Traveling is such a wonderful thing to do; the sheer mention of the ‘T word’ sets my mind off in a hundred directions. What will it be? Well there’s always a beach holiday. Oh I can smell the suntan lotion! We could take a trip to Tanzania to see the migration of the Wildebeest across the Serengeti. I must just remember to pack my mosquito repellent. The list seems endless, doesn’t it? Whether you’re packing thermal coats, hiking boots or board shorts to go with your boarding pass; traveling costs money. Just try to head further than your country’s borders, particularly if you’re keen to head across the Atlantic, and the initial budget you had in mind will be horribly dented. Let’s check out our list of 5 Ways to Save While Traveling, to help you hang on to a few pennies so you can squeeze a few extra days into your itinerary or perhaps have some Chianti, instead of just cola.
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Holidaymakers venturing to Europe in the near future are able to buy their Euros now to ensure they can take advantage of favourable rates.
Buying your currency while the exchange rates are in your favour is a great idea, especially now that you don’t need to carry all of your cash around, but instead you can use prepaid cards that are widely accepted throughout Europe.
Prepaid cards are an alternative to the old traveler’s cheques but they come with many more perks. Not only does it give you access to your money without having to carry your cash around, once loaded they can be used in bars, shops and restaurants as well as cash points.
The pound is very strong against the Euro as of late, almost reaching the same level as it was in early March, the strongest the pound has been against the Euro in the last seven years. This means that “The continent now offers really good value for money for British holidaymakers,” says Bob Atkinson from TravelSupermarket.
As the weather starts to heat up, it’s natural to start getting antsy for summer’s freedom and the lure of the open road. There’s nothing like a family road trip to see the sights, spend quality time together, and avoid sky-high air fares. Yet the cost of a road trip can quickly add up as well, when you factor in the cost of food, lodging, entertainment, and fuel. Keep the following tips in mind to save a bit of cash without sacrificing on family fun time.
1. Use Money-Saving Apps
Load up your smartphone with apps designed to save you money on fuel, food, and accommodation. Gas Buddy is an app that provides you with current fuel prices at the stations nearest to your location, using real-time stats sourced from other users. One of the biggest money wasters on the road is convenience store meals. You can not only eat better food but get more for your money by downloading apps like Yelp and MenuPages, which show you the top rated options in your current location.
When it is raining, freezing or sweltering outside you may feel like you are trapped in a loony bin with your kids. However having fun activities to do can help cut the boredom and make even indoor play fun. Here are some easy and affordable indoor friendly kid activities for those days you are stuck inside:
Book Poetry – Here is an activity that can change with children’s learning levels. An easy way to make book poetry is with the titles of books. Lay down books to see the titles on their spines and then stack them up to create fun poems. If your kids are older they can also create poetry by cutting out words or phrases from magazines and newspapers to create poems. Or mark over all the words in an article or page except the ones for their poem to create a found poem.
Car Wash – A somewhat messy but fun activity for car obsessed kids is to create a car wash. Use a tray or baking sheet and cover up some toy cars in shaving cream. Give kids a spray bottle and rag to ‘wash the cars’. They can also drive the cars around in the shaving cream to make fun tire tracks. A great sensory activity!
When it comes to having fun it doesn’t have to cost a fortune. Check out these frugal and fun ideas that provide loads of entertainment:
Plant a Garden
Gardening provides fantastic opportunities for your children, your family, and your health. Kids love getting dirty and gardening together is a great way to teach kids how their food gets to their plate and to expand their taste for fruits and veggies. As an added bonus, you will know your veggies are pesticide free and safe for the family when you grow them at home.
Attend Local Free Events
Communities across the country come together to plan festivals, fairs, and special events. Many towns plan weekly movie nights or plays in local parks. Take a look at your local newspaper to find great opportunities to reconnect with your community and to get some free entertainment.