Life is travel! Travel for life! One of my absolute favorite things to do is travel. I love to visit the sights that our spacious world has to offer. I like to travel anywhere from fast paced, densely populated cities to cozy and compact towns. Either way, the experience is still gained, and my thoughts expanded. I have visited many separate places, but my recent travels landed me in Houston Texas.
Houston is in the southeastern part of Texas. Being the fourth most populous city in the nation, with its population reaching 2.4 million. This easily makes Houston the largest city in the southern U.S. and Texas. Houston is gleaming with diverse cultures and plenty of adventures and recreational spots. There are so many exciting things to see and do in Houston, I will detail a few budgets friendly ideas from my recent trip.
You may know from reading my blogs, I am a personal finance coach and travel enthusiast. I use every opportunity to inspire others to create and support financial freedom. Even though I am always looking to grow with my clients and within my profession, I am also a fun, free-spirited mom, student, and careerist, and I am constantly searching for the next big idea, especially with travel. I continue to remove barriers and help promote financial literacy by using my experience with personal finances to bring you to a grounded place where you can still enjoy life while being economical. While on your financial journey I will give you tools, tips, and tricks to make traveling on a budget fun and worry free.
When traveling and depending on the location, my budget is higher in some travels and lower in others. Regardless, I follow my principles no matter where I visit, while I still indulge in the culture by tasting local foods and treats; exploring landscapes, and recreations; and shopping for cool trinkets or clothing. When going on a trip I plan for fun and relaxation, but also my expenses and daily budget. I always create a map or money plan to guide me through my traveling. Using my principles I can always find the best deals, entertainment and food in any city.
This trip was a lower-budget trip since it was a last-minute travel. I also had a major trip within the next few weeks. So, I had to save more on this trip for my future venture. This trip started as a business venture for me to network and push my financial products but once networking had ended, why not spend the remaining of the weekend kicking back and taking in the vibes?
I stayed at Wyndham nestled in the heart of food and recreational events. The hotel was unfortunately in an area where construction was being carried out on the back street, but it did not affect my route and I saved on the cost of the hotel because of this. I opted to book at a hotel that provided breakfast and Wyndham does, which saved me the cost of meals. When seeking the best deals for hotel stays, I always compare different sites that can apply different discounts.
Let’s think about it:
The hotel on a discounted site was 35 dollars cheaper than Wyndham's site, and the perks included breakfast and free parking. For me that's a triple savings: parking saved 5$, meals saved 35$ and stay was discounted 35$. I saved 75 dollars from my plan in total for the three. Cha-ching!
Even though I was provided breakfast every morning of my 2 night's stay, I did have to make room in my budget to enjoy some local fare and freshly mixed sea vegetables.
- The Lava Lounge – This restaurant was trendy and popular. From the hookah service to the fresh Mediterranean dishes and bursting with flavor. We enjoyed an appetizer called Shawarma fries. This dish was French fries topped with Mediterranean salad, some type of garlic sauce and a house blend. There was a sharable portion, and we enjoyed the speedy service.
- Red Claws Crab Shack Seafood & Hot Chicken- Seafood is always necessary to my pallet so we found a gem, this seafood and hot chicken shack was a perfect spot to get some fresh oysters and delicious margaritas at a reasonable price. This place was the perfect dinner spot and end to our Saturday evening.
- Gringos Mexican Kitchen- This restaurant was a lunch stop before I headed back to my city 2 hours away. The main highlight was the inexpensive dishes like the seafood enchiladas and the to-go margaritas. Our meal came with complimentary chips and salsa and was a delicious fare.
- Power by Sea Moss- IYKYK. The power of sea moss is a small business found in the Northwest area of Houston. This store featured different flavors of Sea Moss and bully drinks. Sea Moss is a dietary supplement that is mixed to become a gel/ jelly consistency. Sea moss is a superfood that holds vitamins and minerals, which is used to enhance your immune system, gives your body a clean energy boost and supports your gut with probiotics.
No matter what prompts you to visit beautiful Houston; relaxation, sightseeing and parks are enough to keep anyone engaged. The environment in Houston will keep your vibrations high and keep you centered.
Now this trip was a last-minute, spur of the moment trip so I had to make do with my budget. I aimed to experience Houston without breaking the bank. Here’s a few free adventures that I experienced in Houton.
- Cullinan Park- I started my mornings with walks at a local park located near the Imperial sugar factory. At first glance this park was quiet and overran by white fuzzy caterpillars but as we progressed towards the boardwalk style path we ran in 2 unexpected giants. Eeeek. Can You guess where they are? What a beautiful sight it was to experience the lily pads dancing in the light breeze and the many birds calling friends.
- Abortorium- This place was amazing, there was plenty of space for kids to play and explore the world around them. All the play equipment embodied the facts of animal and insect life. The life size spider web was the best part, because who doesn't want to be “Spooderman” sometimes? Even though the events were free, parking and ice cream did cost at a separate charge. Overall, I spent 10$ 5/parking and 5 for ice cream.
- Waterwall- Gerald D. Hines Waterwall Park is a multi-story sculpture fountain, located in the Uptown district of Houston. This adventure was a perfect end to my stay, since this sight was a cost-free experience and a relaxing encounter.
These adventures saved me from my original plan, but Instead I opted for low cost and free outings, that saved me 50$. Cha-ching!
Experiencing Houston was an unforgettable experience from the food to the sights. I displayed control over my finances and saved a total of [blank] dollars. Travel does not have to put you in a financial slump, you can enjoy your experience on a budget and have an amazing time. I was able to save an overall of 125$ for my trip and have an amazing time in Houston. The locals were friendly, the food was fair priced, and the vibes were met.
Remember to hold your coins hostage because coins add up to dollars and then to financial freedom. Keep traveling and reaching towards financial growth.
Until we talk again friend, Farewell!
Stay Sweet
-Bre
