Things to Pack to Keep Your Vacation Thrifty

Carrying a reusable water bottle is one of the smartest things you can do when you go on vacation. Since you’ll probably spend a lot of time outdoors, it’s important to drink enough water to stay hydrated. A bottle of water, however, costs at least $1. Vendors at popular tourist destinations will try to gouge you by charging even more.

When you have a water bottle, you can refill it when you find a water fountain. Considering that a really good reusable bottle only costs about $10, you’ll make your money back well before you come home.

A lot of people think of their smartphones as expensive necessities. Those people don’t realize how much money they can save by using the right apps.

Some apps that you should download before leaving home include:

• GasBuddy to find the cheapest gasoline prices near you
• Yelp so you can find affordable restaurants on the road
• Hotel Tonight so you can get last-minute deals on hotel rooms
• Google Maps so you will have driving directions that help you conserve gas and time

You already spend money on your smartphone every month, so you might as well use it to lower your travel expenses.

Packing diverse snacks that you bought at the grocery will help you avoid high prices at convenience stores and gas stations. Make sure you pack plenty of healthy, filling options that will hold everyone over between meals. Some good items to pack for spring trips include dried fruit, nuts, veggies and popcorn.

You’ll still have to pay for meals at restaurants, but packing snacks will save you several dollars per day.

The sunscreen at your local drugstore is much cheaper than sunscreen you can buy at the beach or theme park. Vendors know that a lot of people will forget this necessity, so they charge high prices for the “convenience” of getting them at a popular tourist spot.

Don’t fall victim to this type of inflation. Remember to pack your own sunscreen, insect repellent and other small necessities you may need during your spring trip.

Saving money on vacation is all about planning ahead. Pack these four items to lower your expenses on the road.