Well I just got back from a road trip and thought I would share with you some ways I cut corners to save money. As we all know traveling is expensive and if you’re anything like me, if I can save a dollar I’m happy. With gas prices on the rise again some people are unable to take the vacations they are used to taking, but you can still get out there spending little amounts of money and have fun if you just take a few simple steps.
Get on the internet and look up the place or places you are going to. Look at what they have available for the dates you will be there, shows in the park, cultural centers, museums, nature walks. Keep a list of the things you would like to do and the cost, some will be free, others will have a minimal charge.
Buy film in bulk if you use a 35 mm like I do. I buy my rolls 4 at a time at around $11 as opposed to $24 for 4 separate rolls. 200 speed is the most flexible for indoor and outdoor and it’s less grainy when you blow it up.
Fill your gas completely full and check to see who in town is offering the lowest price. This can be done on the net and you’d be amazed at the difference from one end of town to the other, sometimes as much as 10 cents, which is a lot if you’re filling up.
Check the air in your tires, oil, water, windshield washer fluid, tranny fluid. If you do this before you leave you will find if you need fluids they tend to be cheaper in town at say Schuck’s as compared to on the road.
Take a cooler loaded with sandwich meat and fixings and set up a box with bread, breakfast muffins or rolls, bananas, chips, plastic ware, paper plates, garbage bags and little munchies like that. You’ll amaze yourself about how much you can save on food if you plan meals ahead and make hem easy to fix but tasty and filling.
Set up a myspace account where you can share all the photos with family and friends via the net, it’s cheaper than developing those favorite photos and mailing them out.
Just a few simple things and you should find your money stretches farther and you will have a great time knowing that you may get home with more than you expected!
