How We Travel on a Fixed Income

I’ve gotten this question from more people than I can count – many readers want to know how Peepaw and I can take all of these amazing trips and eat out when we are retired and on a fixed income. I will admit to a little reluctance at first in writing this post, as “back in my day” money was way more of a taboo subject than it is in today’s world. But I want to share how Peepaw and I do it in the hopes that it helps those folks who are concerned about this topic but who still want to find a way to travel.

The first thing most people think is that we only go on trips where we can stay with friends or relatives…but that is NOT our style…unless those overnight stays involve our grandkids. (We LOVE those visits, especially when those little human alarm clocks come bounding down the stairs to wake us up!)

Of course we sometimes DO take trips where we spend an overnight or two with relatives or friends, but, even though we treasure the time we spend with them, we really value our privacy (and theirs too!) and we enjoy creating our own schedule of events, so we prefer to stay in inexpensive motels or hotels close by if we can. That makes our time spent with relatives more fun and less an invasion of their privacy and space.

But there are definite strategies we use to travel on the cheap, and we recently employed these on a trip to Stuart, Florida.

Tip 1: Stay in inexpensive motels, hotels, and airbnb places

Our choice for hotels is usually at the lower end of the spectrum. I’m OK with that. As long as I feel confident that the room is functional and sanitary and the bedding and towels are sparkling white and clean I’m fine with outdated decor. In fact, it’s really a step back in time in some Mom and Pop hotel rooms…like our this one in Stuart, Florida. When we opened the door to this room I was transported back to our Iowa to California Road Trip in 1956…two lane roads, no air conditioning…

Our room in that little motel in Stuart STILL looks exactly like the ones we found all along the two lane ribbon of road when I was six…

By choosing these less expensive motel and hotel rooms, we have more money to spend on gas and food. And we are also members of several websites that give points for our stays. We use: CHOICE PRIVILEGES, WYNDHAM REWARDS, and AIRBNB programs. We LOVE these programs because we can combine points, cash, and credits to make our overnights affordable.

Tip 2: Eat in diners and cafes…not fancy restaurants!

We don’t spend money on gourmet meals when we travel. Period. But I don’t miss those “fancy” meals since I love to experiment in my own kitchen when I’m at home. Our true travel joys come from meeting REAL people in those little Mom and Pop places we look for in all the small towns we pass through. And even though I’m 65 years young, I do know how to use my Android smartphone GPS (I named mine Stella!) to find those little family-owned dives and cafes wherever we travel.

Tip 3: Split an entree

The meals at these little cafes and diners are usually less expensive…and homemade! It’s a WIN WIN. And we usually SHARE an entree, especially when we stop for lunch. Like this lunch in Stuart. Who wouldn’t be satisfied with half of a huge grouper sandwich and a handful of fries? It was PLENTY for both of us, and the calorie count was cut in half. Another win…especially for me! (Peepaw never seems to gain an ounce.)

Tip 4: Happy Hour = cheap eats

Remember the Early Bird Specials on Seinfeld? Well…we’ve learned that wasn’t so funny after all! Those specials or the Happy Hour menu will save you a ton of money if you’re not afraid to dine early! 

Tip 5: Share an appetizer for dinner

The appetizer menu in restaurants usually contains foods perfect to share…and sometimes splitting one of those and adding a small house salad is just right for dinner.

Tip 6: Drink water

This may sound crazy, but the DRINK you choose at lunch or dinner can add significantly to your bill. Even iced tea or coffee has become very expensive. So try this same tip I recommend when dining out with children: order a good old glass of water with your meal! By skipping those other drinks you’ll cleanse your palate and pad your wallet at the same time!

Tip 7: Be flexible

If your trip requires air travel, learn to be flexible on your travel dates, your choice of airlines, and even the airports you fly into and out of! On our recent trip to the Rose Bowl we saved a TON of money by flying into Las Vegas and renting a car to make the drive to Pasadena. (And we created some amazing family memories during that car ride!)

So how did we fare on our Stuart, Florida adventure? All told, we spent:

Motel: $89 in a “tourist town” during peak season. A real bargain since the only other choice within walking distance to all the action downtown was the Old Colorado Inn at $260 per night! (We’re happy to walk four blocks to save $171! And that savings paid for the rest of our trip, with $100 left over!!!!)

Food:

Lunch – Grouper Sandwich and fries-split, water $13

Dinner – Wings with carrots/celery, Fries, drinks $28

Breakfast – Eggs Benedict, Bacon & Eggs, coffees $18

Gas: $12

Activities: Walking, people watching, window shopping FREE

Memories: Priceless

Total for 2 days, 1 night: $160

I hope these tips will show you that it truly IS possible to travel on a budget…and you’ll never feel like you’re skimping in the process. At least that’s the way Peepaw and I feel when we head down that ribbon of road…wherever it leads us.