If you’re working with a limited travel budget, these money-saving tips should keep you from overspending.
Plan a Toll-Less Trip
If you haven’t taken a long road trip in a while, you may experience sticker shock when you see how much tolls are nowadays. To avoid that unnecessary expense, plan your trip wisely.
Perhaps the easiest way to avoid tolls is to use a GPS. This can be a separate electronic device you bought at a store, or you can download an app on your smartphone like Google Maps or Waze. Each option should have a way to avoid tolls, so look in the settings, make that adjustment, and enjoy your toll-free trip.
What can you do if you don’t have a GPS or any of those apps on your smartphone? You can use a site like TollGuru.com to map out your route. As you can tell by the name, the site will tell you where to go so you can avoid tolls and keep more cash in your pocket for other travel expenses.
Pay Less for Gas
Have you seen the gas prices lately? They’ve skyrocketed so much that we haven’t had such numbers since 2014. What’s the worst part about it all? That those prices don’t look like they’re going to be falling anytime soon, which is why this tip is a money-saving must.
If you haven’t heard of GasBuddy, now’s the time to get acquainted with the app, as it will be your best buddy for saving money at the pump in more ways than one.
First, you can use GasBuddy to quickly find the nearest gas stations with the best prices on your phone. This can be of great help if you’re looking for the cheapest spot or if you find yourself almost empty and needing a fill-up before you get stranded.
Second, there’s a GasBuddy card that can lead to 25 cent savings per gallon. All you have to do is order the card, link it to your debit card, swipe at the pump, and save.
Want to extend your savings even more? Stack your GasBuddy card savings with a loyalty card from Circle K, Shell, or some other station.
Find Free Entertainment
Finding free ways to entertain yourself is incredibly easy nowadays, thanks to the Internet. Before you hit the road or while you’re on it, head to Eventbrite.com or Facebook.com/events to find affordable or even free things to do in whatever city you choose. To fill up your low-cost itinerary even more, look at the “Things to Do” section on Groupon.com to find the best discounts on local entertainment.
Cut Your Food Costs
The best way to save on food when traveling is to cook your own meals. That may not be an option, though, if you’re not staying at someone’s home that has a full kitchen, so head to LocalSaver.com or RetailMeNot.com to find dine-in and take-out deals wherever you go.
Section 8 Assist
