Skip to main content

5 Money Saving Travel Hacks for the Airport

By U.S. News & World Report

I don’t know about you, but for me, the airport is one of my major spending zones. It’s the moment when vacation mentality totally kicks in, whether I’m traveling for business or pleasure.

The people who run the airport stores know that, too. I mean, why else would you be able to find crazy high-end stores in some airports? Even just the stores full of electronics? Who goes to the airport to buy an MP3 player? Did I miss some memo?

I even have a little ritual where I buy a gigantic bottle of water and a copy of Cosmopolitan (which, yes, is very trashy, and why it’s only allowed to be read on planes). This ritual keeps me calm while flying.

The thing is, there have been vacations with layovers in a couple of airports where I realize that before the vacation even starts, I’ve dropped $75 to $100 on food, trinkets or reading material. To make matters worse, I did it mindlessly! It doesn’t have to be this way.

Here are a few tricks for navigating the airport to help you save a few dollars:

1. Pack snacks and empty water bottles.

Did you know you can bring pretty much any solid food into an airport that you want? Got a favorite bakery or deli near home? You could cut your food costs in half by just picking up what you want to eat before you get to the airport.

Clearly you can take it a frugal step further and just make sandwiches or bring leftovers from home.

The only thing you have to remember is to avoid liquids. On that subject though, if you bring an empty water bottle, you can fill it at a water fountain once you’re past security with no problem.

2. Check your credit cards for perks.

While this won’t work for everyone, it’s helpful to see if you have any perks available on your credit cards while flying, especially if you have a card that specializes in miles for a particular airline. I have a United Mileage Plus credit card and once a year I get two passes to their United Club, which has free snacks and drinks in it. Several other credit cards offer the same perk.

Additionally, you can often save money on checked bags or even get one for free by using cards that are linked to a specific airline. Be sure to check before shelling out that fee, though, because they can be pretty high!

3. Sign up to mystery shop before going on vacation.

Why on earth would you want to spend your vacation mystery shopping? Because mystery shopping companies often have mystery shops in airports and trouble getting them filled. Sinclair Customer Metrics is almost always looking for people to mystery shop major airports. You might even make more money per shop, too, because retailers are so desperate for the feedback. If you have a long layover, you might even be able to earn as much as $100 on mystery shopping gigs. You could end up scoring some free food, too.

4. Use coupons.

Lots of stores in the airport are actually chains. You should be able to use your coupon for McDonald’s in the airport just as well as at the one down the street. You can check out which restaurants are available in most domestic airports on their websites and see if you have coupons for any of the options on your trip.

5. Bring reading material with you.

You know where you won’t find any kind of deal at all? At the bookstores and magazine kiosks. They also know that delays happen and people need to be entertained while waiting around for their flights, as well as while they’re in the air. By ensuring you have all the entertainment you need, be it reading material, DVDs or coloring books for the kids, you won’t fall into their (expensive) trap.

Thinking ahead and planning is always the key step when it comes to successfully saving money. When you’re traveling, it’s no different. You have to be aware of where the money drains are and make sure they’re worth the cost, whether you’re on vacation or traveling for work.

More from U.S. News

10 Ways to Save on Your Wardrobe

10 Ways to Improve Your Finances with Social Media

10 Back-to-School Deals

5 Money Saving Travel Hacks for the Airport originally appeared on usnews.com

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
Read Next Story

Related News

Frustration grows in Venezuela as earthquake death toll reaches 1,430

Israel and Lebanon sign framework agreement with US in ‘first step’ toward peace, Rubio says

Trump-endorsed populist poised to become Colombia’s next president as rival challenges vote