Pandemic Money-Saving Tips

With stay-at-home orders (either official or self-imposed)right now, a lot of us are bored and dreaming of travel. I'm looking on the bright side, because it's the only way to get through sometimes. By staying home and not buying unnecessary things, except for the occasional treat, I'm paying down my bills and will be actively saving more for my trips soon. What does that mean? 

It means I'll be going on more trips when it's safe to do so. It also means I can go on bigger trips instead, if I want to, or splurge a little more when I do travel. People are taking this time to plan their dream trips, and I don't blame them. We'll be planning those as well, and hopefully find ourselves learning about destinations we want to move up on our travel list as we do our travel-at-home date nights.

So, aside from saving by not traveling right now, even spending a little extra on our date nights, here are some other ways I'm saving money for upcoming trips:

Using a fantastic saving app

I've been using Qapital for several years now and it's really changing the way I spend and save. You set up a goal, or multiple goals, and then set up rules in order to save for them. I save just by doing things I normally do. Right now I've just got the one rule set up (but move over money when I have extra): the $2 round-up rule, so any time I use one of the cards on file, they round up to the nearest $2. That means if I spend $4.50, $1.50 will go into my Qapital account, to make up $6, which is the next denomination of $2 after $4.50.  

You can change your rules at any time (and there are a lot of them to choose from), the app is no longer free, but the basic account is just $3 per month. On average, Qapital says that basic users save $1500 per year. You can do the math on that and tell that the benefits far outweigh the $36 you'd pay per year. It's easy to use and super secure, you can take your savings out whenever you want/need, so you can use it at will, and if your balance on your debit card dips below $100, your savings are paused in order to avoid overdraft. You can use it on both Android and iOS. Start saving now! (and you'll get $5 free for using my link!)

Photo by Glenn Carstens-Peters on Unsplash

Make a list and stick to it

When I go grocery shopping, I make a list. I try to plan my meals around the same ingredients with some variety. Chicken, noodles, potatoes, carrots, beef and beans are all great staples, because you can make a ton of things with them. Buy enough to make twice as much as you plan to eat and freeze so you have dinners for future nights and can save money in the coming weeks, or have easy food to make when you return from vacation. 

Don't forget coupons and store rewards programs. Use those apps and coupons to guide your shopping for the week or month to save even more. Tally up how much you saved and put that money in your vacation fund! A couple good ones: Ibotta | Fetch Rewards | RetailMeNot

Photo by Steve Johnson on Unsplash

Keep the change

If you're like everyone, you have a ton of change just sitting in your car or the bottom of your purse. Make a jar or container at home to throw all that change in at the end of each day. You wouldn't know it, but all those cents can add up over the months and you might find you have a spare $100 or so that you can use as spending money!

Fill your free time

Do you find yourself sitting in front of the TV for an hour or two? Earn points through Swagbucks. You can use these points to earn money and gift cards. It's easy to accrue a lot of points in an hour or so and you can trade them in for travel cards, Amazon gift codes and even Paypal cash. Download the app on your phone to earn even more. It's super easy and totally mindless. 

Get cash back

You're going to buy stuff. You just are. Ebates lets you save money on your online purchases by offering you a set amount of cash back on participating retailers, including a lot of travel sites. If you're going to spend money, you might as well save as much as possible. Ebates sends you cash back payments four times a year, either by check or deposited to your Paypal account. It's super easy, and those payments can be used as spending money on your trips. Want to know more about how it works? I wrote a whole post on it!

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Even though sitting in a coffee shop isn't in the cards right now, ordering via app and picking up at the counter is still a bit of normal, especially on a nice day ☀️ . . . #butfirstcoffee #ilovetravel #tourist #tourism #tblogger #tbloggers #travelblog #travel #travelblogger #travelgirl #travelgram #instatravel #traveler #traveller #budgettravel #budgettraveler #ftblogger #ftb #portlandcoffee #portlandcoffeeshops #instacoffee

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Make coffee and food at home

I know, I know. We're all sick of cooking and seeing the inside of our houses. I found that when I don't go out to eat, it's just not as exciting, so we've cut back on outside food to once a week getting delivery through Uber Eats (get 25% off your first 2 orders at checkout when you use my code: eats-shereenr208ue). I also invested in the Eats Pass, so we get free delivery. It pays for itself in just 2 deliveries and often there are great promo codes. I usually add the amount I save to the tip, to help out a fellow human trying to get by.

I've also started using the Joe App for my coffee runs, which are not frequent, but I like to support small businesses. Joe App allows you to order ahead in-app and then choose how to pick your order up: curbside or counter. Each order you place earns you beans, which can then be exchanged for money off your order. There are often promo codes as well. You can even tip in the app. (Use my link above and get $5 off.)

How are you saving money during this time? And where are you saving up to go to next?

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links, which help me keep the blog running.

Getting Money Together for Your Next Getaway

Travel may be on hold for a little while with the coronavirus pandemic. But that doesn’t mean that you can’t start planning for your next trip when restrictions are lifted and we’re all able to go on holiday again. If anything, this is a good time to get organised and start saving so that you’re able to take the trip of a lifetime when things are back on track! Whether you fancy a city break, a week in Europe, a couple of weeks in the Caribbean or anything else, you’re going to have to be financially savvy and get your money in order! Here are a few steps you can take to achieve this!

Photo Credit

Clear Your Debts

These have been hard times for many of us financially. People have lost jobs. People are working part time instead of full time. People are operating on reduced incomes and limited budgets. It’s not all too surprising that many of us have managed to slip into a little debt due to borrowing to get by. Before planning any getaway, it’s important to make sure that you are free of debt. After all, travel is luxury rather than a necessity and you don’t want to spend beyond your means. There are a number of steps you can take to clear your debts. First, make sure to set yourself a budget. Know how much disposable income you have and don’t exceed this amount. Next, try to put as much of your disposable income as possible towards clearing your debts. Sure, it may mean getting by one the bare basics for a while, but it will help you to reach your goal sooner. If you’re still struggling, consider debt relief options. You’ll be back in the black before you know it!

Plan

It’s a good idea to know how much you’re going to have to save for the trip you want. Start browsing travel sites to determine how much flights would be, how much accommodation would be and how much spending money for extras (souvenirs, drinks, snacks, etc) you’d be looking at taking away with you. This then gives you a target to aim for.

Save

Once you’re out of debt, you can start focusing on saving towards your trip. Take similar steps as above, but instead of contributing a significant portion of your disposable income to debt, you can now put it in a savings pot towards your trip. You can take all sorts of other steps to start getting extra funds in the pot too. Sell unwanted or unused belongings. Take on overtime. Consider freelance work around your usual job role. These will all help your money to mount up!

These three steps will really help you to get to where you want to be - wherever that may be in the world. It’s been a hard year for everyone and most of us deserve a well needed break for some relaxation and recuperation or a little excitement after being cooped up in our homes for months. Money management will be key to actually getting away, so hopefully, some of the above advice will help!

My Athens Wish List

In my last post, I started my new travel-at-home series with Greece. We virtually went to Athens and we had a great time getting away from the real world for a few hours. I'll be continuing the series ever couple of weeks or so throughout this pandemic (and possibly longer, because it's a lot of fun, honestly, and a great way to get in the feeling of travel for a lot less money while you save up for that next big trip). 

Photo by Darryl Low on Unsplash

Today I want to show you my Athens wish list, for when we get to travel again and I finally make it to Greece. It's high on my travel list and now's the perfect time to do some planning of trips, even if they are years away.

The Acropolis

Though the ruins are pictured on my backdrop, nothing can really compare to the real thing. I love soaking up the history of a destination. Not only is this a great way to do that, but it's also a wonderful place to take in the city view on one side and the sea on the other. And the views of it lit up at night are breathtaking, even in pictures.

Photo by Aleksandra Zelena on Unsplash

The Acropolis Museum

After exploring the ruins, the museum is next on my list to see the amazing architecture of this semi-new building, check out artifacts found at the site of the Acropolis, and learn even more about the structure and what it was used for. There's also Greek artwork here that I can't wait to admire.

Lunch or dinner on the rooftop of Athenswas Hotel at Sense

With the Acropolis as a backdrop, is there a prettier view for dining outside? This French-inspired Greek restaurant is a splurge for a budget traveler, but you know I'm all about eating local foods when I travel, and lamb and red mullet from Greece, both sound delectable to me.

Looking for must-eat food in Greece? Keep an eye out for these Greek specialties and these 6 must-try foods that might be a little more palatable for those who aren't as adventurous (my husband's Greek family makes all 6 of those at gatherings).

Varvakeios Agora

You can learn a lot about a place by visiting their grocery stores and markets. It's usually one of the first places I go when I land in a new place. This market is like two in one, because on one side it's open-air and sells fresh fruits and veggies, and on the other is a covered meat and fish market. Can you imagine what a fantastic meal you could put together here?

By Moonik - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0

Benaki Museum of Islamic Art

I'll be honest. I don't know that much about the Islamic culture, but this collection of over 8,000 pieces of art, considered among the most important in the world, seems like a good place to start. It is part of the Benaki Museum Collection which also has a branch of Greek Culture, so this is definitely a group of museums to check out.

By Joanbanjo - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0

Hadrian's Arch

This arch, built in AD 131, was the gateway from old Athens to new, Roman section. It's one of the most important surviving monuments and an iconic landmark. Even better, you can visit for free.

By DerHexer - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0

Kerameikos Cemetery

By now, you probably know that I am fascinated by cemeteries. I love seeing how people honor their dead and how different cemeteries are around the world. This is an archaeological gem in the middle of downtown Athens that doesn't seem to get nearly enough foot traffic. The original cemetery was covered by new ones and finally uncovered in the 1860s. Quite a lot of pottery and artifacts were found here, and you can see quite a bit at the Kerameikos Museum, right next to it. 

Photo by David T on Unsplash

Monastiraki Square

Full of fruit sellers, street performers, and people hanging out, this gathering place used to be a convent. Unfortunately, the buildings were destroyed by years of excavation, and then the train and metro lines later down the road. I feel like this is a wonderful place to people watch while also grabbing a snack.

By Jean Housen - Own work, CC BY 3.0

National Garden

I love just chilling out by walking through gardens when I travel. This Garden, completed on behalf of King Otto and Queen Amalia in 1860, is home to more than 500 species of plants and trees, and stray cats, apparently. Besides plants, you can view the Olympic stadium, built for the 1896 games and enjoy an open-air cinema, duck pond, playground, and small zoo.

Clearly this is just a small sampling of things to do in Athens. There are also beaches and shopping and awesome cafes. It sounds like a lovely, relaxing getaway though.

Have you ever been to Greece? What are your recommendations?