22. "I employ Rachel
Ray's daily food expense plan of spending $40 or less a day for
dining. If I spend less, the overage goes into a special pocket
to be used as a bonus for shopping or any other expenses encountered.
I usually stay under $40 by eating snacks or breakfast in my hotel
room. I do sometimes eat at midpriced and above restaurants, but
I watch for specials and talk to the locals for their recommendations
of good food at reasonable prices. Lunch out is cheaper than dinner,
so ask for features of the day or what is popular."
23. "I buy bottled
water (one 16-ounce bottle and several gallons so that I can keep
refilling the small bottle from the gallon bottle, thereby always
having a bottle to put in my purse when I go out). I also buy fruit,
trail mix, cookies, hard candies, sodas, crackers, peanut butter,
lettuce and tomatoes, cheese, bread, canned meats that open easily
and need no heating, paper plates, plastic ware and cups. All of
this usually costs between $35 and $40 (I save more if I have manufacturers'
coupons) but I don't have to spend any more money on food or snacks
during the rest of my trip."
“Most little towns are very proud of their city parks and keep them very nice.'” 24. "Stop by the
chamber of commerce in the town, get a map and find the city parks.
Most little towns are very proud of their city parks and keep
them very nice.
"Go to a deli inside a grocery store. Get what
you like -- maybe two pieces of chicken, or a sausage, some potato
salad, coleslaw, then some fruit salad or type of sweet salad,
and there is lunch or dinner. If you want something sweet, go
to the bakery section and pick out one piece of pie or one piece
of cake and there is dessert.
"Now go to the park, get your towel out of
the car you carry along for a table cloth, your paper towels,
and you have a great meal with beautiful surroundings. Of course,
if you're by the ocean or a river there is always a park nearby."
The more you cut back in one area, the more you have
to spend in another. There are easy ways of trimming expenses so
you can spend on something you can take home with you: souvenirs.
25. Taxis cost a fortune
on vacation, so do rental cars. Instead of taking a taxi to your
hotel, try a bus. You get to sightsee while saving a wad of cash.
Bus maps aren't that hard to find on the Internet before you leave.
Some hotels even do the work for you.
And when buying souvenirs, think utility.
26. Only buy gifts that
have utility, or in other words, multiple uses. My Mom received
a hat from Bermuda. Not only is it a great hat on its own, it turns
inside out into a purse. Two gifts in one. Behave like you're at home
Ultimately, you can save by behaving as you would in your current
town. That is, if you can't afford to dine out every day at home,
then you likely make your own food -- so do that on vacation. If
you can't afford a taxi in your town, then rent a car on vacation
or take the bus. Just as you wouldn't visit a local museum without
knowing the admission price, look everything up first so you can
budget for your excursions. Buy necessities like a local would,
and enjoy yourself like a tourist should.
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