Good NestingIt’s no surprise that travel has exploded this summer. Since almost everyone around the globe has been cooped up over the past year due to COVID-19, the desire to hit the road is at an all-time high.
While you’re probably tired of being stuck at home, something may be holding you back from taking a much-needed road trip with your loved ones: A lack of money. We’re about to show you how you don’t need a ton of cash to travel, as these tips can help you save on several essentials.
Download GasBuddy to Your Phone
One big reason why so many may be hesitant to hit the road is the cost of gas. The numbers show that our current gas prices have hit highs not seen since 2014, and there are no signs of a slowdown either.
Could you downgrade your car to something smaller with less of an engine? Perhaps, but even used car prices have gone through the roof too, which is why saving some cents on each gallon is your best bet. How? By downloading the GasBuddy app.
As its name suggests, this app will be your best buddy when it comes to fuel. Not only can you use it to pinpoint the cheapest gas stations in the area, thanks to frequent price updates, but you can also use the GasBuddy card for significant savings.
The GasBuddy card links to a debit card. You use it when you need gas, which can save you up to 25 cents per gallon. Those savings then get kicked back to your card.
Here’s a bonus hack: If you have a loyalty card from a gas station like Circle K or Shell, use that in conjunction with GasBuddy to stack your savings.
Find Food Deals on the Go
Speaking of fuel, your family will need some food along the way to keep from getting “hangry.” And since you probably won’t be cooking up a meal in your car, local restaurants will likely be your best option for fueling up.
As you probably know, eating out can get costly, especially if you have a family. To find the best deals no matter where you are, use these two sites:
- LocalSaver.com
- RetailMeNot.com
Don’t Pay Tolls
The title of this section isn’t suggesting you drive through toll booths without paying, as that will just get you fined. Instead, you can avoid costly tolls altogether by planning your trip wisely.
For the manual approach, go to TollGuru.com to see which route is toll-free. You can also use your GPS or an app like Waze or Google Maps on your phone to adjust the settings so tolls won’t be an issue.
Find No-Cost Fun
Can you plan a trip without paying for entertainment? It may seem like a stretch, but it is possible if you look around. Here are three sites that can help you find free entertainment wherever you’re headed:
- Groupon.com
- Eventbrite.com
- Facebook.com/events
On each site, adjust the location to see what’s going on in the city of your choice.
