How to be a Money Saving Guru on Your Family Travels
Adopting a frugal lifestyle is enriching and rewarding. It’s not about being cheap, per se. It’s about being financially wise and responsible. Micromanaging money gives peace of mind knowing that there’s a cushion or when the time comes to treat the family on a trip, you have the know how to do it on a dime. Ready to learn what money-saving gurus do to save on family travels?
Plan ahead and plan smart
Getting the most for less on your family travels requires smart planning. Planning sooner than later lets you save and learn more about your trip. Your travel planning strategy should be to save daily. It can start now even if you don’t have a trip planned yet. It’s as easy as:
- Saving your change in a jar.
- Applying your monetary gifts towards your travel fund.
- Using credit cards (wisely) to earn travel points or miles. If you can pay for your mortgage with a credit card do so, then pay it off immediately. You’ve just racked up your point or miles.
- Signing up for an award programs on your preferred or frequently used travel services or products.
- Eating out less. Stay at hotels that include a complimentary breakfast and/or book a room with a full kitchen.
Deal or no deal?
Deal of course! This is where the money saving guru skills come to play. This deal requires time, creativity, and patience. Once you know your travel destination:
- Check out deal and travel sites for savings on inclusive trips, tours, and places to eat. Don’t forget to read the fine print for block out periods, expiration dates, and other exclusions.
- Find out with your employer’s Human Resources if you have employee travel discounts.
- Look into memberships for travel savings.
- Network with your friends, colleagues, and clients. They may have connections or have the authority to offer you a family/friend discount rate. If you have a service or product they like and vice versa, don’t be shy to bargain too.
- Inquire about discounts that apply to you: family, kids, group, senior, or military discounts.
- Research if it’s best to book a travel activity in advance or on the day of. Often tours which are not full have same day specials to fill up space.
- Be flexible with your travel period and check prices on other nearby travel modes.
Planes, trains, or automobiles?
Deciding on your method of travel is dependent on where you travel. Do your research for each option. Calculate the most affordable vehicle, train, or airline that fits your budget. Part of saving isn’t just finding deals, but to flag out extra fees or price adjustments. Here are red flags to watch out for:
- Rental car add-ons. Check if your existing car insurance includes car rental insurance. Otherwise, you’ll be buying into double coverage!
- Gas prices. If your mode of travel is by car, find out gas prices of where you’ll be traveling. There are some days in the week when it would be cheaper to buy gas!
- Airline extras. Pack light to avoid buying additional carry-on and/or checked baggage. Consider mailing items to and from your hotel.
- Seasonal pricing. Going in-between or offseason is becoming popular if you can swing it with your schedule and the weather. If you prefer to avoid the touristy vibe and experience how the locals live, this is the best time to travel!
- What’s in the news. Your destination could be experiencing political unrest, bad weather conditions, or a popular event that would take place during the same time as your travels. All these can trigger price changes.
Travel agenda
You saved and planned wisely. Vacation days have approached. Your money travel saving strategies don’t stop there. Here’s how to save on your day-to-day travel activities.
- If you need to change currencies, don’t change at money conversion stations and hotels. Use your credit card or atm to get the exact exchange rate.
- Allot a daily spending allowance to avoid going over budget. Separate this allowance into individual envelopes to prevent accidental over-spends.
- Eat two big meals vs. three.
- Don’t be shy to bargain. Normally, it’s welcomed at smaller mom/pop shops and flea markets.
- Go to a local market versus eating out for each meal.
- Shop like a local and avoid tourist traps.
Plan ahead and be smart. Your travels will be worry-free. When you return back to the daily grind, you won’t be in a financial bind. Do these strategies, and you’ll be a money-saving guru in no time.
