I’m going to Hilton Head Island in less than 48 hours (we leave Thursday morning), so I thought I’d discuss some of the frugal techniques we use to make the trip as economical as possible!

Frugal Techniques that are out of the ordinary.

• Copy audiobook from CD format to MP3 format!  This enables me to listen to more adult or scare novels (like Stephen King’s “Insomnia”) on the way down to S.C. without having to worry about the kids hearing something that they shouldn’t be listening to!
• Send me Dog to family to be watch instead of a kennel. We use to put our dog up at a kennel or have a neighbor kid watch her.  But, this time we are going to send the dog to stay with my wife’s parents.  This will save us over $150!  And in addition, it will make the process more enjoyable for our dog too.
• Traveling at night instead of in the morning!  Yes we are traveling down on vacation in the morning, but when we are driving back, we are going to travel at night.  Yes it’s a bit more dangerous (especially because of deer), but it’s not as bad as you’d think (I’ve done it two times before).  With the audiobooks that I listen too, I’m surprisingly awake during the drive.  The beauty is it’s easier on my car because it’s not so hot, much less traffic, shorter waits for traffic lights and my family sleeps thorough the entire process, so they have a more enjoyable trip.
• Pack the cooler with snacks and drinks!  This helps keep the food price premium down, and enables me to stay on the road longer!
• Use www.TripAdvisor.com to determine which restaurant will provide the best bang for the buck!  There are also other online resources that I will discover while I’m down there too.
• For the first couple of night we are staying at a friend’s house nearby.  This is a win-win!  We leave a little earlier than when our time in the Hilton Head Island house is available so that we can stay with friends in S.C.!  Then after our house is ready, we say our goodbyes and go out to the island!  This way we get to see old friends for at least a few days!

These are a few of my “getting ready for the trip” tips!

We’re all excited to get rolling!  Only one more workday to pump out!!!

What are some of your favorite frugal tips or tips to enjoy the trip a little better?

-mr