I LOVE to travel! Seeing and experiencing new things does more for me than any tangible object ever could so I find myself investing more often in travel than anything else. My favorites are road trips and train rides so that's what I'll be focusing on in this post but believe me, even though it sounds minimal and limited, it definitely IS NOT!

I am like most people: I have no extra money at all and it isn't easy to make an adventure happen. That's why I have a few go-to services that I have been loyal to because they make it affordable for me and my family to get away for a little bit and see something other than our backyard! Whether I'm traveling for business or for pleasure, I have two companies that I repeatedly use with amazing experiences and consistent savings.

The first one that I want to share with you is Amtrak.

Riding the train is a great experience and with Amtrak, you can board with minimal baggage requirements and then sit back and relax as you travel. The train that I ride is the Missouri River Runner which runs from St. Louis, MO to Kansas City, MO, stopping at the beautiful Union Station in downtown Kansas City.

A huge plus with Amtrak, and a great way to save, is the discounts offered to AAA customers in addition to Amtrak's reward system. Each trip you take earns more points which add up to gain access to discounted tickets or services and even FREE trips!

Just by signing up for the membership, you'll receive discounts and offers directly to your inbox without even having to earn points. I've taken a few trips that were 25% off their original price simply by booking within a certain time and not having to use my points (and, in fact, earning MORE points!).

The train is a great option for business as it allows you to focus on work instead of driving. I spend a lot of time on my laptop, editing photos or working on my website (yay, wifi) so I always feel productive.

On average, when I travel from Washington, MO to Kansas City, MO, I pend about $60.00 round trip which is a great value to me as I avoid putting miles on my vehicle and I get to spend my time productively!

The second affordable travel service that I use regularly is Hotwire. Hum of the Smokies

Oh, Hotwire, how I adore thee.

Using Hotwire rentals, I have driven to and through the Smoky Mountains (for just $122.00 for 5 days, might I add), taken a three day road trip through some of Missouri's most beautiful state parks (for only $175.00 for both car rental and hotel rooms), and visited Kansas City for a weekend (spending only $120.00 for hotel and car).

The trick, at least for me, is taking advantage of their Hot Rate deals so you have to keep an open mind. Using Hot Rate deals, you commit to rental before you know exactly where it is. This can be a huge win sometimes and a not-so-great win other times. On our road trip through Missouri, we left in our rental car with no place to stay. Using the app, about an hour away from Lake of the Ozarks, we logged in and secured a hotel room. Waiting last minute allows you to get access to insanely low prices and Purchase in color from Getty Images at http://www.gettyimages.com/license/654134384 that's how we got our BEAUTIFUL room on Hwy 54, about 10 minutes from Lake of the Ozarks State Park for just $32.00, tax included. The next night, however, we stayed in Farmington, MO using the same technique and paid $63.00 for a room that was decently far away from our destination and wasn't exactly the prettiest thing we'd ever seen. So you see, sometimes it's great and other times there's room left for improvement. BUT if you're wanting to travel on a budget, you're already aware that there's some sacrifice involved.

If cars aren't your preferred way of travel, no worries! Hotwire can also help you with cheaper plane tickets and even full-on vacations!

They're such an awesome resource if you suffer from Wanderlust and a thin wallet!

So there it is! And these are by no means the only ways to travel on a budget but they are always my go-tos! I hope you have found this helpful and happy & safe travels!