How to avoid going broke when already poor!

Food can be a good place to save money. Any time you eat in a restaurant it is going to be more expensive than getting it from a store. In Amsterdam I still remember how amazing the yogurt was and it has been six years, now! It can also enhance your travel experience.

Keep in mind that if you weren't on your trip, you would still need to be eating. How much do you spend on food when at home?

Transportation adds up- if your hostel is centrally located to the places you want to see, you can walk. And speaking of walking, that doesn't cost anything! I spent a fantastic couple of hours in the Pere Lachaise cemetery, which is free, when in Paris last year.

If one day costs more due to a museum admission, spend the next just walking around and it will even out.

In three weeks I'll be in Europe for a month and my budget is about 50 Euro a day. I know all about being poor, trust me, but there's always a way to make it work. There are tons and tons and tons of cost-saving tips out there. It just depends on what you're willing to do (or not do) to save money while you're there.

I have gone to Europe on expensive tours (with Grandmother) AND ON THE CHEAP!- many times by myself and truthfully it is more interesting when you don't have the money barrier..it is a more 'real' experience. But at the same time every year I see people that are so worried about $$ that they miss out on a lot of great experiences. It is all a matter of choice. I would rather stay in a hostel(even though I am 40+) because that means that I can stay longer. I would rather spend $ on a concert in a catherdral-side trip-museum than on drinking and going out at night. I get food from the grocery store and I buy a big thing of water (or drink tap)and refill my bottle. If I eat out it is Lunch-not dinner and I would rather have simple meals in order to be able to sample things in a fabulous market or to try a new gelato flavor every day. I could be traveling in countries where the dollar is stronger but Europe is Europe! Enjoy and be frugal when you get back. PM with any ?'s

Also- Just being in these amazing cities.- walking around, seeing the sights, sitting on a bench is free. When I first went to Europe by myself I knew that I wouldn't be able to see every thing and do every thing. I could be across from a fabulous cafe and take in the atmoshpere and the experience. I would decide what was the 'must do' things and make sure that I did those. Maybe the rest of the days, I would have to just 'hang out'. If people were going out at night, I would go with them but not drink or better yet find a group that wanted to check out stuff but not blow all their money on clubs. A quick metro trip to see the Eiffel Tower lit up at night may cost a few Euros but is priceless. On the same note, some of the most interesting things I have experienced were small places in my 'neighborhood' and some times I enjoyed the little-overlooked church that wasn't filled with the 'tourist mass' but had lots of candles and a choir practicing.
Experience life -buy less things

Destiny, I love your post :-)

I agree about the market shopping, and eating at lunch time. Picnics are awesome also! You get to people watch, fortify yourself for later on, and relax like a local in the parks. I love watching locals do exactly that.

We too will choose those things that are absolutely important to us, and saving by staying in an apartment. We can have a large breakfast, pack snacks, have a picnic lunch and maybe get take-out for the apartment, or even eat wherever we buy food.

Sure you can travel for less if you choose to stay in some obscure town or industrial suburb but that is missing the whole point of experiencing PARIS-VIENNA-AMSTERDAM I do love little places too but I would appeciate them after I had been to the world famous cities!
2 years ago, I returned to Ireland and was fairly blown away at how expensive things had become and I travel every year-- all I could do is make such adjustments as I could and enjoy myself. I knew that I would have to be frugal when I got back for a while but decided that Ireland was where I wanted to be and that was that!
Just be glad you're not off to London ;-) the pound is a killer! Spent a week in London and 3 weeks in Scotland which was glorious but against the dollar it was tough! The Euro is looking good compared to my last trip :-)

Think FREE!!!! Depending on the time you'll be in Paris, I know the State museums are free on a specific day of the month (think its the first Sunday - but check) Be prepared for lengthy lines, but hey - the Musee d'Orsay as a freebie is well worth the wait! Not to mention the lift and walk up to the top of the Arc d'Triomphe.

Is it possible to buy your museum tickets in advance - prior to the dollar becoming more weak? I know you can buy Rijksmuseum, Van Gogh and the Anne Frank House online. (Though the Anne Frank House requires a time and day commitment.)

Hostel, hostel, hostel. I am heading to AMS at the beginning of May and swapped my 250Euro/$400 hotel room for a $200 (4 night total) hostel room. I hadn't planned on it, but the $200 savings means I can spend it elsewhere! I'm in my 30s and I just need a place to rest my head and shower. I'm not looking for a ritzy hotel.

If your breakfast in included with the room price, sneak a roll into your bag (or whatever you can). For lunch, stop and buy some cheese and an apple - slice it all up and eat it with the bread. I found the tastiest cheese at street markets in Amsterdam. In Paris - buy a bottle of wine at the supermarket - Leader Price had good bottles for under 3 euros (good for me). I found the food at Leader Price (I went to the one on Rue Cler) very reasonabale.

Bring plastic baggies with you - good for having handy to sneak food into!

alayna, as noted, people save where they can and splurge where they like. Your friend who spent time in Amsterdam spent his money on pot, and then complained about food costs( of course he would, since after smoking the pot he just bought, he was then compelled to go pig out as he got the munchies, poor baby, LOL )

Bring baggies, and buy a little package of plastic spoons ( either there or bring from home) we used them everyday for yogurts we bought..
Most hotels do not include breakfast, they charge extra, don' t eat there, go to bakery.

Do allow yourself one special meal. In Paris ( about 100 yrs ago, in the 80's) my friend and I splurged on a meal that cost us about 100 dollars( which is like about $300- 400 now!) ,, I have never forgotten that meal.. ( Fouquets, Champs D'Elysees, filet mignon and bearnaise) ,

we ate at mcdonalds after that ,, and lots of jambon sandwiches,, LOL

In France eat at small bars - you can often get a big sandwich and salad for under 5 euros. I found the priciest thing was beverages. A glass of wine was 6 euros but I could buy a bottle at the market for 3. Don't waste your money on souveniers.

You posted a while back about packing jeans and what to bring for the opera ... find a long skirt which you can wear with your boots - I would NOT waste space in my bag packing more pants - you will be miserable wearing pants in the summer! Skirts are the WAY to go. Forget the blazer too. I buy long crinkly skirts at a place called Hippie Shop and that and a tee shirt looks nice. Pants = sweaty asses! One more HUGE tip is contacting www.parisgreeters.com and arrange for a greeter to show you around. A wonderful woman named Sara showed my family her neighborhood - Montmarte - we had the best day with her. Since it is a volunteer organization you pay nothing - we took her out to lunch.

Have fun!!

Refill your water bottle~picnic lunchpeople watchget stand up at the Opera or do a Rick and see if you can get in after intermissionstock up at the grocery store but you have to eat pastries in Europe!Bring vitamins from home and TAKE them!Find a relative that might be willing to spot you some cash for your trip and be paid back at a slower rate or in exchange for errands.~~

Honestly, bread can't be so expensive that you need to sneak a roll from breakfast.

There are lots of nice things to eat and buy in the grocery stores that won't break the bank. What would is having lunch/dinner at a sit down restaurant.