Last Updated on 20 February 2024 by Colette
*Collaborative Guest Post*
You’re about to set off travelling, maybe for a few months or even longer and you’ve got everything pretty much set. You’ve had some great help and advice from Creditfix and you’ve got your water purification tablets ready.
Now all that’s in order, you need to think about how you can keep your finances in similar good order throughout your trip, so here’s nine great ways to keep a handle on your spending.
Buy afternoon flights
Of course, you’ve probably already got your main outbound and inbound flights, but if you’re planning to do more quick hops while you’re overseas, then this is brilliant advice. Everyone knows that fares fluctuate according to the time of year, month and week, but they also vary by the hour. The best time to strike is the afternoon, when the rush of business travellers buying their seats has died down and prices relax a bit.
Set up some alerts to catch those fares
If you set up a few email or text alerts for when flights to your chosen destination reach your ideal price (or even lower), then you’ll be able to catch them. Be quick, though, and make sure the funds are ready!
Look for cheap accommodation
“After your flights, your accommodation may be the biggest expense – sometimes even bigger than the flights themselves. Try to avoid this situation by looking for hostels or studio flats rather than chain hotels and city-centre places. If you’re TEFL certified and working abroad, there may even be an opportunity to have your accommodation reimbursed!”
Shop like a local
Follow the locals to the best markets so you get the cheapest (and often freshest) foods. Go for the native foods as well as familiar staples, so that you get the full cultural experience and the bargains.
Avoid airport bureaux de change
You should have your currency all sorted a few weeks before your departure because the last couple of weeks before you leave is usually very busy. The main advantage of this is that you don’t get stung by the eyebrow-raising exchange rates at the airport.
Learn how to haggle
Don’t just try out your haggling skills on street vendors, it’s always worth asking for discounts in hotels and shops, too. The worst that will happen is that they say no, and as long as you’re polite and friendly, they won’t be offended.
Invest in city passes
If you’re staying in any town or city for three days or more, then a city pass is well worth the investment because it’ll offer you discounted tickets to museums, transport and sometimes restaurants and department stores.
Have lunch out, not dinner
The cheapest deals are at lunchtimes in most restaurants so when you want to treat yourselves to a meal out, make it lunch. Cook for yourselves most evenings, preferably with food bought at the local markets.
Rent a small apartment
If you can find somewhere just big enough to be tolerable, with a kitchen and bathroom, then you’ll save a ton of money. Look on Airbnb for somewhere and make sure it has a half-decent kitchen so you don’t mind eating out of it.
