The Top Ten Credit Crunch Busting Tips
When there’s nothing but economic doom and gloom in the news everyday, it’s easy to become blue. That’s why we present the top ten tips to help you get through it, top up your Zen and get on with your travelling.
- Throw a Spanner in the Rumour Mill
At the end of the day a recession comes down to confidence. Investor confidence, consumer confidence and globe conquering - backpacker confidence. When a suit on Wall Street panic sells because of a rumour, it causes panic selling around the planet, which helps no-one. Refuse to take part, party like its 1999 and make the most of your trip.
- Consider a Train after Your Plane
The hardcore budget airlines aren’t going anywhere so ocean hopping is never going to be an issue but when you rock up, consider a train to your next city or neighbouring country. It’s better for the environment, advance tickets can be dirt cheap and certain European networks, like the Eurostar service between London and mainland Europe, are carbon neutral.
- Pay By Credit Card When You Can
With exchange rates in such a volatile state of flux, changing money throughout a trip can leave you with less bang for your buck. Instead change a lump sum at the beginning and then use a card if you need to - after that. The exchange rates will be dated there and then, most big international banks don’t charge a commission and you don’t spend more than you need to.
- One For The Ladies
The curse of buying foreign brands on the road is that you never know what you’re going to get. Worse case scenario – you get stuck with a bag load of cosmetics that make your hair look greasy and your skin look dull. Rather than throw the whole lot away, organise an evening of product swapping with the ladies in your hostel. It’s the definition of fair trade and one woman’s trash may well be another’s treasure.
- Plan For The Year Ahead
The spin doctors of economic doom and gloom are writing off 2009 as a year when things getting worse before they get better. With that in mind it makes sense to finalise your trips for 2009 now. Book flights and accommodation in advance before the value of your currency takes another hit – then bask in the glow of 2008 value for money. You will still be able to score great deals with last minute bookings in 2009 but the discounts for advance, online bookings are in place right now.
- Eat The Best For Less
Self catering kitchens are a staple food group in the diet of the budget conscious backpacker, but there is a way to use these to save even more money. When you’re ingredient shopping in the supermarket, pick up a trolley of vegetables, cook them, blend them and eat them. Soup is cheap, filling, it goes a long way and it counts towards your five a day too! For the avid meat-eaters try picking up the chicken with the skin still on, and then take it off yourself. You pay extra for being squeamish.
- Clothes Amnesty
This top tip follows the same concept as the product swap in point four, but it’s unisex and applies to clothes! Instead of buying expensive new threads, swap the stuff you don’t wear with the friends you make on the road, or alternatively rope them into rooting through the charity shops nearby. You are guaranteed to find new and used bargains at shops like Oxfam and every purchase helps someone much worse off than you are.
- Online Bargain Hunting
There are always bargains to be had online – you just have to know where to look and be up to date on all the deals. Great international websites include moneysavingexpert.com and mysupermatket.com. Both offer great, non biased and fully informed tips, and you can compare the price of everything from potato chips to travel insurance. Awesome stuff.
- Spend to Save
Like the Boy Scouts always say – be prepared. In an age when airlines can vanish overnight, it really does pay to take out insurance to cover the cost of your ticket and any accommodation you might lose when you’re stuck at the airport and can’t make it to the hostel. There are hundreds of providers out there so as point eight points out, shop around!
- To work or to Travel? That is the Question
It’s a tough job market for students emerging from the educational chrysalis right now. Travelling is a great way to ride out the storm but don’t worry too much about finding a graduate job at the end of it. A massive and secure growth area at the minute is the public sector – with masses of jobs available in education, health and public administration. Governments all over the world are creating these jobs to get their economies back on track and this isn’t going to change - so stop stressing and savour your travels.