Whether you’re a kid or an adult, vacation souvenirs are typically a must. Growing up, my parents always let us kids pick out one item on each trip, within reason. Now that I’m a parent myself, this is a tradition I hope to pass on.
We all know vacation souvenirs can add up, though. Between paying for the overpriced items and getting them home, you almost need a separate budget just for your souvenirs.
Luckily, buying souvenirs when on vacation doesn’t have to be as expensive as one would think, and you don’t have to sacrifice the souvenir altogether.
It’s not just the souvenir you’re paying for, but also the cost to get it home. Here are five ways to save on vacation souvenirs, including how to get them home.
Find Your Souvenirs Instead of Buying Them
While souvenir shops are fun, if you’re traveling with kids, a smart way to save money is to have them “find” their souvenir rather than purchase it. If you’re at the beach, for example, they could take home a few of their favorite seashells.
Make Pictures the Souvenir
On every vacation, take a family photo to display in your home on a mantel or a vacation photo gallery wall. You can choose a unique frame, either on the trip or back at home. You can get the kids involved by helping them choose the location of the photo (the beach, your favorite restaurant, the hotel, etc.).
Purchase Small Items
Large, boxy souvenirs might not fit on the airplane, causing you to have to check an extra bag or pay to have the items shipped to your home. When buying a souvenir, make sure to think ahead about how you will get it home without having to fork over extra money.
Create and Stick to a Budget
Most likely, you’ve created an entire budget for your vacation. You’ve saved for months, looked for deals and are making the trip as cost-effective as possible. But did you plan for souvenirs? The best way to not overspend on souvenirs is to decide beforehand how much you want to spend and stick to that number.
Make the trip the “souvenir”
And, of course, the best way to save money on souvenirs is to simply not buy them. Lately, I’m all about simplifying and decluttering. Souvenirs typically are not items you genuinely love and want displayed in your home.
If you have kids, you can always tell them that the trip is their gift and that you’re not purchasing souvenirs while on vacation. This is a good habit to start when they’re young so they don’t expect souvenirs as they get older.
If you’re going to purchase souvenirs, there are plenty of ways to go about saving money on the item. Between finding souvenirs instead of buying them, creating a budget and looking for coupons, souvenirs do not have to break the bank when on vacation.
Sarah Brooks is a freelance writer and blogger living in Charlotte, NC with her husband and two daughters. Her work has been featured on GOBankingRates.com, About.com, The Penny Hoarder and more! She also runs her own personal finance blog, The Frugal Millionaire Blog. She enjoys exploring Charlotte, cooking and baking, and relaxing at home with her family.
