Before you travel
Most of the work of managing your personal finances ahead of a trip happens right then – ahead of your trip. To quote Benjamin Franklin, “If you fail to plan, you plan to fail,” so take note of these tips we have for you before you book your holidays.
The first piece of advice we have for you is to get a VPN. A Virtual Private Network is a tool that protects your online privacy and internet connection by establishing a digital connection between your computer and a remote server owned by the VPN provider. So, by using a service such as ExpressVPN on your travels, your digital traffic will be protected, so you check your credit cards online or make any necessary payments without being spied on by third parties.
Not to mention that, by changing the server location to the UK when abroad, you can access the sites you usually would at home without any lags or data caps.
Secondly, we highly advise you to set a budget for your trip. This will allow you to plan how much money you want to and can use during your time away and will stop you from overspending without even noticing it. You can start by choosing an affordable place to travel to. According to The Times, Andorra, Turkey, and Marrakesh are some reasonable options cost-wise.
The third hot tip is to remember to check for any special offers before making any final decisions so you can save as much as you can. A lot of accommodation websites, such as Airbnb, let you book a stay with free cancellation, so while it is always better to book in advance, you’d be surprised to see how many last-minute deals you can score a day or two before your fly-out date.
During Your Stay
During your time away, if staying within budget is your goal, you’ll need to remain adaptable and willing to opt for cheaper alternatives in terms of food, transportation, or accommodation.
Saving money might mean booking an apartment instead of a hotel so that you can cook some of your meals at home or taking night trains instead of internal flights for cross-country trips. If it’s a beach holiday you’re going on, check out these tips from The Guardian on saving money when booking a summer vacation.
We also suggest that you always use credit cards for purchases in countries with different currencies. This is to facilitate international payments and avoid currency conversion taxes. And there’s another plus, too – it’s quite common for credit cards to offer cashback and discounts on varied services and stores, so you may even end up winning money from some of your expenses!
If you follow these tips, you’ll be sure to make the best out of your trip without straining your finances. Planning and budgeting might not be too exciting, but it will save you a lot of hassle and stress further down the line.
August 2023