Wednesday, November 27, 2019
CHEAP ROAD TRIP TIPS: HOW TO SAVE MONEY ON THE ROAD
During a road trip, life on the open road can be freeing, full of fun times, and epic diversions, it’s an all-around exhilarating adventure — until you run out of money. Here at Bearfoot Theory, we are all for getting out there and living it up but when it comes to road trips a wrong turn could cost you time and money that you simply can’t afford to lose. We’ve put together the ultimate guide to planning a cheap road trip that doesn’t feel “cheap”.
Whether you are driving cross-country or to the next state over there are plenty of ways to save money and enjoy a fun, inexpensive road trip. All you need is a little preparation and planning ahead to make your budget-friendly road trip the best ever without breaking the bank.
BRING YOUR OWN FOOD
On a road trip, you need TWO kinds of fuel: one to keep the car running and the other to keep you going, too. The cost of the latter can quickly add up and push your spending way over budget. So, think about it this way: It may seem cheap to grab a bag of chips and a drink here and there but after a week on the road, you could have easily spent $10 a day and an extra $70 in total on snacks alone. Factor in the cost of three meals a day and you’ll have already made a dent in your savings.
The #1 tip for a cheap road trip? Bring your own food! Go to the store ahead of time and buy a variety of snacks in bulk. Nuts, granola bars, dark chocolate and other hearty snacks that are packed with protein and fiber will keep you happy and full. Since you’re going to be on the road for a few days don’t buy individual bars, buying a mixed assortment pack is cheaper. If you have a Costco Membership, that’s a great place to load up. This will save you money on food during your road trip and keep you from mindlessly munching on junk food along the way.
To take it a step further, save money on meals during your road trip by bringing a cooler full of easy to prepare meals. You can even bring a camp stove to cook your main meals. Grilled cheese and tomato soup is one of my favorite easy dinners while road tripping on the cheap.
At the same time, part of traveling is experiencing the local cuisine, so allow yourself a meal or two out. Generally eating breakfast or lunch out is less expensive than dinner prices. We like to use Yelp to find highly rated local joints that aren’t overpriced.
BRING PLENTY OF WATER
Road trips and salty pretzels can make you thirsty. Avoid impulsively purchasing drinks and hoarding a ton of empty plastic bottles in every nook and cranny of your car by bringing your own water. Take at least two reusable water bottles and fill them up before you head out. Even better, store a 5-gallon jug in the back of your car that you can use to refill on the way. This will not only save you money, but it’s safe to have extra water in case of a breakdown. Plus you’re recycling & reusing vs. creating more waste.
If you plan on doing any activities like hiking, biking or walking around, or, if the weather will be warmer, be prepared and bring extra water. As a bonus, drinking water can also curb snack cravings, which is sometimes your body’s way of telling you that you’re dehydrated. So, sip away!
DON’T BUY COFFEE
Coffee is one of the easiest things to cut back on to save money on your road trip. It might not seem like a lot, but a $4 latte every day spread over 2 weeks could be the equivalent of another night at an Airbnb or two nights at a campground. But what if you’re a big coffee person and need your daily fix? Make your own! I’m a huge fan of the Aeropress for road trips (it’s also my go-to coffee making contraption at home). Not only does it make a very strong and smooth cup of coffee, cleanup is very simple and the Aeropress itself is very compact. Give it a try, and you’ll see that you can make better coffee off your tailgate with a Jetboil and an Aeropress than you can get at any Starbucks.
MINIMIZE ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION & AVOID GOING TO BARS
While cracking a cold one during sunset at the end of the day might be on your agenda, drinking can quickly turn your cheap road trip into an expensive one. If you want some tasty libations during your road trip, bring your own booze to enjoy rather than buying $10 cocktails at the bar. Also, think about the type of booze you are bringing since those IPAs can add up fast.
At the same time, exploring the bar scene may be part of the way you like to travel. When you do want to splurge, ask the locals where the cool hangouts are, search for happy hour deals, or hit up the local brewery and take a growler to go.
MAP OUT A BUDGET-FRIENDLY ROUTE
While we are all for getting lost and going off the beaten track here at Bearfoot Theory, going an hour in the wrong direction is simply a waste of time and money when you’re planning a cheap road trip. Map out your route ahead of time and do your research to see if there are any good shortcuts or more efficient ways to get where you are going. A great tip is to use two different GPS systems because navigational tools can give you vastly different routes to the same place.
Check out the Road Trippers App that helps you save locations on-the-go, find destination points along your route and locate lodging, gas, restaurants and more. Also, before you hit the road, download the iExit App to determine the best areas to take a pit stop on major highways while you’re traveling.
This article adapted from this Site