Are you running low on funds again with a planned trip looming ahead? For just such occasions, we're here to remind you of a few pro tips from seasoned globetrotters that can help you shoulder the costs of travel while also reducing its negative impact on the environment.
Instead of splurging on that beach hat or a dress meant exclusively for a stroll down the boardwalk, why not flash a smile at your pals and borrow what you need? Especially when it comes to accessories rarely worn in our neck of the woods, like sarongs or lacy beach cover-ups. If borrowing isn't an option, consider buying pre-loved items online, through social media groups, or from circular boutiques. This way, you'll save some cash before even stepping out the door, and you won't have to call the neighbors for help shoving your suitcase.
What can you do?
The element of positive impact:
.png)
For some, it's trivial, for others, it's a life hack like a cheat code for money in an old version of The Sims. This action doesn't cut down on expenses, but it will help organize them in a way that fulfills your main travel plans.
Here's how to start: gather basic information about the place you're going to and choose your absolute TOP 3 products or experiences, without which you've decided not to return home. Determine both your budget for pleasures (at least approximately) and the cost of these individual attractions. Digitalization of tourist services and posting price offers online will easily allow you to get oriented. We recommend using both travel blogs and cost of living comparison websites, such as this one or that one. Planning the non-negotiable amount will secure your private MUST DOs and allow for more economically conscious choices, for example, when it comes to a fancy meal or an epic experience.
What can you do?
Example: you're going to Japan. Pleasure budget: 2000 PLN/person. Your TOP 3:
This way, you know that the absolute minimum to freeze is around 1400 PLN, and you still have 600 PLN left from the budget allocated for entertainment. This will prevent you from accidentally spending money on some gadget or eating out, and maybe even have enough left for extra entertainment. In addition, preliminary research on the costs of individual attractions will help you avoid overpaying at typically touristy spots.
The element of positive impact:
.png)
Skip going only to eateries recommended by some Instagram food oracle. Instead, look for places where locals also dine. You can ask the ticket vendor or the lady at the store, or you can even find one yourself by wandering off the main tourist artery for a moment.
Don't worry: eating at a seemingly inconspicuous place doesn't necessarily mean a culinary experience from the "chewing on a carpet" series. On the contrary - you might even discover your umami there.
The same goes for accommodation. Choosing small, local agro or apartments run by locals not only strengthens their economy but can also be a serious saving for you because such lesser-known places usually have much more affordable prices.
What can you do?
The element of positive impact:
.png)
You may not believe us, but tap water in many places is not only suitable for drinking but sometimes tastes better than water from a plastic bottle. And even if some of you look skeptically at environmental protection, perhaps the economic aspect of this proposition will interest you.
It's well known that bottled water compared to filtered water can significantly drain your savings (see the "bottled water vs. filtered water" tab). While you may not be buying everyone the best champagne in the pub with the savings from this during a week-long trip, "every penny counts," and you might add the amount saved to some other pleasure. The same goes for carrying a handy food container with you. You can pack, for example, leftover pizza, which can be a later snack (a few zlotys in your pocket, and the food doesn't end up in the trash).
What can you do?
The element of positive impact:
.png)
Here we have a double suggestion. Firstly, relax right from the start and consider using public transport, such as trains, for your journey. Perhaps you'll finally catch up on those board games you promised your kids ages ago or treat yourself to a few hours with a long-awaited book. No need to nervously check the navigation or worry if someone is trying to sneak into your lane.
Secondly, consider the same at your destination. Low-emission mixed-mode transportation, including public transport as well as cycling, scootering, or walking, can be a great idea. Besides saving some money, taking a suburban bus, for example, might provide you with plenty of topics for holiday anecdotes. Even if renting a car initially seems cost-effective, after adding up the costs of fuel, parking tickets, and time spent sitting down and enclosed (or stuck in traffic), it might turn out to be not only an additional expense but exactly what you wanted to escape during your vacation.
What can you do?
It's worth playing the promotion hunter and checking the current offers from local carriers.
The element of positive impact:
A street illusionist, a fire swallower, the swallower of fire swallowers... If this year's budget doesn't allow you to take advantage of the cultural offerings that interest you in the "traditional format," consider so-called street performances. The times of the sad man half-heartedly plucking guitar strings fortunately belong to the past, as in many cities, street art includes fantastic shows of various talents (for example, in Berlin, it's a well-organized group). Supporting artists usually costs less than admission to many attractions, and many of them display the name of their social media account on a sign, so you can also give them better exposure by spreading their work among friends.
What can you do?
The element of positive impact:
.png)
If you're cutting expenses, you don't have to look for the booth with the cheapest magnets in town. Have you heard of thrifting? It's been a trendy term for a while now, referring to something that's been around for years - searching for gems in used items (although thrifting itself refers to buying from so-called charity shops - stores where part of the proceeds go to charity).
Don't let the memory of old Polish thrift stores mislead you, where the organization strategy resembled something like a landfill, and the goods themselves didn’t visually differ much from what we see in dumpsters. Fortunately, that's mostly a thing of the past. Classic thrift stores are often pleasantly organized and offer wonders like an inlaid wooden table, which requires minor renovation but greatly pleases our sense of aesthetics.
What can you do?
The element of positive impact:
.png)
If you value emotionally charged experiences during your travels and would like to earn some bonus karma points, consider a tourist trip combined with volunteering. If you're not afraid of getting your hands dirty and sweating a bit on vacation, besides supporting a valuable cause, you can not only cut the costs of your stay (working for room and board) but also have the opportunity for a less rushed and more intimate exploration of the visited place and the everyday life of locals - without the "makeup" and Instagram filters.
The topic of volunteering is complex and sometimes controversial, for example, in defining the boundary between voluntourism - sometimes bordering on entertainment - and so-called vocational volunteering. We won't delve into the university debate about the moral superiority of one option over the other, but we suggest that when considering volunteering opportunities, pay attention to the effectiveness of the assistance provided (whether the potential group of beneficiaries of volunteering, such as residents of a particular village, will actually benefit from the assistance provided and in what specific way).
What can you do?
The element of positive impact:
.png)
Although following the above guidelines may largely result from limited economic possibilities (because, as we know, if the budget is tight, we naturally choose, for example, to take the tram instead of a taxi), we have tried to show you a perspective that may encourage you to make choices more friendly to the environment in the future. By providing specific examples, we hope it will be easier for you to find a common denominator for economics and ecology in vacation planning.
To conclude this article, we would like to embody it in a recently heard slogan: experience instead of purchase. The argument for it? Experiences, especially those shared with others, bring more long-lasting satisfaction, and often drain less from both our bank balance and the resources of our planet.
