6 Simple Travel Tips To Help You Stick To Your Travel Budget

I am a massive fan of traveling, and I believe that many others also share this passion. Traveling can be super fun and exciting, but many people miss out on this amazing experience because of a common misconception. Many people actually believe that you need to be super rich to travel, but in reality, you can travel to many epic destinations on a budget as well. 

But, you should know that budget travelling is not too easy, especially for first-timers, you should always check a travel expert’s tips to ease your planning. Even seasoned budget travelers sometimes have trouble sticking to their budget. 

Sometimes, it may seem like traveling on a tight budget could take away some of the fun. I mean, sleeping in a small hostel room and choosing the cheapest ways to get to somewhere isn’t as glamorous as some travel vlogs and Instagram might suggest.

 But travelling on a budget allows you to have the real, local experience. It allows you to make a lot of amazing memories and meet fantastic fellow travelers. You can’t enjoy the true and authentic experience of an exotic location if you are staying in five-star hotels and traveling lavishly. 

I have traveled a lot on a tight budget and today I would like to share some of my best travel tips with you guys. These tips will help you experience the joy and fun of traveling the world, without having to spend too much money. So, stick around to learn more.

Carefully plan your budget

One of the most important and essential elements of budget traveling is planning. If you want to travel on a tight budget, you can’t really be spontaneous. Before you leave for your destination, you should take some time to set a daily budget plan based on your activities for the day and how long you are staying on the road. 

Manage your lodging, food, and exploring budget individually. Set aside some money for the essentials like food and a place to stay and you can allocate the rest of your money as you want without worrying about the essentials. You should also keep a small amount of money as a backup stash in case you need it.  It will also help to book months before your travel date as airlines usually offer lower rates for early booking. Make sure to carry an expandable travel backpack during your trip so you won’t have to spend extra on baggage fees. 

Making a budget plan is easy enough, but it is also essential that you maintain discipline and stick to it.

Use a budget app to track your expenses

When you have come up with a detailed budget plan, you need to make sure that you follow it and stay on track. In my opinion, the best way to do so is to keep track of every cent that you use when traveling. 

There are many useful budget apps available online that could help you maintain your budget. You should download an app and record everything from accommodation and transport to buying small sweets and souvenirs. 

You should also review your finances every day to figure out where your overall financial state is going and where you need to cut back. Managing your budget on an app allows you to track every single penny you spend, which is very important for budget traveling. 

Save money on food

Tasting the local foods of an area is an essential part of traveling, and many trips are not complete until you try out some of the local foods. Also, a major amount of your budget will be spent on food and snacks, so you need to try and save money.

Firstly, instead of going to restaurants, try out some of the local street foods, these foods are really delicious, have the authentic local taste and are significantly cheaper than the foods you would get at restaurants. 

You should also consider making your own food because eating out for every day is just not viable when you are traveling. Go to the local markets and buy some fresh produce to cook at your hostel. Even the smallest and cheapest travel hostel will definitely have a small kitchen, so you can easily make some amazing food and save money when you are traveling. 

Cut back on the drinking

When you are young, you may want to get drunk and enjoy some epic hostel parties, but in my experience, traveling to a new destination is significantly more enjoyable if you don’t have a raging hangover. 

Also, alcohol is usually quite expensive, and it is definitely an unnecessary expenditure. Of course, you can splurge a little on a Mojito or Pina Colada when you are chilling at the beach, but drinking for the sake drinking just isn’t right. 

Live like a local

If you are visiting a place with a lower currency value, you need to start thinking like the locals. Everything may seem really cheap and inexpensive from your perspective, but you should try to get the most budget-friendly options even if it’s a small amount of money. 

Also, when you are travelling to a city or any other locations, use the local transport for moving around instead of using taxis or ride-sharing apps. 

You also need to be very careful when you are shopping. When traveling to exotic locations, you are going to stick out like a sore thumb. This may bring some “tourist tax” towards your way, but if you act like a local and turn on your haggling and negotiating skills, you will be alright. 

Look for ways to make money while traveling

Just because you are traveling, it doesn’t mean that you have to stop making money. The best way to ensure that you don’t run out of money when traveling is to get a small job. You can get an online job that you can do remotely, or you could find some other way to finance your trip.

A very common way to finance your trip to amazing and exotic locations is to start teaching English abroad. This job doesn’t only allow you to travel the world, but it also pays quite well.

You can also create an amazing vlog channel and upload your travel experiences to make money while traveling. 

Author Bio:

After graduating in Industrial Engineering in 2007, from day one, Marcel has been working as a freelance writer, digital marketer, and business trainer. He’s very much into foreign cultures and learning languages and enjoys leaving his office for backpacking and hiking trips in the countryside. Together with his team, he blogs about teaching English as a foreign language on https://jimmyesl.com.