We’re going to be traveling to visit my mother-in-law next weekend for Mother’s Day. She lives about 6 hours away from us, and that is quite a trip with a four year old. We tend to stop often to stretch our legs. Before I started my frugal shopping journey, we would just grab some extra cash from the ATM before we left home. Then we would buy all of our meals, snacks, and drinks when we stopped along the way. We didn’t buy the most expensive items, but it still added up!
Now that I’ve been coupon-shopping and bargain-hunting, this is one area that I want to get under control. The last time we traveled by car, we spent almost no money when we stopped, and we’re going to try to do that again. Doing this takes some planning and shopping, but I’m up for the challenge!
The first thing we’re going to do is dust off the cooler and put it in the back of the van. Throughout this next week, I’ll be scouring the sale flyers for great prices on snack items and drinks. We’ll fill the cooler with these items. That does mean cutting back on looking for deals on household items and health & beauty aids, but it keeps our budget in check. I can usually find great deals on crackers, juice boxes, Pepsi products, cheese, and maybe a few sweets. 🙂 I may even use up my CVS Extra Care Bucks, but it’s worth it to not pay much out-of-pocket for travel snacks.
For more great frugal living ideas, stop by Frugal Friday hosted by Life As Mom.
