Traveling is one of the best investments you can make in yourself, and once you’ve mastered the art of finding the most affordable flight tickets and deciding on the countries you want to visit, only the sky becomes your limit. After all, it doesn’t matter if you only brought a backpack as you’re still going to see the same landscapes and enjoy the same local food as the ones who brought a suitcase filled with outfits. If you plan on traveling on a budget soon but would still like to get some original keepsakes, here are a few ideas of cheap and original souvenirs to get during your trips.
Postcards
One simple but sweet idea for those travelers who are on a budget would be to buy a postcard and send it to your own house. When traveling, get a postcard that represents the country or city the best, for example one that features important touristic places, and write yourself a message on the back, telling you in the future how much you enjoy your vacation. When you get home, you’ll have a wonderful souvenir in the mailbox that you can collect as a token from your trips.
Shot glasses
Even if you’re not a big fan of drinking, collecting a shot glass from every place you travel to can help you put together a shelf full of colorful and creative souvenirs. From Czech shot glasses made of Bohemia crystal to the intricate Scottish ones that feature crafted pewter accents, this souvenir won’t cost you more than $5. However, if you happen to be in a country and don’t like the selection there, you can always look online for other glasses. For Scottish shot glasses, for example, we can recommend https://www.gaelsong.com/prod_detail_list/scottish-gifts , as they have a wide variety of Scottish gifts including these stunning pieces.
Patches
If you want your souvenir to be affordable, practical, and stylish at the same time, we have the best ever idea for you! Start by going to a thrift store and getting a vintage denim jacket with a plain design and no ornaments. Then, when visiting a new place, get a patch with the flag of the country or a national symbol and iron or glue them to your jacket. This way, your jacket will get more and more interesting while you’re traveling to new destinations.
Tote bags
Over the recent years, tote bags became one of the most popular souvenir ideas as they are inexpensive, fashionable, and resistant, which makes them great for everyday wear or running errands. In order for your tote bag to be truly special, we suggest you get it from a popular place in the city you’re visiting, like a national gallery, a museum, famous library, or a tourist place. Once home, you can style it however you want and wear it to work or grocery shopping and then you can easily throw it into the washing machine at the end of the day.
Recipes
In case you like cooking and have always wanted to try new cuisines and to recreate them at home, collecting recipes from your trips can make an excellent souvenir. If you happen to really like your food at a local restaurant, try your luck to ask for the recipe and most of the time the chef won’t be opposed to writing it down for you. If not, you can try and find it online and then recreate it once home. This way, you’ll get a beautiful collection of hand-written recipes of delicious dishes that you can make every time you miss your vacation.