposed to wondering what type of meal you’re going to be served on a trip, and potentially be surprised by the price tag. Note that this is not allowed at some times, like certain sports events or during some concerts, but when it is, take full advantage of that money-saving opportunity, and enjoy your favorite homemade food for a fraction of the cost of what you’d be paying a vendor.
