You don’t have to sell everything you own, quit your job and give up your home like I did. Granted, in my case, this did make it easier for me as I didn’t want a time frame or responsibilities for a while. Unfortunately, I don’t have unlimited funds. I am your average middle class girl, I don’t live paycheck to paycheck (anymore) but I am not thriving. There must be a budget set for everything I do, including traveling. As I mentioned before about budgeting in Vegas, here are a few budget tips I learned while traveling across the country.

Credit Cards

Although that sounds scary, putting everything on credit cards actually made me money. I have been putting all of my bills previously on my credit card for years, racking up HUNDREDS of dollars. I pay of my cards every month, so these hundreds of dollars are FREE MONEY for traveling. Plus, you build your credit score. It’s a win win! You can also use these rewards to purchase gift cards as part of your perks. These gift cards don’t have to be gifted, you can use them on sites like AIRBB, Walmart, etc. for 5%-10% off per gift card. This mixed with your cash back, you can literally get 5% – 20% off your travel booking or supplies!

I learned quite a bit of my travel hacking by reading a blog by Kara and Nate, whom I mentioned before. You can check out their credit card recommendations here and learn more about “travel hacking”.

Plus, you can sign up for extra rewards. I just so happened to get a 5% bonus during my first cross country trip towards fuel, when fuel prices were at an all time high in May of 2022. Which leads to my next recommendation.

Fuel Rewards Cards

I signed up for every rewards card possible while on the road. This gave me .03 – .40 off per gallon of fuel. This mixed with my credit card cash back added up! Having a smart phone is a huge life saver on the road for many reasons, especially signing up for last minute reward offers when you pull into a gas station you are not a member of yet.

Check out Gas Buddy to search for the cheapest fuel stations near you.

If You Have to Book a Hotel, Book Directly

Hotels are always cheaper when you sign up for their program and book directly! Plus, if you stay multiple nights you can rack up points with them and get free nights. AIRBB was always my go to and I still enjoy using their services, but they offer no rewards. I saved a few hundred dollars so far this year on hotels by racking up hotel points and using my credit card for cash back points when booking.

I avoided hotels/AIRBBs at all costs on holidays and weekends. This is where having a camping set up comes in handy as lodging options during busy times is more expensive.

Finding Free Places to Camp

Public lands, rest stops, parking lots (with permission) but if you are like me and you don’t really have a set destination or plan, these are some apps I have used to find some epic spots.

• iOverlander has been my go-to , plus its free!
• FreeRoam is another free app. I have used it a few times but had some issues loading on my phone so I never used it as much as iOverlander.
• TheDyrt is my go-to paid app. This has disbursed camping and campground locations. You can find free camping and paid camping here along with photos and site reviews. The yearly cost is $35.99 per year after your free trial.
• There are also many maps you can purchase to find trails and public lands. Gaia GPS and OnX Off Road are great resources you can try for free and see if you like before purchasing a subscription.

Pack your Food

Camping out of my midsized SUV can be tricky for storing food. I keep my minimal plates, pots, pans, etc to a bare minimum. Cooking is much cheaper than eating out. Plus, when you are out in the middle of the forest it is much easier than finding a town with a restaurant. Much like fuel cards, sign up for grocery store perks and stock up for a few days. Depending on cooler size, you may want to stock up on nonperishable things.

If you decide to get a hotel, try finding ones with free breakfast and chow down. Hey, you paid for it. Eat as much as you can before hitting the road again.

Enjoying Free Things to Do

Parks, picnics, farmers markets, concerts at the park, hikes, I could go on! If you want a relaxing trip, it is very easy to keep things free if you just want to watch the sun set or watch waves crash for hours. If you seek social adventure, check out the local town website or ask people directly. I found that restaurant workers, bartenders and gas station clerks always have great advice of what’s happening around town. You can always google “free things to do near me” or insert town name if you have your location off. Wink Wink.

Proper Vehicle Maintenance

Not only is this a good idea if you plan to drive long distances and make it to point A to point B but these few things will also increase MPG. Better MPG = Less $ spent at the pump

• Propper tire pressure and tire alignment
• Clean air filter
• Make sure spark plugs are replaced when manufacture recommends

Combining proper maintenance, going the speed limit, setting cruise control and keeping the weight down your car and wallet will thank you.