Many of us backpackers who traverse the globe tend to budget fairly tightly so we can extend our world trip as much as possible.  I call it Tight Arse Travel.

Sometimes, this means sticking to a strict budget that usually sacrifices food for the sake of alcohol.

However, some interesting characters take the budgeting task a tad too far, to the point where every single penny, peso or pound is scrupulously analysed before any potential transaction.

Usually, they possess the ‘Minimalist’ Travel Personality Type which I wrote about in ‘Travel Personalities Explained’.

Another term for this type of traveller is a ‘Tight Arse’.  A Tight Arse (or Ass for those from North America) is described as a ‘miser or a cheapskate who is reluctant to spend money’.

The Tight Arse Traveller lives by the following 10 Commandments of Tight Arse Travelling:

1. Thou shalt be able to wear a single piece of underwear 4 times before washing is required.  That is, frontwards, backwards, inside-out frontwards, and inside out backwards.

2. Thou shalt prefer to crash on a free beach, park bench or forest instead of a paid bed.

3. Thou shalt view swimming in the ocean as an adequate substitute for showering.

4. Thou shalt abstain from using washing powder for as long as possible.

5. Thou shalt shun the marvels of underarm deodorant.

6. Thou shalt view razor blades and shaving cream as purely optional accessories.

7. Thou shalt ensure everything is recyclable and reusable.

8. Thou shalt use the following hierarchy of transport to minimise costs, in order of first preference to last – walking, hitchhiking, and as a stowaway in a plane.

9. Thou shalt drink the cheapest booze by methodically working out the lowest possible cost per alcohol content ratio ; and finally

10. Thou shalt follow alley cats to find the cheapest source of local cuisine.

How about you?  How do you minimise your costs on the road?  Feel free to leave some Tight Arse Travelling Tips by leaving a comment!