Given the current economic climate we are living in, it is important to spend our money in the most responsible way possible. From simple tasks like shopping for groceries to more involved things such as buying a new house, it’s imperative we are as wise as possible with our cash. And now that it is summer, the height of vacation season, I thought I would give some tips on how to get more for your money when you take a vacation this summer.

Don’t Spend Too Much on Souvenirs!

This might be a hard pill to swallow for some travellers. With friends, family, or kids to please, the demand for gifts from your travels could be high. So when you are buying things, make sure you purchase things only for those who are most important for you. That is, don’t fell inclined to buy a "I Love New York" tee-shirt for your cubical neighbor at work. And make sure the gifts you buy make sense for your budget. So instead of buying an expensive toy for your child, maybe get him or her something more reasonable. And make sure it actually represents the place you visited

well!

Use Vacation Rentals!

Hotels can be really expensive. And for all that money you are spending, you don’t get that much in terms of room size (unless you are the kind of person who can afford one of those grand suites). So why not save some money and use vacation rentals? There are some great sites out there, like MetroFlats.com. It is a free-to-use site that allows you to browse countless listings for bed and breakfasts, hostels, and apartments at very cheap prices. It’s also very easy to use. I use it a lot and I definitely would recommend it for your vacation rental needs.

Travel Light!

There are certainly many reasons to pack as lightly as possible; it’s a hassle carrying so many bags around. But did you know it can also save you money? Most airlines these days charge around $40 per bag when checking in. If you can manage to fit all you need into, say, one bag, you can save a ton of money. So think twice when you are packing; bring only what you need to survive!

And Finally, Avoid Tourist Traps!

Tourist traps are on of the best ways to waste your money on a vacation. When I was in London, I made the mistake of going on the London Eye. Not only was the wait horrendous, the money I paid for it was no where near worth what I got. I still want the hour of my life I wasted back. The rule of thumb is this: if something looks like a tourist trap, it usually is. Avoid them like the plague.

If you follow these tips, you are guaranteed to save a lot more money than you might normally. Of course, there are plenty of other things you can do to save money on vacation. So if you think of any other, feel free to apply them along with these!