Staying on a Budget While Traveling
Do you have an upcoming trip planned? Maybe you’re already dreaming of the sunshine you’ll be experiencing in a couple of weeks for spring break. Whatever the case, we have the temptation to overspend any time we're traveling, but we also have the opportunity to plan ahead and prepare! Isn’t it always a relief when you have a plan and stay on a budget?! This year plan ahead for your travels, and don’t let the rest area vending machines, fast-food temptations, or overpriced airport food blow that vacation budget!
There Are Always Options
Plan and stay on budget this year while traveling. Some easy ways to do this would be to pack a cooler full of food and drinks. If you’re driving to your destination, this is much easier. Think of things like water bottles, ham sandwiches, granola bars, popcorn, and fresh-cut fruit. When you can bring a cooler in the car, the food/snack options are almost endless with what you can take. If you’re flying to your destination, it can be a little trickier, but still doable! You can take an empty water bottle to fill up once you’re through airport security for a beverage option. And at the same time, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches are an easy packing option that doesn’t need to be chilled in a cooler. Throw in some granola bars, trail mix, or an apple or banana for a fresh fruit option in your carry-on, and you are good to go! Head into your next vacation with a little bit of planning and a sigh of relief that you won’t be blowing that food budget within your first few hours of traveling!
And to be even more cost-efficient, skip the pre-made Trail Mix pre-packaged bags and make your own. When thinking of a trail mix, so many combinations come to mind. Some basic ingredient ideas to create a sweet and salty combination include any of the following:
Nuts: peanuts, cashews, pecans, almonds, walnuts, pistachios
Dried Fruit: cherries, cranberries, blueberries, strawberries, mangos, banana chips
Seeds: pumpkin, flax, sunflower, chia, hemp seed
Sweet treats: chocolate chips, peanut butter chips, mini marshmallows, M&M’s
Grains: cereal, mini pretzels, popcorn, granola
Here is one of my go-to mixtures that fit the bill to help satisfy all my snacking needs!
Trail Mix Recipe:
Serving Size: 6-8 servings
1 Cup Raw Almonds
½ Cup Dried Cranberries
¼ Cup Raw Sunflower Seeds
½ Cup Dark Chocolate Chunks
¼ Cup Dried Apricots (roughly chopped)
Mix ingredients together in a large bowl. Add a pinch of salt and mix if you prefer a saltier snack. Store in a sealed container (or a sealed plastic bag for on-the-go or multiple people use) and enjoy!
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