It is the end of the month, so money is in the bank, hopefully, and there is a long weekend ahead of us. Most likely, many are planning a road trip to celebrate Madaraka Day with with friends or family. But you know what these road trips do to your wallet when you are not careful. They suck all the notes out, leaving it clean. But there is a way you can save on all these little things.

1.      Take it slow and save on gas

Playing all manner of tricks on the road to show your prowess is as expensive as it is dangerous.  Speed will have an impact on your fuel consumption, and so will other things like turning on the AC at highway speeds. AC hogs your gas. Other things you can do to while driving to reduce your fuel consumption include- keeping your tires properly inflated and easing off the pedal well before a stop sign.

2.      Avoid expensive road food costs

If you are travelling, say, From Nairobi to Naivasha, it might be better to stock up on drinks from cheaper stores in town. Road side food purchases might be more expensive. It would also be an even better idea to have a small cooler where you can store your own drinks. 

3.      Car wash? Do it yourself!

If you are a group of friends, washing the car together might add to the fun.

4.      Plan the route to avoid wasting gas

It will save you time and money if you know the quickest route around.  Getting lost and finding your way back on a road trip is fun, if you are a pessimist, but it will sure cost you an extra shilling. Knowing the route well might also help, especially when you want to find affordable fueling stations of inexpensive stores.

5.      Make reservations before hitting the road

If you are spending the night in a hotel, make reservations before travelling. It will not only ensure you find a ready room, but you will have saved money in this regard- imagine finding all the affordable rooms in the hotel have been booked, it is late , there is no other hotel nearby, and you desperately need to sleep. It means you might have to spend more money.

6.      Have a financial plan for the trip

This is actually the first thing one needs to do when planning a road trip. Detail your budget- from lodging, meals, activities, gas, unexpected expenses etc. If you are a group of people, you should all decide together how much money each one is contributing. We all know what money does to friendships.

Enjoy the long weekend folks! Have fun, but most importantly be safe!