EKE OUT YOUR EURO - My top five money saving tips for Europe.

After living in Europe on a mere €400 a month wage I had to learn to make my money last. With big plans and a small budget I picked up some tips and tricks as I navigated my way around the continent. Here’s my top five budget-savvy pieces of advice.

1. MAP IT OUT
First and foremost whether you’re planning a country to country, city to city or just sight to sight trip the first thing I always do is map out on a piece of paper each destination or point of interest I plan to visit. I then draw lines connecting each stop, and add in the means, options and cost in which you can travel between each point. Doing this will leave you with a handy little dot to dot picture in which you can use as a map to work out your most practical and sensible order of travel. You don’t want to be wasting money or time coming back to see a site or city when you were right around the corner the week before. Before you head to a new city or country you should have done some research of the infrastructure and studied or at least glanced at a map of your destination. If you’re on a budget, the wonderful ease and convenience of being dropped door to door by a taxi or paying full fare flights just isn’t a luxury we all want to splurge on. For a more in depth look at getting around Europe look out for my upcoming blog post - Navigating Europe.

2. THINK LIKE A LOCAL

After discovering there was such thing as a
disposable BBQ, we set up camp & spent the day
cooking food and soaking up
the sun down at Scheveningen; Den Haag.

One of the most important tips I can share is to think like a local. Tourism is a multi-billion dollar industry and countries thrive on milking us for all they can. We’ve all done it, but DON’T fall victim to the tourist trap. DON’T buy your souvenirs from the shops you were introduced to at the airport or ended up in after a tour. I guarantee in most cases you’ll be paying at least double for an item you can find elsewhere. Another little gem of a tourist trap is the all-inclusive ‘tourist card’ These cards are generally marketed and sold to give you ‘unlimited’ use of transport, and free or discounted entry to various attractions. Most of the time you’ll find the card does not actually give you all inclusive access to transport. Sometimes they throw in some coupons or discounts to shops or restaurants you’ll probably never walk into. Thanks but no thanks to your 5% discount on the diamond rings I can’t afford to look at much less buy, or the buy one get one half price coupon for Italy's most expensive bowl of pasta.

3. EAT, DON’T DINE

Sneaking some bag snacks with my sister in Paris. 

Food, glorious food. Dining is a huge part of the European culture and each city is filled with places to tickle and tantalize your taste buds. Travel is as much about food as it is about the destination so I’m not saying skip out on the fine dining Europe has on offer! Know when to save & when to splurge! However, if you’re trying to stretch out your savings here are some of my suggestions.
Steal it. Yep, you heard right. Get cheeky and fill your pockets in the morning with anything you can grab from the breakfast bar. If you’re in a hotel –go nuts at the buffet & prepare yourself mini gourmet-to-go lunch or dinner options. OR, presuming (since we’re on a budget here) you’re staying at hostels fill your pockets with whatever simply boring delights the hostel has on offer. A Jam roll in a napkin will save you having to purchase lunch later, and a few pieces of fruit should help you hold out on buying snacks throughout the day. Carry a water bottle & keep on sipping. Not only do you need to keep hydrated while you’re buzzing about seeing things but drinking enough water will prevent false food cravings and stop you buying soft drinks at every few stops.
If stuffing your bags on the sly isn’t for you, stock up on some groceries and simple on-the-go meals from the local supermarket. Your money will go a lot further making and packing your own little meals than if you purchase something every time you’re hungry. Go nuts. Or buy them at least. I find nuts, seeds or trail mix really handy to keep in my bag. It provides energy throughout the day, is easy to transport around, won’t spoil or leak in your bag and great to munch on when you’re feeling peckish.

4. NIGHT LIFE

Pre-pub crawl in Amsterdam, Holland.

One of my biggest pet peeves about Europe is paying to use the bathroom. Seriously, I paid cover to get into this place, I paid you for drinks, and now you’re going to charge me to use your bathroom too. Try to use the bathroom before you leave (or while it’s free!) and keep some change aside for when you’re out and about. I’ve been caught a few times when the bathroom attendant refused to accept my large notes. 

One of the really great ways to experience a cities nightlife off the bat is to join a pub crawl. Most major cities run one or (or five) and they’re generally great prices. Your wristband will get you a shot at the door of each club, free entry into a number of night spots and generally they’ll throw in some coupons for drinks or a free Tshirt marking your survival of the night. It’s also a really great way to meet, mix and mingle with other people if you’re travelling solo! On average, wine and beer is really cheap throughout Europe (especially compared to the prices in Oz) Oh how I miss heading to Albert Heijn to purchase my incredibly fancy & damn good €2 bottle of red.

5. UTILIZE ALL THE FREE THINGS!

Buda Castle; Snapped on a free walking tour I did in Budapest
Aside from Berlin, this was one of the best walking tours I've been on!
I was lucky to get a really great guide who was enthusiastic about
showing off a really great city. It's nice to come across locals
 so passionate and in love with the city they come from.

Most, if not all major European cities have really great free walking tours on offer. They’re a great thing to do on your first day in a new city. You’ll get a brief (or incredibly in depth, if you have a killer tour guide) history of the country and you’ll get acquainted with your surroundings as you’re guided around the city. At the end it’s polite (&the norm) to offer a small donation to thank the guide for the tour. (On average a few to ten euros) You decide on the amount- keep in mind though the guides work only for tips if you get a really wonderful guide show them your appreciation!  Use your feet. If you can walk there- walk. Don’t be lazy! 
Check out all the free attractions the city has to offer and spend some time getting lost. Some of my best discoveries have come from getting lost in a city and unexpectedly stumbling on something awesome. If you find yourself in need of wifi, keep in mind most pubs will have free wifi if you ask for the password. Otherwise Mcdonalds or Starbucks have access 99% of the time. There’s also great ways to get free accommodation, utilizing sites such as couchsurfing, or trading work for rent. Look out for more free travel tips in my upcoming posts.

So there it is. My 5 step mini-guide to stretching your euro.
Cutting costs is something we're all trying to do whenever possible! Though sometimes it's just not worth it. Read here about the worst way I ever saved money. EEEK, accommodation was probably not the best thing to bump from the spend-worthy list.
It's about finding a happy medium, know when to save and know when to splurge.
Check out this post here for some advice on the matter. Sometime's the splurge is worth it!