Welcome to the ABCs of Savings! Each day we’ll be discussing another money saving topic, each beginning with a different letter of the alphabet. Be sure to subscribe via RSS or email so you don’t miss any steps along the way. You can read the full alphabet of posts here (updated as they are posted).
V: Vacations
Vacations may seem like something that you have to give up if you’re going to life a super-frugal lifestyle, but I don’t think that’s the case. However, I do believe that vacations can get a frugal makeover.
Save on Eating out
Eating out can be very expensive, especially if you have a large family or if you’re going on an extended trip. While vacations are also times for the cook to stay out of the kitchen, eating in can save a TON of money. Is there a way to balance the fun and relaxation of eating out with the cost savings of eating in? Why not try eating breakfast and lunch in and eating dinner out? Or maybe – if you’re staying somewhere with a kitchen – you could cook 3 meals and eat out 4. I’m sure that your family wouldn’t mind quick, simple meals like spaghetti or frozen pizzas either. One quick trip to the grocery store when you arrive could save a lot of cash.
When you’re planning a vacation, you could slash your eating out costs enough to eat every meal out. Simply buy an Entertainment Book for the area you’re visiting. You may only use 5 or 10 of the coupons, but you’ll save up to 50% on your food bill! There are usually good deals on Entertainment Books here…. all year ’round. If you’re buying a book for a single trip to an area, you could work some giving into your trip too. Why not give the rest of your unused Entertainment Book to someone you meet? Passing along the savings can be fun too!
Saving on the Road
Simply getting to your destination can take a bite out of your vacation budget. If you’re driving, a little bit of planning ahead can save a lot. Check out my Frugal Road Trips post for tips on saving on snacks, meals, and more.
Go in a Group
One of the best vacations we took when I was growing up was the one where my extended family decided to vacation together. We stayed in a multi-room condo and each family had their own space. It was a great way to save on lodging. Plus we had a kitchen in the condo. Each family took a turn cooking the evening meal, so your family only had one night to worry about. We ate out a few times and ate in a few times.
Sightseeing
It’s amazing how many places you can visit for free. You can often score free admission to museums and national parks and monuments. Just do a search (using Swagbucks, of course) for “free sightseeing __________” and fill in the blank with your destination.
Mini-Vacations
My family doesn’t do a whole week-long vacation trip each year. Our schedules tend to be crazy, and we like being able to travel more than once. So instead, we opt for long weekends or even day trips. Not only does this allow us to spread the cost of travel throughout the year, it also lets us visit more places.
I’ll bet you all have some great tips for saving money when you travel. What didn’t I think of?