5 Hacks for Budget Travelers
My parents always used to tell me there are 3 primary resources we need to balance in life: energy, time and money. When you’re young you usually have plenty of time and energy, but you aren’t earning a lot of money. As you grow and start your career, time becomes the biggest issue. And, when you’re finally retired, you don’t have that much energy left for travel adventures.
I decided I wasn’t going to wait any longer until I would pack my bags and start my journey. I was 15 and broke at the time.
I could talk about all the experiences I’ve had, all the people I met and all the countries I discovered since. But instead, I’m going to tell you about the series of tools, websites and tricks I use in order to keep my budget low every time.
- Never underestimate the power of a Budget Log.
We are more careful about how much we spend when we are aware of the exact amounts we are blowing away. Keeping track of your spendings it’s an easy and highly effective trick. I use the template below when budgeting my travels. It breaks down the budget on daily/weekly spendings so that I always know how many $ I’m under or over the daily/weekly sum.
Get the template here: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/14PISd-WfjJU2ioZ9uNDybLBntD47oC6lH5dTI1G9ktk/edit?usp=sharing
Now, if you don’t like getting out of your comfort zone, you can stop reading here. The next tips I am going to present aren’t suited for everyone. They might make you uncomfortable, put you in new situations and push you to meet new people, but, at the end of the day, they will save you money.
2. Start Couchsurfing — https://www.couchsurfing.com/
If you’ve used Airbnb before, then you know how it feels to sleep in someone else’s place. However, Airbnb can get quite pricy, so, if you’re really on a tight budget, you might need to find another option. Couchsurfing follows the same principles- hosts share the descriptions and pictures of their houses and couchsurfers contact them asking to be hosted. All for free. You just need to download the app and create a detailed profile. Works best when traveling solo or with another friend for a short stay, but there are exceptions (like that one night in Verona when me and 4 of my friends couchsurfed together).
3. Hostels — sleep & party in the same place
If Couchsurfing isn’t for you or if you’re traveling with a larger group, you should check out hostels! Some my most epic adventures happened in lively hostels, not in fancy resorts. You can’t walk into a hostel without making at least a few friends, fellow backpackers from all around the globe. Bonus, you’ll be able to join inexpensive Pub Crawls, Karaoke Nights, Walking Tours, etc. Pro Tip: bring a lock for your locker and a sleeping mask.
4. Hitchhike
Before starting a new hitchhiking route always ask for recommendations from fellow hitchhikers. Use Facebook groups such as: Hitchhiking Europe, Backpacking Eastern Europe, Europe Rideshares for Backpackers, Backpacking Europe, The Solo Female Traveler Network, depending on your destination.
You’ll also need to check if Hitchhiking is legal and/or advised in the region you are going to be in. Hitchwiki.org will not fail you for this. Also, don’t forget to pack light and bring plenty of markers for the signs.
5. Talk to locals
Talking to locals is the number one way you can all the tourist traps and enjoy all the sights and hidden gems of a place! Locals know all the cheap spots, coupons/vouchers websites and they’re always eager to show you around their city.
Facebook groups are highly effective (see no. 4): Meeple, Travelettes, etc. But, there are also apps designed just for this exact purpose (I personally use Couchsurfing).
Do you know other tips and tricks? Leave them in the comments below. Share knowledge with fellow travelers. Safe travels & have fun on the roads! For more stories and details about my adventures, you can find me on Instagram: @cristinapogo.
