How to Stop Over-Spending When You Go On Holiday
We've all tried to plan a budget-friendly trip only to spend way more than we anticipated. Whether it's a spontaneous excursion or one too many souvenirs, there are multiple reasons as to why someone would overspend, unknowingly, while holidaying. But what if I told you that it can be avoided with just a few simple tips? Let me tell you how to stop overspending when you go on holiday.
Set a realistic budget & stick to it
Sounds easier said than done, but what does "realistic" mean to you? It's a different amount for everyone. Set some money aside that is sufficient enough for what you want to do and what you want to buy. Make a plan and do some research. What do you want to do and buy while you're there?
How much is that going to cost, realistically? Break everything down into days if you want to keep track more easily. Use budgeting apps like TravelSpend or Trail Wallet to log expenses in real time. It's far easier to do than you might have otherwise thought.
Be smart, not cheap
Restaurants and tourist activities and everything in between are notorious for having inflated prices. But if you go just a few streets away or go at a cheaper time of year, you'll soon notice the difference in your wallet. Again, it all comes to the research you do before you go.
Something else you could do to be smarter and not cheaper is to have your main meal for lunch, as the lunch menu is often cheaper and you get the same amount of nosh. Visit markets or small cafes for breakfast and carry a reusable water bottle so that you can fill it up as and when needed without buying bottled beverages, which can be costly throughout the day.
You should also look to book things in advance and make sure you're buying from the right people. If you buy fake tickets, then you could end up spending way more than you wanted to in the first place.
Not only have you wasted money on a fake ticket, but you now also need to pay for a legitimate one. Be smart, do your research and watch out f scams to protect your pocket even further.
Make yourself aware of the hidden costs
Holidays are full of hidden costs. Whether it be resort fees, tourist tax, foreign transaction fees, roaming charges and more, it all adds up and it can remain unnoticed until you get back from your trip. When you've been away for a couple of weeks, these things can be incredibly expensive.
Do your research with regards to those things and make sure you're looking specifically at the location you're travelling to. You should also delve deeper into the hotels you're staying at, because they often come with hidden resort or tourist tax fees that you never know about. If in doubt, get in touch with them and ask the question before committing.
Practice mindful spending
What I mean by this is, when looking to buy something during your trip, think to yourself "will I still value this when I get home?", if the answer is "yes", then go ahead and make your purchase. If it's "no", then don't bother buying it.
Something else I always ask myself is "would I regret buying this if I left to go home tomorrow?", again, if the answer is "yes", then I'll buy it. If not, then I won't bother. It can be easy to get swept up in the moment and the place, but in reality, how useful and valued is it really going to be in the long run?
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I hope you enjoyed this blog post and found it useful? Let me know in the comments below whether you have any tips for not overspending when holiday and I'll see you all again very soon with some brand new content!
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