Spring break is just around the corner and if you’re anything like me, you don’t want to just sit home the entire week with nothing to do but binge-watch Netflix and procrastinate studying for those upcoming midterms. The difficult thing about this wanderlust is that travel, even if isn’t extravagant or exotic, costs a significant amount of money.

So, here’s 3 ways to make some last second cash for a fun spring break and another 3 tips to help you save money while travelling!

1. Look around your room and make a pile of anything you don’t use anymore… then sell it. Your clothes can be sold to places such as Cherry Pickers or Plato’s Closet while any decorations or other items you want to get rid of can be sold on Facebook Marketplaces or other online sale sites.
2. Go online to sites such as “Iowa City Online Garage Sale” and let people know that you’re looking to make a little bit of cash; offer to do jobs like babysitting, cleaning, yard work, etc. You’ll be surprised how many messages you recieve.
3. Donate plasma. You can make around $100 for your first time donating… & that’s a lot of gas for a road trip!

Then when you’ve finally hit the road, remember…

Don’t ever pay full price for a hotel.

Start by looking at CouchSurfing, this is a free app that is similar to AirBnB except your stays at locals’ houses are free! (Pro CouchSurfing Tip: make sure that you read all of the reviews on a person before you request to stay with them. Typically you can get a tremendously accurate feel for how your experience will be at someone’s home if you’ve read what other people have to say about their stays.) However, if the city you’re looking to stay in doesn’t have any CouchSurfers available, be sure to check AirBnB next. One of the most wonderful things about travel today is that there are a lot of ways to save money if you’re willing to work a little bit with networks and technology.

If you have random gift cards in your wallet, use them.

I know, sometimes when you’re on the road you’re just craving that one particular food chain but if you do you have some random gift cards floating around in your wallet from your wacky Aunt Julia, then use those first if you can.

Pack as much food from home as possible.

College Students- this is where you break the rules and grab some of that cereal and/or fruit and take it in a few to-go containers from the dining hall. And if you have a little extra give in your budget, go to the grocery store and pick up some reasonably priced, non-perishable snack food for the road; that way you won’t have to stop as often and it will be more cost effective than having to purchase every meal.

And now... stay tuned! Next week I will be publishing my ultimate list of travel tips and quips!