this is a tricky one! it's really hard to force yourself to watch your cash, especially when you know that every trip you go on is a once in a lifetime thing. when you're not able to work in the country you're visiting, you have to make sure you bring enough money to cover the basic stuff, transport, tours/siteseeing and a bit extra for emergencies. i'll explain how to save on all of these:
the basic stuff
by this i mean food, accommodation and health insurance.
where to find the cheapest food depends on which country you're going to. the poorer the country, the cheaper the food on the street is, but be very careful! my motto is if it looks and smells good, eat it. if you have a very weak stomach though or certain allergies, than be prepared for the worst and bring meds and pills with you, there is nothing worse than getting really sick in an unfamiliar country. also make sure the water is drinkable (otherwise use bottled water and check the top hasn't been opened yet) and follow whatever your travel guide says, the writers have been there before and will have good advice.
if you're staying in hostels than it's usually cheaper to cook your own food. when grocery shopping, look for special deals and home brands, use coupons and vouchers and buy in bulk if you have a place to store or freeze your food. also cook for more people and share the costs, it's a good way to make friends and save on groceries. make sure you don't buy too much food if you stay in hostels for only one or two nights, just plan ahead.
accommodation is pretty easy to save money on. there are some hostels who have cheaper deals if you stay for three or more nights and if you're on a working holiday you can clean for free accommodation, just ask reception if they need anyone and hope they have a spot for you! also think about getting a hostel card if you're traveling for a while, you not only get discounts on accommodation but also on travel deals. there are so many different cards available, so try to find one which will match your trip and give you the most benefits.
Hostelling International (HI) is a very global one and covers more than 4000 hostel worldwide.
the perfect way to get to know a country and save on accommodation is to couchsurf everywhere you go and stay with locals who can show you around. make sure you read all the rules and stuff first.
i find health insurance incredibly overrated, but then again i'm one of those people who never gets sick (knock on wood). calculate how much your health insurance will be, what it covers and if that matches your trip. if for example you plan on a lot of adventurous outdoorsy stuff than it's probably a good thing to get something that covers a lot. if you take expensive meds or are otherwise dependent on your health insurance at home than check the costs of everything you need and make sure you can get refunds with the type of travel insurence you have. *sigh* it's always such a hassle!! world nomads is known to be a very good one or you can check out sta travel. whatever you choose to do, make sure it's something that makes you feel safe and happy, so your trip will be stress free :)
the fun stuff
parties, alcohol, tours, souvenirs, restaurants...you get the idea.
if you're staying at a hostel ask about special discount evenings (usually during the week) happy hours, deals the hostel might have with certain bars/clubs/pubs and get used to drinking cheap beer and spirits haha. drink 'at home' instead of paying dubble or more in a bar and play drinking games!! also try to get other people to buy you drinks by doing dares and stuff like that gheghe.
you can get discounts on tours if you arrange them during certain periods, so keep an eye on that. also members of hostels get discounts and sometimes people who bought a tour change their minds and sell their ticket. check noticeboards in hostels and online for that.
souvenirs ah how i hate them haha. my photos are my souvenirs. well basically all i can say is take whatever your luggage and country allows you too and pay reasonable prices, but don't be too cheap. some people need your money harder than you do.
like i've mentioned before it's obviously cheaper to just cook your own food, but if you want to eat out every once in a while than hit the streets or foodcourts for the cheapest grub. again look for discounts/vouchers/coupons/deals etc.
