Get Me Outta Here (even on a budget)

 

Getting away from your day to day life may be the perfect medicine you need, especially if dealing with a break up or other stressful situation.  Even though we know we need a change, we sometimes stop ourselves from taking the plunge because of other factors in our lives. When it comes down to it, these factors usually boil down to one thing: money.

While a vacation can be an exciting time to get away from your day-to-day life and explore a new area, it can be hard to really enjoy your trip while on a budget. You might want to try the local cuisine, visit the must-see attractions and get the full experience of the place you’re seeing while still staying within your means, but you are unsure how to do so. Though it may seem impossible, with some research and preparation you’ll be able to keep on track with your budget. You will be able to experience the vacation you need, have as much fun as you imagined, and even start to mend your heart.

Affordable Accommodations

If you are not planning on staying with friends or family while travelling, or your plans to spend it with your significant other  fell through, have no fear! You should explore all of your options when it comes to accommodation. Though hotels can be nice and convenient, staying in a hostel or using a rental system like Airbandb can save you a considerable amount of money.

Most major worldwide cities will have hostels available for you to stay. In addition to being a more affordable option, you’ll be able to meet fellow travelers from around the globe. Many hostels will host dinners or sponsor other events to help guests meet and get to know one another during their stay.

 

Finding Your Travel Buddies

If you’re not travelling alone, make sure you’re travelling in good, and financially similar, company. Even though you may not have your special someone by your side, you may still want to find some people to take this journey with you. If so, when planning your trip, make sure you set clear budget guidelines with whomever you’re travelling with. It can be even more difficult to stay within your budget on a vacation when you’re not all on the same page.

Many millennials find themselves spending more than they can afford because their friends are – or to impress certain people in their social circles. Though this is not a healthy financial habit to carry anywhere, it can especially damage your budget on a vacation.

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Cook for Yourself

Eating out for every meal can be taxing on both your health and your budget. If you have kitchen access where you are staying, stock up on some groceries for your stay. You don’t necessarily have to restrict all your meals to eating in, but  limit your dining out to just one meal per day.

This way you can still sample the local cuisine of your destination without breaking the bank. Check out these easy recipes to make cooking for yourself on vacation simple, healthy and fun. Go ahead and “treat yo’ self” as they like to say.

 

Keep Your Bar Tab Low

If you plan on going out while on your trip, try and keep your bar tab to a minimum. Sample the cheaper drinks on the bar menus and search around for local happy hours and deals to make going out fun without totally stressing you out.

If you are on a particularly thin spending diet, you could also have a fun night in during your trip by picking up a local bottle of wine. Try and look for a wine that is good quality but relatively low in cost. This is a great option if you are looking to have some fun, but trying to keep the spending for that evening to a minimum. You can still roam around town and see all the restaurants and interesting shops around wherever you are staying, but with a little wine in the belly as you meander!

 

Search Local Deal Sites

Besides eating out and going out, you might also want to go see a show, visit a museum, go to a game during your vacation, or even learn how to do sport or activity such as skim boarding, things that only require your time and efforts and are relatively inexpensive. Before you do so, you should look into deals available to you via sites like Groupon, TimeOut and Living Social.

These sites might have deals for exactly what you’re looking for or give you ideas for more vacation activities. Once you do some searching on these sites, they’ll also send you email updates and keep you posted on what deals you’re looking for making it very convenient for you and your travel companions.

 

Use Your Discounts

You might already have discounts available to you without searching through local deals sites. If you are a student, a number of vendors offer you discounts that could greatly benefit your vacation budget. Triple A also offers its members many discounts on transportation, lodging and attractions.

Many attractions might also offer discounted or free admission on certain days or during certain times. Make sure you research when the best time to visit these attractions is when planning your trip!

We all need to plan time to get away, especially when dealing with break ups and other stressors in our lives. Travel can be more affordable than you think. If you keep these simple tips in mind, you could find yourself happy with both your vacation, your budget, your mind and your heart

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