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Joseph and I both LOVEto travel. The anticipation of new places and opportunities is far too tempting for us not to makeTravel a part of our budget just as much as weeklygroceries and gas money.
In fact, we justcame back from a super fun road trip in late July, only tospendthis comingweekend in Miami as part of a blogging campaign with Marriott. Then I’m doing a quick three day turn-around and headed back North for a wedding. Can you say crazy?
I think I might just be ready to stay home and hibernate for a little bit.
But as I planned and preppedfor each trip, I was reminded again how quickly expenses add up out there on the road. Fast-food stops, extra gas receipts, hotel accommodations, and airfare, can turn a few fun-filled daysinto a full-blown spending excursion. Travel is not cheap!
Although it might seem like the best deals are found during the researching and booking stage, I’ve found some pretty awesome savings opportunities in each of the specific items I take with me. These five are my absolute favorites to pack, and not only are they fun and functional, they save me a ton of money too.
1.eReader/Magazines
Books and magazines are my weakness, so I am never in short supply when it comes to reading material on a plane or in the car. One of the reasons I love my Kindle is because I can take hundreds of books on one device!
If you’re a book lover too, you know how easy it is for hardcovers and paperbacks to quickly add extra weight to your suitcase {which could result innasty fees}.Plus, those terminal magazine racks sport such outrageous cover prices that I always try to bring some magazines with me from home. I have a ton from freebie subscription offers!
If you need any ideas for what to read,here are my favorite places to find thousands of FREE books.
2.Water Bottles
I try to be super conscious about buying plastic water bottles when we have so many reusable ones at home, but for road trips, I don’t mindsplurging on a 24-pack before we go. This cuts down on the temptation to pick up drinks at a gas station or run through a drive-thru, which saves timeandmoney.
I know we could save even more if we brought our own water bottles {and we do usually bring one or two}, but you can’t always guarantee the water will be any good at rest stops. I’d rather not take any chances!
As for flying, I highly suggest bringingan empty water bottle that you can fill up at a drinking fountain or in the bathroom once you pass security. The air conditioning always seems to make me thirsty, and you can save a couple bucks by avoiding overpriced airport shops.
3. Ziploc Bags
I am a huge fan of Ziploc bags. Not only do they act ascompression bags to help stuffclothes into a carry-on {which saves on checked luggage fees!}, they also keep all my toiletries from leaking and making a huge mess during transportation. I don’t know if you’ve ever had a lotion bottle burst, but it isn’t pretty!
Plus, they are great organizing tools to separate out snacks, medicine, and other little odds and ends that you don’t want floating around in your suitcase.
4. Snacks and Sandwiches
It never ceases to amaze me how many strange looks I get whenever I pull out a squished PB&J sandwich to eat at the airport, but it’s certainly notenough for me to stop doing it. Restaurants think they can charge an exorbitantamount for food just because you’re “trapped” in the terminal, and it really really annoys me. The food doesn’t taste thatgood either!
For snacks, I like to bring my own trail mix that I’ve put together at home – usually just M&M’s and peanuts since I have an aversion to raisins. And granola bars are perfect to fit into small carry-ons and purses.
If you’re taking a road trip and have room for a cooler, sandwich fixingsand breakfast bars save you from paying for two meals each day, and keep your tummy from getting sick on too much fried food!
5. Layered Clothing
There used to be a time when I was not prepared for the cold air conditioning of the airports, or didn’t pack enough warm clothing for colder climates. This hadme constantly running to the nearest Target to pick up a comfy sweatshirt or cardigan, which costs between $20-30 dollars depending on the quality.
I make sure I always take a light sweater wherever I go, so I’m never caught unprepared. I also make sure to take clothes that layer really well – tees and tanks, cardigans, and pullovers. I don’t know about you, but this Florida girl cannot stand being cold!
These suitcase essentials are what I take on every single trip, and have saved me from so many unexpected (and unnecessary) purchases. Because when you learn to manage money better, even your travel money, it allows you to do more of what you love!
So put all five of these essentials on your packing checklist next time you book a flight or prep for a family vacation, and see how much money YOU save!
What is one travel essential you can’t live without?
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