{"id":120192,"date":"2012-02-12T04:00:20","date_gmt":"2012-02-12T12:00:20","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/getrichslowly.org\/blog\/?p=120192"},"modified":"2023-10-04T12:13:59","modified_gmt":"2023-10-04T18:13:59","slug":"reader-story-how-i-save-money-while-traveling","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.getrichslowly.org\/reader-story-how-i-save-money-while-traveling\/","title":{"rendered":"How I Save Money While Traveling"},"content":{"rendered":"
Many people think travel is expensive, that it’s too costly for the average person to enjoy. To many people, a trip around the world or a long vacation might seem like a good idea, but it simply isn’t affordable. I’m here to tell you that view is wrong.<\/p>\n
You can<\/em> afford it. I know you can. I’ve been traveling across the globe for five years. I don’t have some rich uncle, haven’t won the lottery, and don’t have my parents pay the bills, yet I’ve managed to travel debt-free for five years thanks to a combination of savings and working overseas.<\/p>\n Since I travel on a tight budget<\/a>, I’ve found creative ways to keep my costs down without sacrificing comfort or quality. After all, what’s the point of going to Italy if you can’t afford the food? Why visit Brazil and not see the Amazon? I learned to dive before going to Australia; I wasn’t going to miss the Great Barrier Reef.<\/p>\n Today I want to share some easy and practical tips that can be used to save money regardless of how long you’re going to travel.<\/p>\n Couch surfing<\/a> connects you with locals who are willing to let you stay with them for free. I’ve used this site<\/a> multiple times. I’ve stayed with college students in England, in a mansion in Australia, and with a family in Denmark, just to give a few examples. I’ve slept on couches, futons, and have had private guest rooms to myself. Using this site, I’ve brought my accommodation budget down to zero. Though often thought of as a site for young people, you can find hosts of all ages, from young couples to seniors. If you’re worried about safety, people leave reviews and profiles are verified by the organization.<\/p>\n WWOOF<\/a> (Willing Work on Organic Farms) matches travelers looking for work with farms that need labor. In return for working on the farm, you get free room and board. This is a very popular method of saving money in Australia and New Zealand, although you can find WWOOFing farms all over the world. This is a great option for people who want to stay in one place for a while.<\/p>\n You can also work for your accommodation at hostels throughout the world. It’s not glamorous work, but at least you get a free bed in return. In Amsterdam, I worked for my bed by cleaning. I got free accommodation for about three hours of work per day. You’ll find this type of work in places heavy with backpackers and where people tend to ignore visa rules. In Europe, that means in the east; in Lagos, Portugal; or Ios, Greece. In Australia and New Zealand, that means anywhere. In Central America, that also means anywhere.<\/p>\n Priceline<\/a> and Hotwire<\/a> are great sites for finding cheap hotels. If you really want to stay at a hotel but don’t want to pay a lot, use these sites to bid on hotels at up to 60% off. Use Better Bidding to see what people have paid for hotels so you don’t overbid. With the help of Better Bidding<\/a> to research hotel prices in New York City, I got a room in Times Square during the Christmas season for $90 USD per night.<\/p>\n Cooking your food<\/a> is the best way to cut down on your expenses. A week’s worth of groceries is cheaper than a week’s worth of restaurants. It’s simple and easy, but it goes a long way when it comes to cutting down your budget. I find that I spend about $50-60 USD per week on groceries, as opposed to $20+ per day I normally spend on restaurants. That’s a reduction of 50% (or more depending if I eat out at nice restaurants)!<\/p>\n In many parts of the world, especially in Europe, you can dine on dinner menus at lunch special prices. The plate of the day is usually the best bargain when dining out. For example, while I was in Barcelona, I went to eat at the seafood restaurants near the beach. However, dinner was around 40 Euros, which was more than I wanted to spend. Yet coming back the next day for the lunch special allowed me to get the same meal for only 15 Euros.<\/p>\n Though not as popular in America anymore, many supermarkets around the world still offer free samples of food. I time my food shopping for when I need a snack. It’s a good way to kill two birds with one stone. While I was shopping in Bangkok, I ate tons of free samples and managed to save myself some money. In Norway, I moved from fish vendor to fish vendor sampling enough food to fill me up for breakfast!<\/p>\n<\/span>Saving on Accommodation<\/span><\/h2>\n
<\/span>Saving on Food and Beverages<\/span><\/h2>\n