Travelling on a budget can be quite a bit of an oxymoron unless you know how to start it. I've definitely made many, many mistakes on my travels abroad, but have come out a much wiser budget traveller. Despite the fact that I still have my splurges, I adhere to a few general rules to help keep my budget in-line. Travelling on a budget will not mean restricting yourself or having less of a good time, it is all about getting the most out of your trip for the money you have. I've come up with five tips that can help keep your wallet full, and adventures cheap. Enjoy!1. Always travel local.Do everything because the locals do. This is by far the very best advice I could give. Avoid tourist areas like the plague with regards to dining options. Walk around and explore to see where and what the locals are eating. You will be surprised at just how much cheaper food is just by walking several streets from major attractions. Street food can be your friend. And delicious. Pay attention to what transport the locals are employing, chances are they aren't utilizing the beer bus or over-priced taxis. Not only will you learn a lot more about the country you're visiting this way, however the cost will be easier to manage.If you want to take it a step further, book your trips through local suppliers as well. Not merely will this be cheaper compared to the big companies at home, it also supports the neighborhood communities you will be visiting. Try TravelLocal, they'll pair you with a local company at your destination based on your requirements and budget.2. Buy travel insurance.It may look strange to advise you to get something when I am also trying to help you save money. But in the event that you leave home with only 1 thing, allow it be travel cover. You can't predict the future, or the method that you will land from then on Paragliding jump. Travel cover allows you to be ready for every scenario, and avoid costly medical bills if something happens on the way. If you choose annual travel insurance rather than single policies, you may be covered for trips through the entire entire year and can pay substantially less. In case you aren't accident prone like me, you can't control the elements, other folks, or unforeseen circumstances such as for example flight cancellations. Just take action.3. Walk.Although it isn't always a choice, there are a lot of cities that are ideal for walking. For those who have time on your side you can actually walk to where you need to go, while preventing the high cost of public transportation. Amsterdam is a terrific example and when you have at least two days to explore the town it is a lot more cost-effective to explore on your feet. You will have a better experience seeing the sites on your own rather than a stuffed tour bus. In case you are worried about getting lost, a few of my favorite adventure adventures began that way. Many cities also offer walking guides or tours, so execute a quick Google search before you leave.Walkit.com includes a great urban walking planner that gives you walking directions from Point A to Point B in cities through the entire UK.4. Browse the freebies.From free walking tours to free museum admission, have a look at what your destination might be able to give you for free. Most major cities have free walking tours, and only ask that you pay everything you think the tour was worth in the end. You're under no obligation to tip, so can provide as little or around your budget allows. Plenty of major museums offer museum open days; the MOMA in NYC for example offers free admission with their collection every Friday night and the Louvre in Paris does the same the first Sunday of every month. Although there are definitely exceptions (Italy!) many churches/temples/mosques offer free admission onto the grounds. No matter your religious background, these sites offer among the best architectural wonders and artwork around.F.Y.I. Nearly every museum in London is free to visit, the big cathedrals like Westminster Abbey are from from it. Be prepared to pay �18 which is equivalent to around $27-28.Notre-Dame in Paris, Milan Cathedral, and the Djenne Mosque in Mali are free, although for the latter you must be Muslim to go inside.5. Be flexible.If you want to travel on a budget, it is important to chillllll out. You don't have to fly from a Friday, and that bed in the 4*star hotel isn't worth starving yourself the rest of the trip. By allowing you to ultimately travel with some flexibility you will save money and enjoy the knowledge even more.- Fly out on a Tuesday or Wednesday. While not always the case, flights are often cheaper on these days.- Book a hostel rather than a hotel. Hostels aren't for smelly 18 year olds anymore. Many hostels are needs to re-brand themselves as boutique hostels. All this means to you is nice room, small price.- Be open to doing things that aren't on the itinerary. Once you travel you'll meet people, and often these people find out about great places that Frommer didn't mention. Sometimes these things end up being the best parts of a vacation, so don't hold onto that piece of paper too tightly. These off-the-beaten-path adventures are, well, off-the-beaten-path. What does that mean to you? Less tourists means less opportunity for the locals to produce a buck, which might translate to more income in your pocket."to travel is worth any cost or sacrifice."? Elizabeth GilbertJessica Galbraith, American travel writer living in the united kingdom. Visit her blog The Fly Away American for more travel-related articles and blurbs on expat life.