moneytalks

Alright, one great way to save money is by not spending it. But we all need some fun and what is more fun than a summer vacation? A vacation does not need to break the bank–in fact it can be quite cheap. First of all, we don’t need to go to Paris or some exotic land for it to be a great vacation. Start looking close to home, heading to a drivable destination will save a lot of money. Go to your local book store and check out travel books for cities near you. They always have a ton of great tips on free or cheap things to do. Next, what about gas? At over $4.00 a gallon who can afford to go anywhere? Take advantage of gas station perks. Many gas stations give rewards for shopping there, why not use it? You’ll be surprised how quickly those rewards add up and next thing you know you have a free, or heavily reduced tank of gas. This can save you money in your day to day life as well, not only when it comes to vacations. Another reward to take advantage of is from your bank. Most banks offer rewards for using your debit card. Sign up for this! Banks usually offer choices on your rewards from gas cards, free car rental and hotel vouchers. By this time you already have cheap gas a free night or two at a hotel, plus you looked for free things to do in the city you’re visiting. Now all you need to do is eat. Eating out can be one of the most expensive parts of a vacation. Of course you may want to dine out once or twice for a nice dinner but breakfast, snacks and lunch, this all adds up. Try taking food along with you. Snack food is easy to take. Try taking some bagels with peanut butter for breakfast. Stay at a hotel with a continental breakfast and fridge and microwave so you can take some cold, microwavable foods with you. The final tip I have for you is just use common sense. Know how much money you can truly afford and try to spend less than that. Write a daily budget out and stick to it. With discounted gas, free hotel, free meals and free activities it sounds like an oil change at the end of your trip will be the most expensive part. Have fun and enjoy your trip.

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