Wahey! Holidays! They’re just about the best thing ever. Except if you’re a disorganised traveller. Then you’re going to fall into all sorts of airport spending traps. Here’s how to avoid spending your travel money before you’ve even got to Benidorm.
1. Pack properly
If you’re packing in a rush, you’re going to forget stuff. Worse than that, you’re going to utter the terrible words ‘oh, I’ll just get that at the airport!’ and then before you know it you’ve spent a million pounds on wine gums and shampoo. If you pack before you go, and pack properly, you’ll have your sweeties all sorted.
2. Currency
Exchange rates are shocking at the airports. You might as well throw your money away if you’re going to exchange before you get on the plane. You know you can get it delivered to your office before you go away? You don’t even have to go to the Post Office, you lazy thing.
3. Magazines
Flight delayed? You’ll ‘just pop and get a magazine’? Oh, who are you kidding? You’ve just bought half of WHSmiths. You could probably open a franchise kiosk with the amount of rubbish you bought. Put that copy of Chat back. You don’t need to know about the serial killer psychic horse*.
4. Holiday ‘essentials’
Oh, now you need flip-flops? You have to have those Ted Baker sunglasses? No you don’t. Put them back. If you didn’t need them before you left for the airport, you almost certainly don’t need them now.
5. Perfume
Actually, I’ve got nothing. You’re totally going to get lured by the Duty Free signs and nothing I can do will stop you. Even though I know The Perfume Store is cheaper, they don’t stock Chanel. I love my perfume holiday habit, some things aren’t going to change.
6. Spirits
Oh, you think you’re going to drink that bottle of grappa when you get home? It’s going to go straight to the back of the cupboard. With the other seven bottles.
7. Too much shampoo
If you’re flying Ryanair and you’ve only got one bag, pay attention to airport security warnings. Don’t think they’ll ignore your bottle of shampoo just because it was a Christmas present and it’s in a fancy bottle. Nope, they’ll keep it and you’ll be in a sulk when you have to replace it.
8. Express services
Go the long way. Except for Heathrow Express – that might be pricey but by golly it’s quick. The rest? You’re paying twenty quid for a not particularly speedy journey. Just because something is direct, that doesn’t mean it’s fast. It’s not worth it.
9. Dinner
Please eat before you go. Please make some sandwiches. Please don’t spend over a tenner on a breakfast from a J.D Wetherspoons. You realise they’re three quid down the road?
*Actually, scratch that. You totally do.
{Image: Images_Of_Money}
