Did you know that it is possible to save money on travel and vacation without making too many sacrifices? While it’s true that the cost of traveling and vacationing is going up every year, it’s also true that you can implement some changes in your everyday life that can help you save some money for your next trip. In this way, you don’t have to be worried or stressed the next time you want to change the scenery.
There are many benefits of going on vacation – relieving stress, improving mental and physical health in general, refreshing people’s perspectives, strengthening family ties, etc. On top of that, with the right plan, you can make trips like this less expensive. You don’t have to break the bank for travel and vacation and our guide can confirm that.
- Learn how to save some money on travel and vacation
- Find out how to cut expenses
- Make small changes in your lifestyle and expect to save a lot of money
There is a list of tips in this article that will help you save some money that you can use on your next vacation or when you simply travel out of town. These tips are easy to implement and they can be used by almost anyone. So, are you ready to learn how to save money for travel and vacation?
1. Sell your used car
For many readers and future globetrotters, this might sound like an extreme suggestion. But, once you think about it, you will realize that selling your used car in order to get money to travel or go on vacation is not a big thing. Being a car owner means spending a lot of money on things related to the car like maintenance, repairs, insurance, gas, etc. If you have a second car, a move like this will be simpler.
On the other hand, if you have just one car, you should consider the alternatives you have like taking a walk, riding a bicycle, using a bus, etc. Will something like this work for you? Keep in mind that going on a vacation means refreshing your perspectives. A trip like this can help you get new ideas including business ideas. It will also make you healthier which means more productive. In other words, a move like this probably pays off!
- This decision should be easier if you own a second car
- Consider all the alternative methods of transportation that you could use
- Saving money for travel and vacation in this way is fast
2. Avoid coffeehouses
According to many surveys, the vast majority of people drink at least one coffee a day. Many of these people are using local coffeehouses to buy coffee. Obviously, this is a costly habit and changing this habit can help people save some money for their next business trip or summer holiday.
So, if you want to save some money in this way, you should make your own coffee more frequently. Of course, you can also prepare tea instead of buying coffee. Get a coffee pot or a coffee machine and start preparing coffee at home. Remember that if you are drinking coffee outside every day you are probably spending over 1500 Euros a year. You can use this amount of money on your next vacation.
- You can prepare coffee at home
- Or you can make tea instead of visiting coffeehouses
- Passionate coffee drinkers can save a significant amount of money in this way
3. Stay away from restaurants
Many people are actually unaware that cooking is fun and simple. Restaurants are becoming more and more expensive and, in most cases, spending a lot of time in these establishments can have a negative impact on your health.
On the other hand, the prices in grocery stores are very low and you can find many discounts that can help you save even more money. Cooking lets you learn and explore new things and it is possible to cook for more than one day at a time. In some cases, you can make meals for three days after one cooking session.
There are many cooking courses that you can use, but if you want to cut expenses it would be better to use YouTube or other websites where you can find out what cooking is all about. There are literally hundreds of exciting recipes on the World Wide Web. Of course, you can visit the restaurants from time to time, but limit the trips to these places.
- Cooking can be fun and simple
- You can learn many new recipes
- Cooking on your own will improve your health
4. Cut your electricity bills
There are many things that are practically draining electricity in our homes without people being aware of that. For instance, you don’t have to keep the lights turned on in all rooms all the time. Develop a habit of turning the lights off in areas of your home where you are not present.
It’s also a good idea to turn the TV or computer off if you are not watching or using them. Install smart LED lights and look for other ways that can help you reduce your electricity bill. You can save enough money to get a few meals on your vacation in this way.
- Start turning the lights off more frequently
- Don’t leave your TV on when you are not watching
- You can save a significant amount of money in the long run in this way
5. Use coupons
If you want to save money for your travel and vacation, you should start using coupons right away. So, the next time you see a grocery flyer in your mailbox, check the coupons and rebates in it. Feel free to use all of them in case they match the products you are actually using. Remember not to buy things that look cheap if you are not using them.
Remember that you can search for coupons online too. There are many websites where you can find such coupons and use them in grocery stores or other stores, be it online or offline. You might spend a small amount of money in this way, but remember that every penny counts when it comes to your next dream vacation.
- Use coupons from groceries flyers
- Check the Internet to look for coupons
- This practice will help you save a small amount of money, but it won’t cost you time or energy
6. Replace cable TV with streaming services
There are thousands of people out there that are paying for cable TV, but they are not using it. This is a matter of habit, but when you are trying to save money for a vacation there is no room for bad habits.
Hulu, HBO Go, Amazon Prime, Netflix, YouTube Premium – these are just some of the many streaming services that are providing access to dozens of movies, TV shows, and live events. So, ditch your cable TV if you can and subscribe to some of these services which are way cheaper. You could easily save 30-40 Euros per month in this way.
- Cable TV is slowly becoming a thing of the past
- Cancel your subscription and opt for a streaming service
- You can save up to 40 Euros in this way
7. Quit a bad habit
Do you think that you are drinking alcohol more than you should? Are you a smoker? These are bad habits that are taking their toll on your health. In addition, they are making you spend a lot of money. The price of cigarettes is going up all the time and drinking alcohol in bars and pubs can get quite expensive too.
If you can stop smoking or drinking, that would be perfect, but if you can’t give up on these activities so easily, you can always try to smoke/drink less. If you need motivation, think about all the money you’ll save for your vacation.
- Smoking and heavy drinking are bad for your health
- You can save a significant amount of money if you stop drinking/smoking
- Even if you smoke or drink less, you will still have more money than before
8. Use a tax refund
There are many countries where citizens can use a tax refund. If you are living in a country like this (the United States of America for example), you can use your income tax refunds for this purpose. After all, you’ve earned this money and you are getting back some of them, so it’s wise to use them on something that makes you feel happy.
In order to get a tax refund on your income tax, you have to be a person that has overpaid the authorities. This is the only way to get money back from the government. Get information about that or make your own calculations and ask for a refund.
- You have to live in a country that provides tax refund
- Make calculations and see whether the government owes you
- Use this money on your next trip
9. Create a vacation savings account
Every adult individual can open brand new savings account for any purpose they want. In this case, you should open an account focused on collecting funds for travel and vacation. In this way, you can rest assured that the money you are saving for your trip won’t be allocated to your basic savings account.
If you are planning on opening an account like this, make sure that you have online access to this account and that you can withdraw this money from any ATM even abroad. This is a good way to book flights and get cash when you are not at home.
- Opening a new vacation savings account is completely free
- You will avoid mixing these funds with the funds on your basic savings account
- You can use this money to book a room or to get money while you are on vacation
10. Ask your family to save
Will you travel with your family? Do you have a partner? Do you have children? The more people are involved, the higher prices you can expect – more rooms, more money on food, attractions, and other things.
If you want to save money for your next trip, you have to tell everyone that a trip like that requires money. Your children might not be able to earn money, but they can certainly save some of their allowance for the vacation. Explain to them what they can get if they are spending their money wisely before the trip – buy souvenirs, visit famous attractions, check the local theme park and more.
- Traveling with kids and/or partner means spending more money
- Ask your family members to save money
- Explain what they can expect to see and experience on their next trip if they save money
11. Include no-spend days
This is an interesting concept that has provided positive results to many travelers around the globe. Namely, all you have to do to save some money in this way is to select specific days in the month when you won’t spend a dime. This means that you won’t go out to a restaurant, a cinema, a coffeehouse or spend money on anything.
Remember that something like this requires discipline. You have to be prepared to say no to other people. In case they are persistent explain why you are doing this. They should understand that people need vacations from time to time.
- A no-spend day is a day when you won’t spend a dime on anything
- Make a few days of the month no-spend days
- Explain to others why you are doing this if they are asking you out
12. Utilize credit card points
There are many experts who will advise people to stay away from credit cards when they are trying to save money for travel or any other reason. However, there are cases when using credit cards can actually have a positive impact on your plan to have a good vacation.
Namely, there are some banks that are providing credit cards which come with travel advantages. Whenever you use these cards, you will get points. These loyalty points can be used to save money on accommodation, transportation, dining and other things at home and abroad. Of course, before you start using credit cards for this purpose, you have to check the interest rate and find out whether you can cover these expenses.
- Use your credit cards wisely
- Opt for credit cards that provide travel advantages
- Check the interest rates
13. Buy tickets in advance
If you are traveling by plane, there are a few things that you should take into account. However, the most important thing that you should remember is that you can save a lot of money depending on the time when you are purchasing tickets. There are many tips about buying tickets out there, but according to some experts, you can benefit the most if you are purchasing airline tickets between three and twelve weeks in advance.
Obviously, there’s a relatively big gap between this period of time which means that you will have to do your own research too. What’s interesting is that airplane ticket prices are usually changing every five days. Do whatever you want to do, but you should remember that you will pay more if you are buying an airline ticket a day or two before the flight.
- Purchase airline tickets in advance
- Do your own research and check the prices
- If you are waiting until the last minute, you will definitely pay a lot more
14. Wait for happy hours
If you are interested in saving money on travel and vacation, you will have to stop spending too much time in coffeehouses, restaurants, cinemas and similar establishments. But, this doesn’t mean that you should stop going to these places and in many cases, it would be impossible to do that even if you want to.
So, if you really have to go there, you should wait for their happy hours. For instance, there are many bars where the prices of drinks and food are lower during specific hours of the day. Why not meet your friends during these hours? The same goes for trips to the cinema.
- Try to avoid restaurants, coffeehouses, and cinemas
- If you have to go, use their happy hours
- You can get excellent offers if you visit these places in a specific period of the day
15. Use a budgeting app
If you are like most people, then you are probably using a smartphone. One of the best things about these mobile devices is the fact that you can use a wide range of apps that can make your life easier. Among these apps, there are budgeting apps that can help you with money management.
The good news is that the majority of these applications are free.
Take some time and check these apps. Try them out and identify one that meets your needs. Obviously, you will focus on apps that can help you save money. These applications have excellent options and features that can help you achieve your goal – a perfect vacation that won’t break the bank.
- You have to use a smartphone or tablet
- Find a free budgeting application that suits your needs
- Remember that this app will only help you manage your spending and savings in an easier way
