Travel on a budget – how to do that

Everyone likes to travel. One way or another. And if you are able to travel the world and save 30% of what you originally expected to spend, it’s a cherry on the top. Who doesn’t like to save, right? In order to do that, save, all you need to do is to travel on a budget. Understanding your expenses in the simplest way is the start of enjoying your travels to the fullest.

There is no doubt that traveling equals expenses. But if you manage it wisely, you can have the best time of your life and not regret a moment of it especially because of resource mismanagement. You can also earn as you go along. Take some inspiration for the seasoned ones.

The first thing to do is to understand where all your money is being spent. So you are able to manage it better. In my experience, there are 5 categories in which you can classify your expenses. Some of these expenses are negotiable whereas some are hardcore non-negotiable. That’s just the way it is. In order to travel on a budget, you need to understand this flow of money and use it reasonably.

So let’s take a look at the different categories of expenses. Also, let’s try to figure out our alternate options for allocating money to travel on a budget.

Traveling by definition means going from one place to another. Be it from one city to another, one country to another, one street to another or taking a trip to a cabin in the woods.

Hence transportation is the very first category in the travel on a budget listing. Let’s take a look at some of the transportation options that you can consider and their scope.

Public Transport

Depending on whether you are traveling within the city or to a different one, you can choose between buses, local trains, metros and tuk-tuks. Unlike popular belief, not all the other people sharing the ride with you are perverts, thieves or pick-pocketers. Also, these rides are fairly cheap. Taking public transport can help you save a ton of money. You might have to invest a little more time though, but it’s totally worth it.

Try to pack your stuff in a very compact manner so it’s easy for you to take care of it. Also, try not to look like you are carrying a billion dollars. Just stay calm, relax and enjoy the ride with locals. Who knows, you might get to listen to some folk music too.

Hiring Cabs

There might be times when you are too tired to share a ride, and just want an all AC cab exclusively for yourself. It is very much understandable. If you are traveling solo, it can provide you with some comfort at least for a while. Even though it will most definitely be heavy on your pocket.

But in case you are traveling in a group, your fare gets divided, and you get to travel with people that you know while enjoying the AC. A good part about hiring a private cab is that you can choose the route you want to take and add as many stops as you like.

Read more: The thing I got wrong about backpacking trips.

Renting a Car

So the only difference here, compared to hiring cabs, is that you be the driver. So you don’t get to drink or get into any kind of psychedelic business, whether legal or not. It’s for your own safety.

Other than that it’s pretty much the same benefits of hiring a cab. The fare is also more or less the same. As for freedom of movement, in my experience, it’s more if you have someone else drive the car. You don’t have to think twice before drinking one more beer or having too much fun.

Renting a Bike

It is way cheaper than hiring a cab or renting a car. It doesn’t have AC but you can always feel the wind in your hair. What is better than that!

It might take slightly more time to reach that beach or that amazing cafe on the outskirts of the city but it is definitely fun to travel locally on a bike/ scooter. For me, at least one ride on a bike is a must on my every travel. It also gives you freedom of movement and you don’t have to worry about not being able to find a cab in odd hours.

Walking

Never gets out of fashion. In fact, people deliberately challenge themselves and go on walking for 1800 miles from one end of the country to another. It’s also good exercise.

It involves no money whatsoever but does take a lot of time. Which a person usually invests in planning his/her itinerary for when they get to the next city or wherever they are going. Or, it is also in some cases invested in either appreciating the surroundings or cribbing about why did they not take the bus in the first place. Either way, this is the thing that everyone should experience at least once in a lifetime.

Hitchhiking

For people who end up cribbing about walking, hitchhiking can come to rescue. There is no start point or endpoint to it. Whenever you get tired, just lift your arm up, signal for a ride and who knows, you might just get lucky.

The amount of time you might take while hitchhiking from one place to another is very subjective. The person giving you a ride might be going to the same place as you or just in the same direction for a couple of miles. So it’s tricky to predict sitting here typing as to how long does it take to get a ride. The upside is that you will not have to pay anything to the person who is giving you the ride.

Another upside, if the person is generous enough, he might even offer you a meal, place to sleep for the night and a good conversation. It’s easy to become friends with people who help you along your travels.

Hotels

If you are going backpacking, it shouldn’t even be on your list. Hotels are good only if you are taking a luxurious holiday trip, when your company is paying or when you are tired of motels, hostels and the like. To take a break you may stay at a hotel for one night, but a backpacker never does that.

Hotels are obviously expensive. So in order to travel on a budget, you need to avoid staying in one unless someone else is paying for it.

Resorts

Same. They can be more expensive than hotels. So unless you won a voucher and you get to enjoy their amenities for free, or at the price of a hostel, don’t even think about it.

Hostels

Now we are talking. You get a bunk bed, some roommates and a common bathroom that has water in the shower. Hostels are a backpacker’s paradise. Some hostels are more reasonably priced than others. You can choose whichever fits your budget the best.

Although I have noticed that most hostels in a given city are more or less priced in a similar range.

Do remember that when you are on a budgeted trip, every penny counts. So save as many pennies as you can and you’ll eventually have dollars to spend.

Tents & Sleeping Bags | Travel on a budget

If you can find a place to pitch a tent or just tuck yourself in a sleeping bag, you can save enough for a couple of hearty meals. So yeah, I would like to suggest to every single one of you, who plans to go backpacking, the right way, don’t forget to carry your tent so you can pitch it in and sleep under the stars in your sleeping bag.

Park Bench

It’s never my pick but if some day you are feeling adventurous enough, well you know where to find some.

During my travels, I have met people who occasionally do sleep off on the park bench. And they sounded like they are quite comfortable doing so too. So I leave this one completely on you to decide.

Couch Surf is a popular choice if you want to travel on a budget

Couch surfing is cool. Some couches are more comfortable than others. Sometimes you would wish you were rather on the floor sleeping in your sleeping bag.

There is no harm in trying new things. So if you haven’t tried couch surfing yet, it’s definitely worth a shot. Keep an open mind, and try not to be picky. And if you need some consolation, you can always check out your host’s rating on the Couchsurfing app or their social media accounts.

Overnight Trains/ Buses

This is what I have seen people do very popularly for the longest time all over the world. I have also very proudly done this and yes, it’s very stressfree and comfortable.

Plan your trip in a way that you can take overnight buses and trains to get from one place to another. Ideally, the distance between these two places should take at least 5-7 hours to cover. So you can sleep through the journey and reach your destination at a decent hour. Just remember to set an alarm.

Also, you get to club the expense of accommodation and travel for that night. Hence saving money.

Restaurants

There are many kinds of restaurants in every city. Some expensive, some average priced and some with very basic prices. The only thing that scares people off when it comes to trying cheap food is getting sick. Food poisoning, infection or something else. Which is very fair. Nobody wants to end up in a hospital on a trip that was supposed to be fun.

If you make sure to consume only cooked food and from places that look clean and are not being cooked next to a sewer, you’ll mostly be fine. But then again, everybody’s immunity is different and you know what suits you best.

Cafes

You know, the places that have amazing interiors, serves great tea, coffee, and some options for food and snacks. Cafes should be a backpacker’s upper limit. Try not to spend more than you would at a cafe for a meal. Keeping your food expenses at a low is very important for traveling on a budget.

Not to say eat less, but to eat wisely. Eat what will keep you full for longer and provide you with much-needed calories and protein for the day. Along with staying hydrated.

Bar/ Lounge/ Bistro/ Clubs

Every once in a while it’s nice to go out and enjoy the local nightlife. And if there is nightlife, there will be booze. I do not need to remind you that booze is seriously overpriced at these places.

So you could always drink before you head out for the bar, and order one drink to last the night. Or you could adjust your funds in a way that you go to a bar once in 3-4 weeks and enjoy as you like.

If you are planning to go backpacking, I would like to discourage you to drink any booze at all. It affects your strength, stamina and dehydrates.

Street Food

There are some delicious local delicacies that are served on the street. It would be a shame not to try them. Which is why I always have them at the top of my list.

Lucky for backpackers and those who like to travel on a budget, you can find really filling and tasty food on the street. Street food is very cheap, so fits every budget. Just be sure about your immune system.

Kind People can help you travel on a budget

If you are lucky, you might meet some people along the way who are happy to invite you over for a good meal with their family. If you are polite and helpful, who knows, they might even host you for a couple of days.

There is no catch here. Some people just like the company of good people. Along with helping a nomad find his way. What can I say, people, are good. We have just intentionally tuned our brains into thinking that they are not. Traveling can help you overcome this negative preset of your brain.

Cook your own meal

There might be times when you just want to cook your own meal. Even if it’s scrambled eggs.

You could either talk to someone (like the kind people who invited you over) into letting you use their kitchen. Or, you could get a gas stove and cook your own meal. You don’t need much to do that. Just keep your recipe simple. It’s healthy, tasty and you can eat as much as you want. It’s the most budget-friendly way to eat.

Passport/ Visa

If you are planning to go out of the country, you will need a passport and for most countries, you will need a visa. The charges for these are also non-negotiable. The only choice that you have is the kind of visa that you would like to apply for. The charges may differ depending on the type as well, like a tourist visa, work travel, working holiday, etc.

Permits

Some cities, states, or territories might need a permit other than the visa and the passport you own. Some of these permits have a fee and some don’t. If you want to visit these places, you will have to get the permit.

Tickets/ Passes Etc.

That’s part of tourist destinations. Monuments, museums, galleries and similar places have tickets or passes. These too fall under the category of non-negotiable expense. So you need to decide if you are into seeing the history of a place or would you like to explore more of the present scenario.

Gifts

It always feels nice to buy some gifts for your friends and family on your travels. Sometimes you might even feel obligated to do it even if you are running low on your budget.

In which case you can always buy something simple, useful or funny. That’s what I usually do. For example, you can buy something with a quote – “my sister went to Spain and all I got is this f*cking pillow”. You don’t have to get to the souvenir shops or the most expensive gift shop in the town to seem like you care.

It’s the thought that counts, right?

Souveniers

Nobody cares about a keychain or a fridge magnet or a paperweight. So unless you are buying that for your own collection, don’t do it. Souveniers are just for remembrance. And so the people who haven’t been there yet, have no attachment to it.

Rather buy a t-shirt. Worst case scenario, it will become nightwear. As long as it’s being used, it’s a good thing.

Impulsive Shopping can hurt your travel budget

Avoid going to the market altogether if you have a hard time controlling your impulses. This is where all the money that you saved so far will be spent if you are not wise about it.

Be clear about why you want to travel on a budget. Set one goal. Is it because you want to save for another trip, or is it because you are looking forward to investing somewhere. Either way whatever your reason is, be clear on that. It will help you stay motivated and remind you to make the right choices through your journey.

Have you ever tried going on a budget trip? How did it go? Tell me in the comments below. All travel stories are fun to listen to. Cheers!

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