We’ve all been there — wanting to travel but being low on funds. It’s time we stop letting our bank accounts get in the way of us living our best lives.

There are ways to enjoy living while being broke and the same goes for traveling when your account is struggling.

These are 5 ways you can travel with the bare minimum in your bank account:

Cook Your Own Food

Eating out is the easiest and most convenient thing to do when traveling but can become quite costly. You can save a lot of money by grocery shopping and preparing your own meals. 

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Last summer, I spent two months in London and decided to start cooking my meals. Sure, there was nothing fancy about the food I was making, but I ended up saving hundreds of dollars. 

Make sure to book accommodations with a kitchen or kitchenette for easier access to preparing your own meals. 

Book A Private Home Instead Of A Hotel Room

Although staying in a hotel guarantees you’ll have people around in case of an emergency 24/7, renting a private house is a lot cheaper. 

Sites like Airbnb and HomeAway are great options for finding a room or entire house to rent. It’s even cheaper to rent a house when traveling with a group of friends and just splitting the costs. 

Most home rentals come with free WiFi, coffee and tea, saving you extra on getting a caffeine fix. 

Travel During Off-Peak Season

You still hit up the hot spots without breaking the bank by traveling during off-peak times. Not only will airfare be cheaper, but you’ll be able to book accommodations at a fraction of the price. 

Go On A Roadtrip Rather Than Flying 

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If you’re traveling somewhere relatively close, it may be a cheaper option to drive — especially if you’re traveling with a group. Being able to split the cost of tolls and gas is much better than dropping hundreds of dollars on a plane ticket. 

Put Your Air Miles To Use

If the destination in mind is too far to drive, redeeming air miles will come in handy. Sometimes saving your air miles means being able to score a free flight. 

Being strategic about how you spend your money when traveling can make your next vacation totally achievable.