Frugal Travel Hacks for Your Summer Vacation

Many people are taking road trips in July and August for their summer vacation. Unfortunately, their travel plans are coming at a time when food and gas prices have been steadily rising. 

Everyone wants to get as much value as possible for their travel budget and not overpay for goods and services. The following ideas are like items on a menu in a New Jersey diner. There are a lot of money-saving options to select from so pick those that best fit your lifestyle.

Food and Beverages

Eat Out Sparingly- Try to eat only one meal a day at a restaurant, if possible. Pack foods such as granola bars, dried fruits, peanut butter, muffins, and canned juices for breakfast, or select hotels that include a free continental breakfast. Many hotels offer perks (e.g., free breakfast and swimming pools) to attract visitors.

Keep Food Cool- Pack food in a cooler (or buy it when you arrive at a destination) and stay at hotels with a refrigerator and/or microwave oven in the room. This lets you save leftover food from a restaurant or order take-out food rather than a sit-down meal. Pack some re-sealable food storage bags or plastic containers.

Rethink Restaurant Drinks- Consider sticking with complimentary water at restaurants because beverages add to the cost of eating out. If someone skips 208 glasses of soda (four a week) at $3 each- or 104 beers or glasses of wine (2 a week) at $6 each- that’s $624 in annual savings.

Bring Your Own Beverages- Space permitting, bring your own beverages on a road trip. Examples: bottled water, soda, and low-cost wines available at Trader Joe’s and Aldi supermarkets. Another way to spend less on wine and soft drinks is to “stretch” them with a large cup of ice so they last longer and you can buy less. 

Split an Order- Consider sharing an entrée- but check first to see if there is an additional “plate charge” for shared meals. Appetizers and desserts are also great for sharing. Instead of individual desserts at a restaurant, buy a dessert item (e.g., cake or pie) at a supermarket to enjoy afterward.

Eat Out for Lunch- When you eat out, consider going to restaurants at lunchtime, rather than dinner, because the cost is generally less. You might also consider combining lunch and dinner into one meal by having a late afternoon “linner.” Lunch menu meals- and lower prices- are generally in effect until around 3 pm.

Gas

Find Cheap Gas- Gas prices vary from state to state and even within the same town! Gas stations close to major highways often charge more than others…because they can. Use a gas app like GasBuddy and Waze to find the cheapest source of gas where you need it.

Join a Fuel Rewards Program- Sign up for a fuel rewards program at a supermarket or warehouse club and accumulate points to earn free or reduced price gas. When you have earned enough points for a reward, cash in your points to save money.

Check Tire Pressure- All the travel experts agree that underinflated tires decrease gas mileage. Many gas stations have inexpensive “do it yourself” machines where users can check their tire air pressure and inflate tires that need air.

Travel Close to Home- If money is tight, become a “local tourist.” Visit local historical sites or state/federal parks and learn more about where you live. Plan “daycations” (inexpensive one-day trips) and “staycations” (experiences at or near home) in lieu of travel to distant areas. 

This post provides general personal finance or consumer decision-making information and does not address all the variables that apply to an individual’s unique situation. It does not endorse specific products or services and should not be construed as legal or financial advice. If professional assistance is required, the services of a competent professional should be sought.

Strategies to Inspire a More Beautiful World

 

I recently had the pleasure of delivering the keynote presentation for the Spring 2026 meeting of the Florida Association of Family and Consumer Sciences (FAFCS). The title was Inspiring a More Beautiful World: 10 Impact Strategies. Below are some highlights from my presentation:

Show Kindness and Gratitude- Small interactions make a big difference! Make a point to recognize people and thank them for what they do. Also, smiles are infectious. When you smile, positivity is reflected on others. Smile and make eye contact with people 10 feet away and add a verbal greeting when you are 5 feet away.

Inspire Others Through Storytelling- Stories build an emotional connection to people vs. just telling them facts and statistics. They make messages memorable and stories of perseverance inspire hope. Be sure to include details about the “messy middle;” i.e., struggles and obstacles overcome before a successful outcome.

Focus on Solutions- In a time when there is so much chaos and confusion, train your brain to look beyond problems and ask, “what can I do to help?” Then focus on workarounds. Clearly define “pain points” and break problems into small process steps. Next, brainstorm solutions and evaluate and implement viable options.

Be an Early Adopter- Gain new knowledge and learn new skills early on for personal and professional growth and to teach and inspire others. Then share your knowledge freely. A personal example of mine is AI. I started using AI platforms in early 2023 and have made a almost a dozen presentations about AI to teach others.

Be a Mentor and Role Model- Mentoring helps mentees develop their abilities by transferring a mentor’s knowledge/experience. Both parties learn from each other and mentoring often creates long-term relationships beyond its initial purpose (e.g., getting tenure). Role modeling occurs naturally as people watch others.

Work Out Loud- As outlined in the book Working Out Loud by John Stepper, this technique involves openly describing your ideas, work projects, and progress on projects via social media. Working out loud increases visibility, positions you as a thought leader, encourages collaboration, and creates new opportunities.

Work Collaboratively- Working with others increases impact in several ways: diverse perspectives, improved problem-solving and innovation (more minds focusing on an issue), a “divide and conquer” approach for big projects, resource sharing (e.g., skills, technology, funding), and accountability (people counting on each other).

Volunteer Your Time and Talents- Studies show that volunteerism provides learning opportunities, creates a sense of purpose, reduces stress, and increases overall happiness. It also helps non-profit organizations and the clients they serve. For example, I volunteer at a thrift shop that is run by a local hospice organization.

Practice Charitable Gifting- Donating money or goods supports causes that help others or improve society. It connects a person’s generosity with meaningful outcomes which increases personal happiness. Ways to donate include cash contributions, donor advised funds, and qualified charitable distributions (QCDs).

Build Financial Stability- When basic needs are covered, along with savings for future financial goals (e.g., retirement), people have more time, mental bandwidth, and resources to help others through donations, mentoring, or volunteering. Financial resources amplify impact!

This post provides general personal finance or consumer decision-making information and does not address all the variables that apply to an individual’s unique situation. It does not endorse specific products or services and should not be construed as legal or financial advice. If professional assistance is required, the services of a competent professional should be sought.