Spring break is finally here for us at CalLu! Many of us are digging into the depths of our almost-empty wallets to scrape together enough funds so that we can actually do activities that involves leaving the confines of our own homes or dorm rooms.
Luckily, there are plenty of things you can do to save money and still make it a fun, memorable spring break without having to declare personal bankruptcy upon return.
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1. Set up a budget
If you set an amount that you can allow yourself to spend each day you are less likely to have unnecessary expenses. All it takes is some self-discipline. Yes, that bottle of extremely overpriced cold-pressed juice is very tempting, but do you really need it?
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2. Make it a road trip!
Instead of flying, take a car or bus to your destination. It might not be the easiest or quickest way to get to where you’re going, but it gives you the opportunity to stop and see things on the way that you would otherwise not see if you were flying, and save money while doing so!
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Staying at a hotel can be unnecessarily expensive. Although it is not as comfortable, couch surfing is the cheapest way of housing you can find while on the road. Though, I’m not saying you should go sleep on Craigslist Kenny’s dusty, old basement couch. You should stay with friends, friends-of-friends or acquaintances that live close to your destination. Just make sure you clean up after yourself, and maybe buy them a case of beer to show your gratitude (which is much cheaper and much more fun!)
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I understand that this is not everyone’s cup of tea, and most people would rather pay more to stay at a hotel than to sleep in a tent. Despite that, if you are looking to save money, this is the perfect way. Besides, camping is something everyone should do at least once in their lives and can be a great bonding experience. Who knows, you might end up loving it!
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5. Cook most of the food yourself
Although eating out is a big part of being on vacation, this can do some serious damage to your cash flow. If you have access to an oven or even just a microwave, you should try to make most of the food yourself. Going to the grocery store is a lot cheaper than eating every meal at a restaurant. However, you need to make sure that you actually eat the food that you buy. If you do decide to go out and eat, make sure to bring home the leftovers!
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Many stores and restaurants offer student discounts, so make sure you have your student ID with you, even if you’re traveling internationally! It might not save you a fortune, but hey, everything helps.
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The biggest money saver is to be a tourist in your own neighborhood. Oftentimes, our local community has more to offer than we think. Now is your chance to cross the things you haven’t done but said you were going to do before you graduate off the list!