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Sometimes when we are traveling on business, it is easy to let costs get out of control. But if you are working from a per diem or have other constraints on your travel budget, you should learn some cost cutting methods that you can put into effect that won’t make your life miserable on the road.
These cost-cutting ideas are not just to stay out of trouble
with the budget people back at the home office.
Often businesses have a set budget for business travel and once it is
gone, no further trips can be made during that budget year. So if you anticipate the need for more
business trips in months ahead, it is prudent to keep an eye on costs as you go
so you can conserve that limited budget to facilitate important trips yet to
come.
Economizing on the road can be difficult because you are put
right in the middle of the hospitality industry which, while good at making you
feel comfortable and providing for your needs, hotels and restaurants are also
good at running up your tab. But there
are some easy ways to sidestep a lot of unnecessary spending so you can stretch
your business travel budget.
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Eat before you go. Airport restaurants or snack bars are
notoriously overpriced. So even if you
are leaving early in the morning, have breakfast and get well satisfied before
leaving home so you don’t have to buy food en route.
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Wise packing.
Think through your life in the hotel and on the road. You can buy travel sizes of almost everything
you will need. Moreover, you can pack some
light and easy to carry snacks such as trail mix, candy bars or nuts that can
be used to tide you over during the trip until you can get a good meal. By being self-dependent during the trip, you
save a lot by not using airport services.
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A hotel is just a bed, a shower and a TV. When booking your accommodations, think about
where you should stay. If you don’t need
a luxury hotel, don’t book one. If you
are just staying the night in one place and then moving on, a clean, well run
motel can take care of you just as well as the executive suite at the Hilton.
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Share that ride.
If you are traveling as a party or you are meeting business partners at
the destination, you can share cabs or rental vehicles and save business costs
as well as conserve on burring fossil fuels unnecessarily.
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Markets and delis. You can even eat economically in a big town
like New York or Orlando by using the same sense you have at
home. By taking an early trip to a
nearby grocery, you can stock your room with fruits and travel foods and cut
down on the amount of meals you have to eat out.
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Public transportation. If the town you re traveling to has safe and
workable subways or other public transpiration, that can be much more efficient
for you than renting a car. Washington DC
By using some of the same good common sense you use at home
to keep expenses under control for your home budget, you can not only live
inexpensively on the road, you can actually live better. And by not allowing yourself to be
overcharged for some very basic goods and services, you will feel better about your
business outing and become known in your company as a smart traveler.
