Money for the Rest of Us

This is the eighth post of the series “15 Tips for Cheap Travel.”  You can navigate the rest of the series by going to the 15 Tips for Cheap Travel Index.

I have always loved packing for trips. I get my list started days in advance and check and double check to make sure every item I need has been packed. There are a few items I’ve found that actually save you money when you pack them for your trip: Packing these few additional items for your trip can save a lot of money in the long run.

• Nalgene I never leave home without my Nalgene water bottle. I fill it up once I’m through security (if I’m flying) and use it throughout my trip to carry water in. It’s amazing how much money you can save by just not buying water. If I’m in a place where the tap water isn’t good to drink, I’ll head to the grocery store and buy a few 1-gallon jugs and to fill up my Nalgene. (If you’ve never heard of Nalgenes, they are truly remarkable. They don’t break, crack, or leak. I’ve known people who have driven over them with a car and they still don’t break!)
• Swiss Army Knife Swiss Army knives are indescribably handy. I always find a use for mine while I’m on a trip. Often it’s cutting up meat, cheese, and bread that I’ve purchased at the grocery store for a cheap and easy sandwich. Being able to easily prepare sandwiches save a lot of money. Just remember: don’t pack your Swiss Army Knife in your carry-on.
• Corkscrew/bottle opener If your Swiss Army Knife doesn’t have these, be sure to bring them. Alcohol is much cheaper to purchase from the store than from a restaurant or bar. You can drink in your hotel/hostel room or in a restaurant or park (if it’s allowed).
• ATM card with no fees Call your bank before you go on a trip and tell them you’re going out of town. Find out if they have any branches in the city or country you’re visiting. If they don’t don’t ask what fees (if any) they will charge to withdraw from the local bank. If they will charge you a fee- ask if they will refund it since they don’t have any banks in that location. My experience has been (with Bank of America and Wells Fargo) they can’t stop the charges from happening, but if you call when you get back and explain that you were on vacation and their company didn’t have any free ATMs in the area, the bank will refund the fees.
• Money belt This item will literally save your money (and your passport, etc.) from pickpockets.
• Travel Sized Umbrella No reason to waste $5-$10 on something that you already own. Umbrellas don’t weigh much or take up much room, so toss it in your bag.
• International Student Identity Card- If you’re a student get one of these before you leave the country to pick up huge savings. Also there is a Youth card for persons under 26 years old.
• Cooler and Snacks If you’ll be in a car, bus, or train, pack a cooler full of drinks and snacks and bring it with you to cut down on dining expenses

Bonus: If you want a really cool packing list generator, I love this one.