Going on a trip can be a lot of fun, but in some ways, it can also be stressful.  One of these stressful areas is your travel budget.  Unless you have a lot of money set aside or are independently wealthy, chances are, you’re not going to be able to throw money around.  Instead, you’ll have to pick and choose what you purchase.  However, there are some ways you can save some money and stay within your travel budget.

Purchasing non-perishables (donuts, bagels, bread, cereal, etc.) from a local supermarket can save you from spending money on breakfast and maybe even lunch.  You can also pick up snacks and drinks so you don’t buy things out of vending machines—they’re always more expensive than stores.  Even if your room doesn’t include a mini-refrigerator, some hotels do feature ice machines so you can cool down your drinks this way.  Always avoid room service if it’s an option because it’s always expensive.  You can usually eat out for less.

Another tip is to make a list of people you wish to buy souvenirs for and set a certain amount for each.  You may want to spend more on your sister, for example, than on a work associate, but if you don’t plan this out, you may end up impulse buying.  This can quickly lead to spending a lot of money and filling up any extra space in your luggage.

Speaking of luggage, some airlines now charge for checked baggage.  To avoid paying too much in fees, try to fit as much of your clothing as possible into one bag.  Also remember that you may be able to put your toiletries and other small items in a carry-on bag.  If you expect to purchase a good amount of stuff on your trip, you may want to fit a smaller bag inside your larger one.  On your way back, you can use the second bag to carry your purchases.  This way, you only pay for one checked bag on the way there instead of two.

Look for multi-admission passes or transportation passes.  Many public transportation systems feature weekly passes, and these usually come out cheaper than paying each time unless you aren’t going to use transportation very often.  Some city tourism departments also offer a multi-admission pass that lets you in to a number of different attractions for one price.  Again, if you’re going to visit three or four of these attractions, buying the pass instead of paying individually may be cheaper.

When you go on a trip, even if it’s for business, you often feel compelled to purchase souvenirs both for yourself and for others.  This is especially true if you’re on holiday or if you’re going to a really nice location or travelling abroad for the first time.  However, you can get too caught up in souvenir shopping and blow both your budget and your luggage space.  Here are some tips for souvenir shopping to make sure it doesn’t get out of hand. First, make a list of people for whom you should buy souvenirs.  Check this list over and make certain everyone on it really does need a memento of your trip of a gift.  If not, consider marking them off the list.  Even though it’s tempting to do birthday or holiday shopping while on your trip, it may simply not be practical. Look for small gifts that are meaningful.  If you know someone who has their whole refrigerator covered in magnets, think about getting them a magnet or two.  These types of gifts are inexpensive and don’t take up too much room in your baggage.  Pencils, pens, and key chains are other small gifts that don’t take up much space. T-shirts are also good gifts that are both practical and can be rolled up fairly small.  However, size becomes an issue here.  If you aren’t certain of which size to buy someone, you may think of getting them something else so they won’t be disappointed and you won’t spend money on something that won’t be worn. If you do see something large that you absolutely must have, ask the store if they can ship it for you or if they can hold it while you inquire about shipping options.  If you’re shipping something, especially if you’re shipping it from abroad, you may find that the shipping fees are exorbitant.   Don’t buy it before you know if you can afford to send it home. Also try to avoid buying fragile items.  If you do, attempt to keep your fragile purchases small enough that you can fit them in your carry-on bag.  Putting fragile items in a checked bag is always a gamble.  No matter what, try to wrap up the item as much as you can.  Use t-shirts or other garments if you don’t have any other type of wrapping. Finally, think about replacing souvenirs with something else.  Postcards can be a great little way of saying “I’m thinking of you” without taking up much space or money.  You don’t have to send them, either—when you get back, purchase a picture frame for them and present the framed postcard as a picture.  This works really well for postcards that have full colour, vibrant images on the front.