When Chris and I decided to move abroad, we didn’t have a ton of money saved up (that’s an understatement, we had less than most would be comfortable with- $10,000 in savings and no jobs). We really had to get creative on ways to live comfortably, enjoy all the things we love while sticking to a tight budget.

Here’s what we have learned so far.

Accommodations:

• Stay at a place with a kitchen (Airbnb, condo, etc)-

  • Having the ability to make food where you are staying is a huge money saver. The nightly rate may (or may not) be slightly more expensive, but what you save on not having to eat out every meal will be worth it.

• House-Sit- Check out this post about House-sitting

  • Chris and I have been house-sitting to save money on lodging. In fact, it’s FREE. We get to have all the amenities of a home (kitchen, washer and dryer, internet) and live rent-free. It is an extremely effective way to save money when traveling.

• Get a hotel/lodging slightly off the beaten path–

  • If you are willing to walk or use public transportation, getting a hotel a few blocks out of the center of town will save you a lot. Do a little research and make sure it’s a safe neighborhood (more often than not, it will be). Businesses in the service industry rely on customer reviews. Bad reviews = no business = no money. Read online reviews and book it.
  • Staying off the beaten path will also lead to adventures you weren’t planning on like meeting locals and eating at restaurants that are hidden gems.
  • Booking.com is a great resource for finding cheap places to stay.

Eating/drinking out:

• Buy Groceries–

  • We aren’t saying to never go out and have a nice meal, but doing it all the time really adds up.
  • Just like at home, it is a lot cheaper to buy food from the store rather than eat out every meal. For example: when we were in Andorra, we bought a week’s worth of groceries/wine/beer for $88.00. We ate out for fun a couple of times but saved $100’s by going to the grocery store.
  • Another perk of going to the grocery is you get to see what the local food is or at least see what the locals buy. Maybe try getting creative and make some fun meals using the local produce and meats.
  • Tip: if you are in Europe and there is a Lidl close by, shop there.  It is really cheap, has a decent selection, and will save you a lot of money.

• Don’t eat on the main tourist strip–

  • Almost always, if you walk a couple of blocks out of the tourist/shopping areas, you will find excellent local restaurants. Food and drinks are usually just as good (or better) for a lot less money. Plus, you don’t have to fight the crowd.
  •  These local restaurants are also some of the best places to ask for advice on what to do in the place you are staying. They have insider knowledge.

• Try the local food and drinks when you go out–

  • If it doesn’t have to be imported in, it will be cheaper. Chris and I love to try new things. One of our favorite things to do when we travel and go out to eat is to drink whatever beer is on tap and try the house wines. A lot of times they are made locally, and they are almost always the cheapest option. Plus, you get a taste of the local culture, literally.

• Share a meal–

  • In the States, when we would go out to eat, we would spend too much money, overeat and end up wasting food if we weren’t headed back home to put leftovers in the refrigerator. Since we have started traveling, we share a meal. If we are still hungry, we order more or hop to another place to try something new. This is ultimately a healthier option and big money saver. If you can’t decide on one thing to share, order a couple of small plates (or appetizers) and then go from there.

• Go to the gas station–

  

  • I know this sounds weird! Think about it though. Most gas stations (especially the ones we have seen in Europe) have nice public bathrooms, sell bottled water for cheap (cheaper than you can buy in the restaurant), and have snacks, beer, and wine for sale.
  • There have been a lot of times where we were walking around, looking for a place to stop and choose a gas station instead of a bar. We maybe would have spent $6.00 at the bar to get a beer, buy water and use the restroom, but at the gas station, it’s $2.00 for the same thing. Then we take our beer to a park or walk around (make sure to know the open container laws where you are traveling).
  • Some gas stations even have bar stools and tables in the gas station. You can have a chat with the gas station attendant while you have a drink and a snack. 🙂

Transportation:

• Walk–

  • Walk, walk, walk, walk, walk…… I can’t stress this enough. It is one of the best ways to see a place. You get a sense of what the town/city is like, you can stop in local places, you can talk to people on the street, and it’s FREE. If you rent a car to get around, you end up wasting a lot of time figuring out where you are going, sitting in traffic, parking and you can forget to look around.
  • Chris and I walked 15 miles through Andorra (very leisurely). It was AWESOME. We saw so much and felt like we really got a sense of place. I know this is extreme, but you can make it your own. My point is, it’s free entertainment and it’s good for you!

• Public Transportation–

  • It’s usually very cheap, you get to look around the whole time (and not stress about driving) and you can chat with people on the bus to get an idea of what there is to do and see locally.
  • This isn’t always the best option if you MUST be somewhere at an exact time, but if you are just wanting to look around, it’s a good way to go.

• Rent a bicycle/electric scooter–

  • These are also very cheap options. You can make it further than walking and see a little more.
  • Make sure you follow the traffic/helmet rules wherever you are staying.
  • This can be a little stressful in a place where you aren’t familiar, especially if there is a lot of car or foot traffic.

Entertainment:

• Talk to the locals–

  • TripAdvisor and travel reviews are extremely helpful, but nothing beats asking the people that live there what they recommend doing. You can tell them your budget and they will tell you what’s worth seeing/spending money on.
  • Tip: bar tenders are some of the best travel guides in a city.  They know the places to go (where locals hang out). So if you are unsure, get a drink at the bar and have a conversation.

• Look for free/cheap stuff to do–

  • Most towns have quite a lot to do for free. Go hiking, go to the museum, go to the park, see a local sporting event, etc. All you need to do is ask around or get online to find some really inexpensive ways to spend your day.
  • Walking around until something looks fun is always free.
  • In Andorra, we saw a free Cirque De Solei show sponsored by the town. It was unexpected and amazing. (Check out our Andorra Travel Guide for more details)

• Sit and people watch–

  • Sitting in a busy place and watching people can be very entertaining. Chris and I spend a lot of time doing this. It gives you a good feel of the city and you can sense the vibe. You can often meet very interesting people doing this too.

We hope this list helps you think of ways to get the most out of your trip without breaking the bank when you are traveling. (Ps. You can try this stuff at home too).

Branch out. You may find that some of your best adventures are completely spontaneous and cost very little, if anything!