Life hack: how to spend less on long car trips

It is not worth filling up with cheap fuel or saving on checking the car before the road: safety depends on it. But there are categories in which you can cut costs.

Food and drinks. It is better to take a snack from home. Sandwiches, coffee, water at gas stations are usually expensive. And the quality of food at roadside cafes is often questionable. It is also better not to buy anything from people who trade on the sidelines - you do not know where the berries were collected or what the pies were made of. If you do decide, make sure that the first aid kit contains a sorbent.

Car wash. It is useless to clean the car to a shine before leaving the track: then you still have to wash it.

Building a route. Before leaving, go to your navigator and find the best route to your destination. Then download the map so you can use it offline. This will allow you to bypass toll roads, not get lost and not waste fuel (and time!), Making an extra detour due to the fact that you turned the wrong way.

Overnight. For maximum savings, you can sleep in your car. In this case, you need to take blankets and pillows with you and be sure to choose a safe parking lot. If a car is not considered as a place to sleep, it is better to find a hotel in advance - online booking is often much cheaper.

Entertainment. If you are traveling with children, bring enough books, coloring pages and games for them. This way you don’t have to buy sweets and ice cream on the way so that they behave calmly.