Traveling is fun, but being a college student on a budget is not fun. Everyone wants to take that Spring Break trip to Mexico or spend the Summer in Europe, but that is challenging to do on a budget. These are five tips and tricks I use whenever I travel to help save a little money in the long run.
Use Student Discounts to Your Advantage
Being a student with an ID card can give you a lot of advantages. Many airlines offer student discounts along with many hotels and popular travel destinations. Also, use services like Google Flights or Hopper to track your flights to know when to buy the cheapest tickets. There are many discounts and services to help make these expenses more affordable. It just requires a little digging first.
Start Planning in Advance
It is essential to plan the trip months in advance. This allows you time to budget out how much you are spending without spending all your money at once. Instead of booking the trip one week before it happens and spending thousands of dollars in one night, plan it out a few months in advance. This helps since you could pay for the hotel one month, the flights the next month, and so on, so you have room to make the money you are spending back from working between the times you make the purchases.
Find Extra Ways to Make Money
There are many easy and simple ways to make money on the side. One common way to sell your old clothes you don’t wear anymore. Taking them to places like Platos Closet or selling them on apps like Poshmark is an easy way to make money, and you get to do it on your timeline. Another easy way to make money is to pet or house sit for people in your area. It is such an easy job and an excellent way to make money on the side.
Don’t Go Out to Eat Everynight
Going out to eat every night on vacation can add up. Spending $20-$30 on a meal every night plus having to tip can cost you a lot. Try and buy groceries for a few nights you are there as well since it will cost less, and you’ll be eating the same. Also, bring home your leftovers from the restaurants if you have any; you might as well if you are already paying for them.
Ask for Giftcards
A beneficial tip that only a few people do is to ask for gift cards when it is around your birthday or Christmas. Ask for airline, hotel, or visa gift cards. This is an easy way to save money when traveling, especially for airline or hotel expenses. Even a Visa gift card can be excellent for purchases, whether food or souvenirs, during the trip.