When you’re in a long-distance relationship, you may have more challenges than other couples. You can’t be together as often as you would like, and when you can spend time together, you have to spend money (sometimes a lot of money) to travel to be together. However, the benefits are worth the struggle—many LDR relationships become lifelong unions. If you’re involved with someone who lives far away, utilize these 10 money-saving tips for an LDR relationship.
How to Save on Flights
You must rely on air transportation if you live far from one another. Try these money-saving tips:
Use Google Flights
Google Flights can help you find the lowest price across airlines. My partner and I recently used this site for an upcoming trip. We could search by price—Google Flights has a chart showing the week of your preferred travel plus a week before or after, so we could choose the cheapest days to fly. We were also able to sort by route and select a direct flight, one layover, or more layovers. When we found the flight we wanted, we booked our tickets directly on the airline’s site.
You can also set alerts on Google Flights to get a notification when the price of a flight drops, which is perfect if you’re looking to save money but need a flexible travel date.
Have Flexible Travel Dates
If you have a flexible schedule, use the tab that allows you to choose flexible travel dates. By doing so, you can book the cheapest tickets. This is especially useful if you’re booking your trip months in advance and have flexibility when you need to ask for time off from work.
Book in Advance
In addition to having flexible travel dates, you can save a bundle by booking your tickets well in advance, at least three months before you travel, but even further ahead if you can. The closer you get to your travel date before you book, the more money you will spend.
Use Travel Perk Credit Cards
Have you learned to travel hack? If you haven’t, now is the time. Many credit cards offer travel rewards that can result in free or deeply discounted flights. If both of you know how to travel hack, together you can save significant money or meet more often for the price you were paying before.
Even better, as you accrue points, eventually, you should have enough to travel for free for a trip or two.
Save on Luggage
One way to save when flying is to bring the minimum you need since many airlines charge you for baggage. Consider leaving some clothes and toiletries at your partner’s house so you only need to bring a carry-on. Not only with this save you money on your plane trip, it will also save you time because you don’t need to wait for your baggage at the airport. Every precious minute counts when you only see one another for a limited time!
Other Money-Saving Tips for an LDR Relationship
In addition to saving on flights, there are other ways you can save.
Drive If Possible
If you don’t live in two different countries or other sides of the United States, you may be able to drive to see one another. Of course, flying is more convenient, but driving sometimes can save you money. The downside is that you eat up some of the time you can be together in transit, but if you need to save money, driving is the way to go.
Meet in the Middle Sometimes
Another way to reduce travel expenses and time is to meet in the middle. My cousin and her husband used to be in an LDR relationship. They lived 10 hours from one another and almost every weekend they each drove 5 hours to meet in the middle. Of course, the downside is that you will need to pay for a hotel or VRBO, but since you are each taking the time to travel, you can meet more frequently, and the economic burden is divided.
Take Advantage of Business Trips
Is your significant other taking a business trip to Chicago? Why not tag along? Your partner’s expense is likely covered by work, meaning you’ll have a free hotel to stay in together. So, you should only have to pay for your transportation and food. Plus, meeting in a new location can be exciting, especially if you regularly travel to one another’s homes and not many other places.
How to Save When You’re Together
Since you will likely spend a lot of money on travel, if money is tight, find free or frugal things to do together. Rather than eating out, have a picnic in the park. Go hiking together or enjoy free summer events. While you may want to spend money on fancy dates, if you’re on a budget, most of your money will need to fund the travel to spend time together.
Be Open about Finances
Although talking about finances can be challenging, especially in the early stages of dating, doing so is imperative for an LDR relationship. One of you may travel to see the other more because you have a flexible schedule. However, that person should not bear the financial burden alone. Discuss how you will split costs so that the expense doesn’t become an obstacle that limits your time together. Likewise, if one of you makes significantly more than the other, that person might want to bear more of the financial burden. Navigating these economic challenges also lays the groundwork for discussing and managing money issues as your relationship deepens.
Final Thoughts
Using money-saving tips for an LDR relationship can help you get together more frequently. Although a long-distance relationship has challenges, many couples have made it work and even ended up lifelong partners who eventually live in the same location. Remember, you likely won’t be separated by distance forever. But while you are, do what you can to save money and enjoy your time together.
Read More
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Melissa Batai
Melissa is a writer and virtual assistant. She earned her Master’s from Southern Illinois University, and her Bachelor’s in English from the University of Michigan. When she’s not working, you can find her reading a good book, cooking, or traveling. She resides in New York where she loves the natural beauty of the area.
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