The Good Life on a Budget

• Posted by JvW on May 30th, 2009 filed in travel, work

In part one, we talked about ways to save money when your spouse/partner/whatever is away on a business trip. Today, I’m going to write a little about ways to save money when you are the one who is away.

A business trip can be fiscally dangerous because it’s kind of like a vacation. Well, a vacation where you still have to go to work. Most of the time, you’re staying in a hotel, going out for every meal, and with a group of people who are also on a “workation”. No cleaning, no cooking, no chores, just work then play. If the company you work for is anything like the company I work for, there is a lot of emphasis on having a good time. Which is all well and good, but not free. In order to keep things in check, remember these points:

1. Know what your company will cover. Whether you get a per diem or you have to file expense reports, knowing what falls under the company’s dime and what comes out of your pocket is key. Also keep in mind your company’s rules regarding who is supposed to cover the expenses. For example, where I work, the highest-ranking person at a meal is supposed to pay for it, then file the expense report. Makes it easier for them and for us. And don’t forget to file the expense report as soon as you get back!




2. Decide ahead of time what you’re willing to spend. It’s so easy to get caught up in the moment, when everyone is out and about and money is flying around. Don’t get into a situation where you have to spend more than you want to.




3. Bring home reasonable gifts (or none at all). I have a coworker who, every time she is on a business trip, she gets a gift for each of her 3 kids. Before you think that is over the top, I have yet to see her spend more than $10 for the three of them! She finds small things that are unique to wherever we are, that they will enjoy, and that cost very little. For example, in New York City a few weeks ago, she bought 3 “I heart NY” t-shirts on the street for $6. It was cheap, the kids were thrilled.




4. Remember you’ll be home soon. And back to reality. There comes a point in every business trip where it stops being fun and you just. want. to. go. home. All good things come to an end, and remembering that you have to return back to normalcy and pay the bills can be enough to keep you from spending.

There you have it! The flip side of the coin. Any break from routine can be costly, but with the right attitude, the damage can be minimized.