9 ways to save money on the road.
Hello Internet World! Dylan here with a few tips on how to save money when traveling.
1. Don’t Eat Out All The Time: This is probably the easiest way to save money on the road. You think you’d be able to fight the temptation, but it isn’t so easy when you’ve got a limited chance to eat somewhere in a city you’ve never been. I know it’s always tempting for me to not eat at The Chicago Diner (Meat free since 83’) when I’m in Chitown. But, I avoided it this time! And probably saved myself about 30 bucks.
2. Make Your Own Food: Number two directly helps number one. Stop buy a grocery store and pick up some necessities. By making your own little nomad meals, you can easily save five bucks a meal by not eating out. Think peanut butter and jelly, granola, cracker sandwiches, apples, and chips. It might get old, but it’s better than paying for all those meals!
3. Forage: This one is actually pretty fun. There are some collective orchards that let you grab apples for free as long as you shake them off the tree and don’t pick them. Same with oranges, berries, and grapes. Do the research, get free fruit! We still have apples from Iowa.
4. Keep Leftovers: A lot of screenings will offer food. The staples for free screening food are pizza, fruit plates, cheese plates, vegetable plates, chips and salsa. Usually the organizer might throw these things away. If you think they might get rid of the food wastefully, extend an offer to take the food on the road and feed some hungry nomads.
5. Dumpster Dive: This is not for the faint of heart…..or easily grossed out. Dumpster diving can be hard work. But, when you return to the van with a box full of free food, you’ll know it’s all worth it.
6. Free Hotel Toiletries: So this is a little something I picked up on this tour. We have been staying at quite a few hotels, and because of it I haven’t really had to buy any shampoo, lotion, body wash or conditioner. I just grab the ones they have in the bathroom. Also, the maids or front desk will hook you up with some too. Most of the time these are promotional products for hygiene companies. Meaning: free advertisement for the companies, no charge for the hotels. So don’t feel bad picking up some free cleaning products.
7. Reuseable Water Bottles: The body thrives on water. No need to keep buying energy drinks, pop, or even plastic water bottles. A reuseable waterbottle can cost as little as eight bucks and be used hundreds of times. We actually got some free promotional water bottles from Columbia College’s Multicultural Affairs office. Free swag=hydrated nomads.
8. Pulling The “Non-Profit Card”: Don’t get greedy, but this one works. It especially helps on those days when your money is running low. Basically you tell a restaurant what you’re up to with LiNK and ask them if they’d be willing to help a sista or brotha out with some free food. I’ve heard/seen this work at Chipotle, Moe’s, and Five Guys. I heard that KFC has to give free food to anyone who asks. So, try it out. You’re only on the road once (or twice, or seven times). Give it a chance!
9. Eat Local: street food, co-ops, and farmer’s markets: If you are able to get local foods, they are usually cheaper. The food doesn’t have to travel very far so transportation costs are cut tremendously and voila! Delicious and cheap goods. Farmer’s markets are especially nice because you can meet the people who are providing you with food. I’ve also been able to eat entire meals in free samples at these things. Farmer’s Markets rock for the “non-profit card”, I’ve been able to get TONS of free food at different farmers market. See if farmers have anything that will go bad and offer to volunteer and help clean up. We rub their backs, they rub ours!
Happy Traveling!
