I hosted a foreign exchange student from Budapest, Hungary this past year, and we agreed that my next vacation would be to his hometown. That’s not a cheap trip. Therefore I’ve begun planning the trip, and want to share some ways to save money with others who are preparing for a big vacation.
Creative Ways to Save Money
We’ve all read those stories about people who save coupons or shop at thrift stores to help save money for the things they really want, but I’ll never be that disciplined. Besides. That’s no fun, and that means I’ll forget to do both. I’ll keep it creative and rewarding so that I’m sure to keep up with my money saving plan.
Before I put David on the plane home to Budapest, he told me that he hoped I would find the love of my life and bring that person along to visit next year. True to prophecy. I found that person. Kisses cost money. “I love you,” costs money. I pick a few wonderful everyday occurrences and I charge myself for them. Even if it’s only a quarter, those coins can add up fast when you love somebody.
I’ll have to engage in some of the not-so-fun stuff, too. Things like less wine, fewer restaurants, and limits on the number of domestic trips I’ll take, but it will be well worth it when I arrive at my final destination.
Sight Seeing on a Budget
One thing I learned about David’s family is that they know how to have a good time on a budget. I’ll ask his father to find me good airfare. If you can incorporate the help of foreign friends, you’d be surprised what kind of deals are out there. Ask a foreign friend to do some shopping for you.
Sight seeing will be inexpensive because I’ll have a built in tour guide. David promises me that he’ll have it all planned out when I get there. Once again, rely on the locals and your foreign friends. It will be much more of a total immersion experience as I get to deeply explore the local culture while I save money.
My vacation won’t include many hotel costs since I’ll stay with David and members of his family. The locals in Budapest are also experts at public transportation, and frankly, I think that will be an adventure. I expect my tour guide to easily move me around the city and surrounding countryside of Hungary while showing me some of the most beautiful and significant places in history.