tour auto budget

Best Road Trip Cars in 2024 and 2025

We compiled a list of vehicles that are great for road trips. These vehicles are fuel-efficient, reliable, and comfortable, which will help you out on all of your highway adventures.

Kia Motors America |

The Best Cars, Minivans and SUVs for Road Trips

Summer is prime road trip season, whether that means hitting up a national park or getting together with family at a lakeside cabin. Choosing the right new car for an epic road trip can make your vacation more comfortable, more fuel efficient, and even safer, thanks to the new technologies found in many new vehicles. It can also mean less arguing, thanks to USB ports that keep devices charged, Wi-Fi hotspots that keep everyone entertained, and roomy back seats that keep siblings from touching.

We've rounded up the best road trip vehicles available this summer, with everything from sports cars to pickups, with plenty of family-friendly SUVs on the list. As new information becomes available, we update our reviews, so the data found in these slides might not match those reviews exactly.

American Honda Motor Co., Inc. |

2024 Honda CR-V Hybrid

$34,050 | usn overall score: 8.0/10.

The 2024 Honda CR-V Hybrid is a more fuel-efficient version of the popular compact SUV, with up to 43 mpg in the city. A 7-inch touch screen, smartphone connectivity, a Wi-Fi hotspot and four USB ports come standard to keep everyone powered up and entertained.

The interior is one of the nicest in the class, and the standard upholstery is stain-resistant. The seats are comfy in both rows, with room for adults to stretch out even on road trips. The rear seats recline, so whoever is off driving duty can take a nap. Standard adaptive cruise control and lane-keep assist help reduce the fatigue that can come with hours of driving.

2024 Volkswagen Atlas

$36,985 | usn overall score: 8.1/10.

The 2024 Volkswagen Atlas has enough room to bring along everybody and all their gear. It's available with either three rows of seating or two rows in the Cross Sport configuration. The third row is comfy for kids and adults on shorter trips. The Atlas has more cargo space behind the third row than most in its class.

Refreshed for 2024, in either configuration, a 12-inch touch screen with smartphone connectivity and a Wi-Fi hot spot are standard, along with wireless device charging and four USB ports. The Atlas can also tow up to 5,000 pounds when properly configured if you plan to bring a small camper or want to tow some toys for your vacation.

2024 Ford Mustang

$30,920 | usn overall score: 8.1/10.

Sometimes you want to live the American road trip dream in an impractical sports car. But guess what – the redesigned 2024 Ford Mustang is a rather practical sports car. It's as exciting to drive as you could hope, and it still manages to turn in great fuel economy numbers that won't put a damper on your budget.

The Mustang's interior has been updated with a more modern, tech-forward look. Its standard infotainment system has a large 13.2-inch touch screen and a Wi-Fi hot spot. Standard safety tech includes automatic emergency braking and lane-keep assist. But maybe most importantly, for purposes of the dream, the Mustang is available as a convertible.

2024 Chevrolet Suburban

$59,200 | overall score: 8.2/10.

The 2024 Chevrolet Suburban is the classic family road trip SUV, and it's the winner of our 2024 Best Large SUV for Families award. It's huge, with more cargo space than almost any SUV out there. It can be configured to seat up to nine people, though that means someone has to sit in the middle of the front bench seat. In any case, the third row provides enough legroom for adults.

The interior is sturdy enough for epic journeys, and it comes with an 8-inch touch screen, wireless smartphone connectivity and six USB ports. Depending on how you configure it, the Suburban can tow up to 8,300 pounds, enough for the average camper. It also comes with driver-assistance features like lane-departure warning and lane-keep assist.

2024 Kia Carnival

$33,600 | overall score: 8.2/10.

The 2024 Kia Carnival makes a strong case for the classic family minivan as the ultimate road-trip vehicle, especially with pricing that's among the most affordable on this list. It comes with a good list of standard safety features for long drives, including lane-keep assist and blind-spot monitoring.

The interior is upholstered with easy-to-clean materials, and all three rows have enough room for adults, though the third row has a bit less legroom than the first two. It also has lots of cargo space, even with all three rows in use. If you don't need the last row for passengers, it folds flat into the floor for even more cargo space. An 8-inch touch screen, smartphone compatibility and a whopping seven USB ports come standard.

2024 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid

$53,425 | usn overall score: 8.3/10.

The plug-in hybrid 2024 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid achieves up to 30 mpg in combined driving when operating in hybrid mode, which is great for any minivan. Once you reach your destination, plug this family hauler in overnight to be able to drive about 32 miles on electric power.

There's also a ton of tech included, like a 10.1-inch touch screen, wireless smartphone connectivity and Amazon Alexa compatibility. All three rows of seating have lots of head- and legroom, and there's plenty of storage space. Standard safety features include stop-and-go adaptive cruise control and rain-sensing windshield wipers.

2024 Lincoln Navigator

$82,765 | usn overall score: 8.6/10.

Wherever your road trip takes you, the 2024 Lincoln Navigator will make sure you arrive in comfort and style. It's one of the best luxury large SUVs, with a well-built and high-quality interior. Standard features include a 13.2-inch touch screen, wireless smartphone connectivity, a Wi-Fi hotspot and five USB ports.

Every seat in all three rows is comfortable, and the available L model adds extra space to an already roomy cargo area. Though the Navigator is large, its powerful engine easily gets it up to speed on the highway. Standard safety features like lane-keep assist and stop-and-go adaptive cruise control can help reduce driver fatigue too.

2024 Hyundai Tucson Hybrid

$32,575 | usn overall score: 8.6/10.

The 2024 Hyundai Tucson Hybrid is among the best in its class and was a finalist for our Best Hybrid SUV for the Money and Best Hybrid SUV for Families awards this year. The regular hybrid is the best for road tripping, with up to 38 mpg on the highway. But it doesn't sacrifice power for efficiency, with enough get-up-and-go for passing on the highway. All-wheel drive is standard for a sure-footed feel.

Inside, there's tons of room for adults in both rows of seating and a huge cargo area. A 10.25-inch touch screen is standard, along with Apple CarPlay , Android Auto , four USB ports and wireless device charging.

GENESIS MOTOR AMERICA |

2024 Genesis G90

$89,200 | usn overall score: 8.7/10.

If your road-trip budget allows for a little luxury. the 2024 Genesis G90 delivers. It has a capable V6 and an optional mild-hybrid powertrain that improves acceleration when passing on the highway. The available air suspension makes long drives a dream, and the extensive list of standard safety features–including adaptive cruise control and a head-up display–eases the tedium of driving.

The Nappa leather interior wraps the road tripper in luxury, and both rows of seating are comfortable for adults. The trunk is large enough for several suitcases, and it opens automatically as you approach. The G90 also has one of the longest powertrain warranties in the business.

2025 Ram 1500

$40,275 | usn overall score: 8.7/10.

If your road trip plan involves a camper or boat, you'll want to look into the 2025 Ram 1500 . When properly equipped, it can tow up to 11,580 pounds. As with most pickups, you can configure the 1500 in whatever way works for you, with bed, cab and powertrain options in addition to trim levels and packages to add on.

All of the available body styles have a spacious, high-quality interior. Quite a few safety features are standard, including stop-and-go adaptive cruise control and rear cross-traffic alert. The infotainment system got an upgrade for the 2025 model year, which means even more available features, including three screen sizes, three sound systems, and a long list of available tech features.

2024 Honda Civic

$23,950 | usn overall score: 8.7/10.

You probably need one car to handle both the daily commute and the road trip vacation, and you need it to be affordable. Enter the 2024 Honda Civic . It's one of the best compact cars in its class, and we named it the 2024 Best Compact Car for the Money . All of its scores are high, especially when it comes to safety. It has the lowest MSRP on our list yet comes standard with desirable amenities like adaptive cruise control and traffic-sign recognition. It's also thrifty, with up to 42 mpg on the highway.

A 7-inch touch screen and smartphone connectivity come standard. The front seats in particular are supportive over the long haul, and the Civic has more overall interior space than most rivals.

Road Trip Car Characteristics

Passenger space: People turn cranky when they aren't comfortable after hours on the road. There needs to be space for everyone to stretch out.

Cargo space: At the very minimum, you'll be bringing luggage along and maybe also camping gear or tubes for floating the river. Make sure there's space for your gear.

Fuel economy: Stopping for gas on a road trip can get expensive. Fuel efficiency, particularly from hybrid powertrains, can ease the pain of stopping at the pump.

Infotainment: An AM/FM radio is no longer sufficient for most people. An infotainment system that's easy to use while driving and can connect to smartphones is key.

Safety tech: Driving long distances causes fatigue, and fatigue causes accidents. Modern driver-assistance features can help you stay alert and in your lane.

Reliability: No one wants to be the car in the breakdown lane while on their road trip. A good predicted reliability score shows that a particular model has on average been a solid performer over time.

Genesis Motor America |

Road Trip Car FAQs

What is the best car for road trips.

The best car for road trips is the one that fits your budget and your needs, so there's no one vehicle that will work for everybody. That said, the 2024 Honda Civic is a strong pick. It provides comfort, features, safety and reliability, and all for one of the lowest price tags on this list.

What is the best SUV for road trips?

The 2024 Hyundai Tucson Hybrid combines a long list of standard features with great fuel economy, and it has one of the most spacious interiors in its class.

What is the best luxury car for road trips?

The 2024 Genesis G90 will take you anywhere in comfort and style. Most of its best features are standard, including leather upholstery.

What is the most comfortable car for long trips?

On a list of very comfortable vehicles, the 2024 Honda CR-V Hybrid is probably the most comfortable, especially for back-seat passengers who can take advantage of the reclining seats. If comfort is your priority, take a look at our list of most comfortable cars for more options.

U.S. News and World Report |

More Shopping Tools From U.S. News & World Report

Plenty of families take road trips, so you might want to check out the winners of our 2023 Best Cars for Families awards too. Maybe you've been left stranded on an unfamiliar road by your former car and are looking for the most reliable cars available. If you know you need to bring along a lot of gear, see our roundup of compact SUVs with the most cargo space .

When you're ready to buy a new car, use our Best Price Program to pre-negotiate a great price with a local dealership. You can arrange for online buying and even vehicle delivery through the program.

U.S. News & World Report |

Best Cars for Road Trips in 2024 and 2025

2024 Honda CR-V Hybrid: $34,050 | USN Overall Score: 8.0/10
2024 Volkswagen Atlas: $36,985 | USN Overall Score: 8.1/10
2024 Ford Mustang: $30,920 | USN Overall Score: 8.1/10
2024 Chevrolet Suburban: $59,200 | Overall Score: 8.2/10
2024 Kia Carnival: $33,600 | Overall Score: 8.2/10
2024 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid: $53,425 | USN Overall Score: 8.3/10
2024 Lincoln Navigator: $82,765 | USN Overall Score: 8.6/10
2024 Hyundai Tucson Hybrid: $32,575 | USN Overall Score: 8.6/10
2024 Genesis G90: $89,200 | USN Overall Score: 8.7/10
2025 Ram 1500: $40,275 | USN Overall Score: 8.7/10
2024 Honda Civic: $23,950 | USN Overall Score: 8.7/10

Browse Cars

How to Road Trip Across the United States on a Budget

The Great American Road Trip is a rite of passage in the United States . We Americans have a unique fascination with the open road. It’s built into our cultural DNA. In Jazz Age America, the car was a symbol of freedom — a chance to escape your small town and the watchful eyes of parents.

As the highway system was developed in the 1950s, a wave of kids set out on the road to explore the country, giving new life to America’s car and road trip culture. Today, many still dream of getting in a car and driving into wide open spaces for months on end.

I’ve had the privilege of taking several multi-week and multi-month road trips around the country over the years. From traveling the Deep South to criss-crossing the country coast to coast , I’ve visited almost every state, exploring the myriad nooks and crannies of Uncle Sam’s backyard.

One thing is for certain, in diversity and scale, the United States is virtually unrivaled.

But this isn’t a post about fawning over America and its landscapes ( this post is ). This article is about how you can travel around the US on a budget.

Because, as it turns out, this country is surprisingly easy to travel on the cheap.

While rising gas prices and rental car price gouging post-COVID put a damper on things, it’s still easier than you think to have a budget-friendly road trip adventure around the USA.

In this post, I’ll explain how much I spent on one of my trips, how much you should expect to spend, and how you can save money on your next road trip.

Table of Contents

How Much Did My Cross-Country Road Trip Cost?

How to save money on your road trip, how to save on accommodation, how to save on food, how to save on sightseeing, how to save on transportation.

After 116 days traveling around the United States on this trip, I spent $6,262.67 USD, or $53.98 USD per day. While that is slightly higher than $50 USD a day, there were many parts of my budget I splurged on (see breakdown below) which skewed the number up. I definitely could have visited the country even cheaper if I didn’t have an addiction to Starbucks and sushi.

Here is how the numbers from my road trip break down:

Accommodations: $1,036.36
Food: $3,258.23
Drinks: $438.94
Gas: $696.98
Parking: $253.00
Starbucks: $75.26
Miscellaneous (movies, toiletries, etc.): $170.00
Attractions: $269.40
Taxis: $41.00
Bus: $17.50
Subway: $6.00

Let’s break this down. First, my Starbucks addiction was unnecessary and added to my costs. Second, as a lover of sushi, trying various restaurants throughout my road trip drastically raised my food costs. Sushi, after all, is not cheap.

Moreover, I ate as if I wasn’t on a budget and rarely cooked, which is why my food expenses were so high relative to everything else. I would have definitely gone below $50 USD per day if I followed my own advice and cooked more often.

But, while I splurged in some places, three other things really helped me to keep expenses down: First, gas prices were low, averaging around $2.35 USD a gallon over the duration of my trip. (We’re going to discuss how to still do a road trip on a budget with high gas prices in the next section.)

Second, once you leave the big cities, prices for everything drop by nearly half so I spent a lot of time out of cities.

Third, I used Couchsurfing and cashed in hotel points to keep accommodation costs down. That helped a lot.

Overall, I didn’t do too bad and am happy with how much I spent. But is this how much you’ll spend, especially in the face of inflation and high gas prices? Let’s discuss that below.

It’s no secret travel costs a lot lately and inflation and high gas prices have really made super cheap road trips hard if you’re not staying places for free but that doesn’t mean the road trip has to be super expensive.

With that in mind, here’s how to cut your accommodation, sightseeing, food, and transportation costs — all without cutting into your experience!

A charming lighthouse on the coast of Maine on a bright summer day

1. Couchsurf — Couchsurfing is a service that allows you to stay with locals for free. Using this website (or similar ones) is the best way to lower accommodation costs, as you can’t get cheaper than free!

More than that, it’s a wonderful way to meet locals, get insider tips, and find off-the-beaten-track stuff to do in the area you’re visiting. While you’re generally expected to reciprocate your host’s kindness (cooking them a meal, taking them out for drinks or coffee, etc.), it’s still far cheaper than paying for a hotel or motel.

While the app has seen its community shrink in recent years, there are still plenty of hosts across the United States so you’ll rarely find problems finding someone to put you up.

Additionally, if you don’t feel comfortable staying with a stranger, you can use the app to meet people for drinks, coffee, activities, or anything else you want to do. That way, you can still meet a local and get their insider tips without having to stay with them. The app has all kinds of meet-ups and events too so be sure to check it out.

2. Airbnb — I only recommend using Airbnb in rural, out of the way places where hotels are limited. Avoid them as much as possible in other circumstances as they take housing stock off the market. Try to use their Rooms feature if you can!

3. Budget hotels — There are a plethora of cheap roadside hotels such as Motel 6 and Super 8 that will help you stay cheap. Rooms start around $50 USD per night and are super basic and always look well worn. You’ll get a bed, bathroom, TV, tiny closet, and maybe a desk. They are nothing to write home about, but for a quiet place to sleep for a night, they do the trick.

And if you’re traveling with someone you should always say the room is for one person as these hotels charge you more for two people.

Also, make sure you sign up for Booking.com and Hotels.com loyalty programs. Hotels.com gives you a free room after 10 bookings, and Booking.com offers members 10% off bookings, as well as free upgrades and perks if you book multiple times after signing up. They definitely helped a lot.

Pro tip : Book through websites like Mr.Rebates or Rakuten . By using their links before going to Hotels.com or Booking, you’ll get 2-4% cash back in addition to the loyalty program deals.

4. Hotel points — Be sure to sign up for hotel credit cards before you go and use those points when you travel. You can get upwards of 70,000 points as a sign-up bonus, which can translate into a week’s worth of accommodations.

The points came in handy in places where I couldn’t find an Airbnb, hostel, or Couchsurfing host. This saved my butt in big cities around the country. I was glad I had accrued so many hotel points before my trip.

To learn more about, check out these posts:

The Best Hotel Credit Cards
The Ultimate Guide to Picking the Best Travel Credit Card
Points and Miles 101: A Beginner’s Guide
The Best Travel Credit Cards

5. Hostels — There aren’t many hostels in the United States, and most of them are overpriced. A dorm room typically costs around $30 a night, which means you can obtain a similar private room on Airbnb at the same price. If you are traveling with others, it’s often more economical to get a budget hotel than a bunch of dorm beds.

However, if you are traveling solo and want to meet others, the social benefits may outweigh the lack of value. There were just some times I didn’t want to be alone – I wanted to be around other travelers.

Some of the hostels I loved are:

Samesun Venice Beach (LA)
South Beach Hostel (Miami)
India House (New Orleans)
ITH Adventure Hostel (San Diego)
The Green Tortoise (San Francisco and Seattle).

For more hostel suggestions, here’s a list of my favorite hostels in the USA.

6. Camping — Dotted around the country — including around all the national parks — are inexpensive campsites. If you have a tent and camping gear, this is by far the cheapest way to travel. Campsites cost between $10-30 USD per night, which makes seeing the country incredibly affordable. Most campsites have basic amenities like running water, bathrooms, and the ability to upgrade to get electricity.

In addition to your standard campgrounds, check out the sharing economy website Campspace . It lets you pitch a tent on private properties all around the country for a small fee. Much like Airbnb, some plots are super basic and barebones while others are more luxurious, so be sure to poke around for a cheap place to stay as there are plots available all around the country.

It’s also legal to wild camp in national forests and on BLM land unless otherwise marked.

7. Sleep in your car — I know this isn’t glamorous but sleeping in your vehicle brings your accommodation costs down to zero. I know lots of travelers who did this to make their trip more affordable, some sleeping in their car just occasionally and others doing it every night. Chances are you won’t sleep well but you will save money, and that’s a fair trade to some people!

For those traveling in an RV, there are tons of free places to park and camp all around the country. Use iOverlander to find the best spots.

A take out dish of shrimp on a road trip by Nomadic Matt in Hawaii

To help you keep your food costs in check, here are a few quick tips:

1. Cook your own meals as often as possible – If you can bring a cooler in your vehicle, you can pack groceries instead of eating out all the time. And if you bring some containers, you can store leftovers in the car too, allowing you to cook larger meals at dinner that you can eat the next day for lunch.

2. Stay in accommodation with a kitchen – If you want to cook, you’ll need a kitchen. Prioritize accommodation like Couchsurfing, Airbnb, and hostels as those will typically provide kitchen access so you can cook your meals.

3. Shop cheap – Avoid the pricier grocery stores like Whole Foods when it comes to getting groceries and stick to budget places like Walmart. It’s not glamorous, but it will be cheap!

4. Find cheap restaurants – When you want to eat out but don’t want to break the bank, use Yelp, ask people on websites like Couchsurfing, or inquire at the desks at hostels for suggestions. Locals have the best tips and insights when it comes to where to eat so they can point you in the right direction. Simply cook, limit your eating out, and be happy!

The famous Horseshoe Bend as seen by Nomadic Matt while on a roadtrip

1. Get a National Parks pass — For $80, you can purchase an annual National Parks and Federal Lands ‘America the Beautiful’ pass that provides access to all 63 national parks (as well as any other recreation areas administered by the National Park Service). In total, you can visit more than 2,000 federal recreation sites with the same pass. At $20-35 USD per visit, seeing five during your trip makes the pass a money saver. When you visit your first park, simply buy the pass and you’re good to go. There’s no need to order it in advance.

The U.S. national park system is amazing and really highlights the diversity of landscapes in the country. You can’t travel across the country without stopping at many of the national parks, especially as you get out west.

2. City tourism cards — City tourism cards allow you to see a large number of attractions (and often include free public transportation) for one price, usually $75-100 USD. They provide free access to museums, reduced access to attractions, and restaurant discounts. Be sure to look into them if you plan on doing a lot of sightseeing, as they generally will save you money. They can be purchased at tourism information centers or online before you go.

3. Free museums and events — Inquire at tourism centers, use Google, or ask hotel or hostel staff for information about free events and museums. Many museums offer occasional free or discounted admission throughout the week. There are always tons of free activities in any city in the United States.

4. Free walking tours and city greeter programs — Many cities in the US have free walking tours or city greeter programs that pair you with a local guide who can give you a brief tour. Whenever I visit a new city, I start my trip off with one of these tours. They show you the lay of the land, introduce you to the main sights, and give you access to an expert local guide that can answer all your questions.

Check in with the local tourism office when you arrive to see what programs and tours are available.

For greeter programs, you’ll need to sign-up in advance before your visit. It’s good to give about 2 weeks’ notice as they have to find someone to take you around. Google “(city name) greeter program” to find them as some are run independently of the city tourism board so might not be listed on their website.

A lone road in Wyoming near Grand Teton National Park and its snow-capped mountains

Here are your options when it comes to traveling across the country:

1. Hitchhike — This isn’t something I did on my trip, as I had a car, but it’s very doable (and relatively safe). Here’s a post by my friend Matt who hitchhiked across the United States explaining how to do so and come out alive (don’t worry, it’s safer than you think)..

For more hitchhiking tips, use Hitchwiki .

2. Rideshare — Taking on riders can be a way to lower your costs. On my first trip across the U.S., I offered rides to people I met in hostels. On this trip, I had friends and readers join me along the way. You can post ads on Craigslist and Gumtree and at hostels to find riders. This not only makes the trip more enjoyable but lowers your gas costs. Or if you are a rider, you can use the same services to find rides to get you places.

3. Buy a car — If you don’t have a car or don’t want to rent one, you can buy cheap used cars from car dealers or owners on Craigslist. There are lots of listings, and you can resell the car at the end of your trip to recoup some of your initial purchase cost. While this is easy in other countries, it’s hard to do in the United States, so remember a couple of key points:

You’ll need a US address for registration documents to get sent to. I would use a hostel or hotel address and then set up a forwarding address with the Post Office.
You’ll have to buy car insurance, which can greatly add to the costs of your trip.

Another option is to use a car relocation service. This is when you take someone’s car and drive it across the country. You are usually paid, and gas is covered. The downside is you don’t often have a lot of leeway on timing, so you might not have much time to stop and sightsee along the way. Car relocation options are also usually limited. Two companies worth checking out are Transfercar and Hit the Road .

If you just want to rent a car, use Discover Cars .

4. Use gas apps & membership programs – Install GasBuddy , an app that finds the cheapest gas prices near you. It is a must. If you’re going on a longer road trip, sign up for the monthly program; it costs $9.99 but will save you up to 40 cents a gallon.

Also, sign up for every gas loyalty program you can, so as to maximize points and discounts. Moreover, if you get a brand’s credit card, your first 50 gallons usually come with 30 cents off per gallon.

You should also consider getting a Costco membership for cheap gas. They have around 574 stores around the US so you’ll be able to earn the cost of a membership back by saving money on both gas and food.

5. Download parking apps – Parking costs add up — especially in cities. Use apps like BestParking and Parker to find spots and compare prices.

6. Take the bus – If driving is entirely out of the question, you can find bus tickets for as little as $1 USD from Megabus. Greyhound and Flixbus also have cheap rides all around the US. Rides under five hours are usually around $20 USD if you book early, and overnight rides usually cost $50-100. You can save big if you book in advance (often upwards of 75%!).

Don’t let the United States fool you! A road trip across the United States is a fun way to see a lot of diverse landscapes, experience different cultures, and meet interesting people. Traveling America isn’t very expensive once you are outside the big cities and you can easily travel the country on a budget by using the advice in this article.

Book Your Trip to the USA: Logistical Tips and Tricks

Book Your Flight Use Skyscanner to find a cheap flight. They are my favorite search engine because they search websites and airlines around the globe so you always know no stone is left unturned!

Book Your Accommodation You can book your hostel with Hostelworld as they have the biggest inventory and best deals. If you want to stay somewhere other than a hostel, use Booking.com as they consistently return the cheapest rates for guesthouses and cheap hotels.

Don’t Forget Travel Insurance Travel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It’s comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as I’ve had to use it many times in the past. My favorite companies that offer the best service and value are:

Safety Wing (for everyone below 70)
Insure My Trip (for those over 70)
Medjet (for additional evacuation coverage)

Looking for the Best Companies to Save Money With? Check out my resource page for the best companies to use when you travel. I list all the ones I use to save money when I’m on the road. They will save you money when you travel too.

Want More Information on the United States? Be sure to visit our robust destination guide on the US for even more planning tips!

Got a comment on this article? Join the conversation on Facebook , Instagram , or Twitter and share your thoughts!

Disclosure: Please note that some of the links above may be affiliate links, and at no additional cost to you, I earn a commission if you make a purchase. I recommend only products and companies I use and the income goes to keeping the site community supported and ad free.

A lake at Glacier National Park in Montana

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Check the driving distance for your planned route, and see if the total driving time requires an overnight stay. If it's a long trip, you may want to research some hotels along the way . Or compare whether it's better to fly or drive to your destination.

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How Much Car Can I Afford? Edmunds Car Affordability Calculator

How much car can you afford? Find out with Edmunds Auto Affordability Calculator.

About Affordability Calculator

These estimates are based on standard industry data, but the values that apply to your purchase may vary. If applicable, please use the information provided to you by your dealer or lender, or use an estimate based on your credit profile and circumstances.

Your target monthly payment includes the estimated sales tax, title and registration fees that would be added to your total loan. The estimated vehicle price range does not include optional items like an extended service plan. Since many cars can be purchased at a discount from the MSRP or list price, we provide a price range.

Your Estimated Price Range is our estimate of the vehicle price (i.e., MSRP or list price) of the car you can afford based on the information you provided or confirmed in the calculator. In calculating this, we take into account that you will also need to pay estimated sales tax, title and registration costs.

How Much Car Can I Afford?

By Ronald Montoya, Senior Consumer Advice Editor

October 3rd, 2019

Fitting a car into your household budget is no easy task, and financial experts do not agree on how to determine its affordability. One school of thought holds that all your automotive expenses — gas, insurance, car payments — should not exceed 20% of your pretax monthly income. Other experts say that a vehicle that costs roughly half of your annual take-home pay will be affordable. Then some frugal personal-finance gurus say you should spend no more than 10%-15% of your annual income on a vehicle purchase. Pretax, post-tax, annual income; these terms are enough to make a person ask: "How much car can I afford?"

There's no perfect formula for how much you can afford, but our short answer is that your new-car payment should be no more than 15% of your monthly take-home pay. If you're leasing or buying used, it should be no more than 10%. The reason for finding a vehicle that falls below 10%-15% is that the payment isn't the totality of what you will be spending. You'll need to factor in the costs of fuel and insurance, and many people overlook that. We put those costs at another 7% of your take-home pay. So, all in, you're looking at a total budget that is ideally, no more than 20% of your monthly take-home pay.

While the 10%-15% rule may not work for everyone, it's a good starting point for finding a target price that won't leave you scrambling to pay your bills every month. Here's how you can get a more customized number for yourself.

1. Calculate Your Automotive Budget

Take a few minutes to run down what you spend every month. From your monthly take-home pay, deduct rent or mortgage, bills, groceries, child expenses, savings, and spending on entertainment. You will then discover how much car you can afford.

Not sure what kind of vehicles can you buy with this monthly payment (or less)? Take a look at the Edmunds affordability calculator, which lists vehicles that fall into the price range you've predetermined. Keep in mind that the prices on the calculator results page will change based on the trim level, options, sales tax and registration fees, etc.

Does it seem like you might not be able to afford the purchase? We know that feeling. New vehicles have gotten more expensive over the years and our salaries haven't kept up. In any case, this amount now represents your automotive budget, which, as we've noted, is more than just the monthly payment. On to estimating fuel costs and insurance fees.

2. Determine Your Fuel and Insurance Costs

Before you set out to buy or lease, find out what your fuel expenses will be and what it will cost to insure the vehicle. Both costs vary considerably based on your location, your driving history and the vehicle you've chosen. Even though it takes a little work to come up with these estimates, you shouldn't overlook them. Knowing these costs can help you choose among multiple vehicles. Some may cost more to fuel up; others might have a higher cost to insure.

The EPA's Fueleconomy.gov website has a detailed listing of fuel economy figures as well as annual fuel cost estimates for both new and used vehicles.

For insurance quotes, contact your agent or insurance company about the vehicle you're interested in. You should be able to get an accurate estimate. Or go to the auto insurance website of your choice, and there should be an option to get an online quote. Do insurance and fuel costs add up to 7% or less of your monthly paycheck? Then you're OK.

3. Examine Your Buying Patterns

In addition to the formula for car affordability, recognizing your own car-buying habits, good and bad, can offer clues to the best strategy for you.

For example, are you someone who buys a car, pays it off and then keeps it for a few years? Buying a new car would work for you: You have a track record of shopping within your means, finishing off the loan and going payment-free for a while. That's smart.

Do you get bored with a car after a few years? Then leasing is your best bet. What good is it to take out a six-year loan if you're going to trade in the vehicle during the fourth or fifth year? You'll likely owe more than the car is worth and will have to roll that balance into the next loan. You'd be better off leasing and paying less per month. Leasing also lets you get a nicer car for less money.

Finally, are you trying to make the most financially sound decision possible? Then buy a lightly used car, pay it off, and keep it for many years. The first owner takes the depreciation hit, and you'll have a car that's new enough to avoid major repairs for a while.

An Average New-Car Buyer's Scenario

To make this budgeting less abstract, let's plug in some real-world numbers. The median weekly earnings of a full-time worker in the U.S. was $908 in the second quarter of 2019, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics . This amount translates to an annual income of $47,216.

Paying an estimated 20% in income taxes would translate to a monthly income of about $3,148 for a buyer we'll call John. If we follow our 15% rule, John could handle a monthly car payment of up to $472.

In September 2019, the average amount financed for a new vehicle was $32,928, according to Edmunds data. Let's say John bought a new Honda Pilot for that amount. We'll assume he has solid credit and that all aspects of the deal mirror the industry average. John made an 11% down payment, which comes out to about $4,075. The monthly payment will be $542 because John has opted for the most common loan term of 72 months.

He's already over budget and hasn't yet factored in fuel and insurance costs.

Those pencil out to $120 a month for fuel and about $140 a month for auto insurance, which means John's total monthly automotive expenses are actually $802, or 25% of his monthly take-home pay.

Some people might be OK with spending a quarter of their take-home pay on car ownership, but in John's case, it will put real stress on his financials. And what if you make less than John does? What if you have poor credit? Or what if you have other debt you're trying to pay down? It would make new-car buying a real challenge. The options now are to find a less expensive vehicle, lease or consider a used car.

The Used-Car Option

What would the payment look like if John were to buy used? For starters, the sticker price would be lower than on a new vehicle, and there would be a lower threshold of credit needed for financing the auto loan. Assuming again that John goes with the averages, the amount financed for the used vehicle John chose would be $22,623. The down payment would be just over 10% ($2,660). The monthly payment would be $416, and it would take about 68 months to pay it off. The used-car loan would have an interest rate roughly 3 percentage points higher than that of a new-car loan. But that's typical for used-car lending.

Fuel costs would be roughly the same. Insurance would be slightly less because the car is used. This insurance savings, though, would likely be offset by the added maintenance that comes with an older vehicle. Let's call it a wash and assume the same estimate as for a new car: 8% of take-home pay for insurance and fuel.

By buying a used vehicle, John would be spending $676 a month, or about 21% of his monthly take-home pay. On its face, this purchase would seem to be the most cost-effective since John is taking out a smaller loan.

But it would take five and a half years to pay off the loan amount, at which point the car would be 8 or 9 years old. How much longer will John want to drive it? It's something to keep in mind when choosing a long loan term because the whole point of financing is to be free of a car payment eventually. And if John buys another SUV as soon as the old one is paid off, John might as well be leasing, so let's look at that.

The Lease Option

A three-year lease in 2019 had a monthly payment of $465 and an average down payment of $2,646. Keep in mind that these averages are high because many leased cars are luxury models (think BMW, Mercedes-Benz and the like). Since John is not looking for a luxury vehicle, he should be able to find a midsize SUV for roughly $400 a month and about $1,800 down. One major difference, however, is that John would have to limit driving to about 12,000 miles per year, which is a common mileage limit for advertised lease specials. Adding more miles would cost an extra $25 per month, by our estimates.

John's lease payment would be an easier-to-afford $400 per month, or 12.7% of his take-home pay. When we factor in 7% of take-home pay for fuel and insurance costs, John would be spending about $660 per month on this car, which would be about 21% of his monthly income. That's a touch over our recommended 20% for all auto expenses.

In this scenario, John would be paying much less per month to lease than to buy. John would also have a little more in the bank because of the smaller down payment. On the other hand, John would be limited on the number of miles he can drive (without penalty) and would have to start the process over in three years when the lease is up.

What's the Best Option?

There's a case to be made for each of these approaches to affordability. It is essential to recognize your car-buying history, and if you do commit to a long-term loan, make sure you drive the vehicle for at least a few years after it is paid off.

In the end, the best car-buying scenario will be one that takes into account your bills and other financial responsibilities. Don't shop for a car at the top of your budget. And if it's a stretch for you to buy now, consider saving up a bit more and revisit shopping at a better time. The most important things are to know your budget and remember that there's more to owning a car than just that monthly payment.

Car Affordability Calculator FAQs

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Frequently asked questions

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A simple rental car search at https://www.kayak.com/cars scans for prices on hundreds of travel sites in seconds. We gather car rental deals from across the web and put them in one place. Then on the search results page you can use various filters to compare your options for your preferred rental car type and easily choose the best car rental deal from all of the deals coming straight from the travel sites to your screen, with no extra fee from KAYAK.

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We bring our dog along on our work trips. We've had to nearly double our travel budget to do it.

Content creators Paul Salley and Brianna Feehan started bringing their dog on work trips last year.
Together with Koda, a golden retriever, the couple have visited 22 states.
They found Wyoming and Alabama to be the most pet-friendly destinations so far.

When Paul Salley and Brianna Feehan got their English cream golden retriever in January last year, they figured they would leave the dog with their parents when they traveled.

As content creators, they spend 80% of their time on the road shooting and producing hospitality and lifestyle content for clients, as well as running their Instagram account and blog.

But leaving their dog, Koda, behind started to get too difficult for them. "When we're gone, we're always missing her," Feehan told Business Insider.

The couple decided to take fewer international trips and focus on domestic travel . Last April, they took Koda on her first road trip from Connecticut to Florida.

"She had the best time," said Feehan, who described Koda as the "happiest dog in the world."

Now, the couple, who are in their late-20s, bring Koda with them on every trip they take. To date, they say they've taken around 15 trips and visited 22 states together.

They plan their trips around Koda

From finding dog-friendly accommodations and eateries to ensuring that Koda is comfortable on the road, Salley and Feehan now center their trips around her. This means they stay longer at each accommodation.

"If we move from Airbnb to Airbnb every night, she'll stop eating. She doesn't drink as much," said Salley, who added that Koda has anxiety if they don't spend enough time settling into a new environment.

Car rides are also longer. For their first road trip to Florida, Apple Maps estimated their journey would take 18 hours. But after making more than 10 stops along the way to ensure that the dog was comfortable and had enough water and treats, the journey took 24.

Before they got Koda, they stuck to a tighter budget

When traveling with Koda, they often have to pay extra fees for accommodation. So far, the cheapest pet fee they paid was $30 at a Best Western Hotel, while the most expensive was at a Marriot hotel, where they say the pet fee was $75. Airbnbs usually charge around $50 for pets, they observed.

They found Wyoming to be the dog-friendliest and Los Angeles to be one of the least

"We could just walk into a restaurant with our dog and eat with her sitting next to us at a table," Feehan said about Wyoming .

Alabama is a close second. "The beaches, the bars, the shops — everywhere's dog friendly," she added.

On the flip side, the couple said they would never take Koda to New York City for a vacation — even though they only live an hour away.

They once cut their three-day trip short in Los Angeles because they found it lacked dog-friendly accommodations — and were appalled when they saw that one dog park membership cost $120 monthly .

"A lot of dogs live in LA, but we're not used to city life. So, we just pivot and go somewhere else," Feehan said.

Their next goal is to fly abroad with Koda

They are not alone. In June, a Forbes Advisor survey of 10,000 American dog owners found that 33% of respondents travel with their dogs by plane. Of the respondents, 37% also said that being unable to bring their dog on their travels is their top annoyance.

As more pet owners prefer to travel with their pets, some commercial airlines are simplifying the process to bring pets on board. American Airlines updated its policy in March to allow flyers to board with their pet in addition to a carry-on bag.

A growing number of shared private jet flights allows owners to travel more comfortably with their pets — albeit with a hefty price tag. In April, BI reported on pet subscription service BarkBox's launch of its ultra-luxury private jet carrier , Bark Air. The round-trip from New York to Los Angeles costs $12,000 and comes with "dog champagne" and a private chef.

Some pet owners have gone a step further by arranging private jets for their pets. Hong Kong investment banker Gladys Tsoi previously told BI that she spent $38,000 to fly to Japan with her pet poodle on a private jet. Although the trip was costly, she's planning another trip for her two dogs.

The couple no longer see themselves traveling without Koda

"It feels so complete just being the three of us. There's nothing that we really miss from home besides the comforts of home," Feehan said.

"She just helps us relax at a destination and enjoy the beauty of watching her swim or sniff," Salley added.

Before getting Koda, they would be up at sunrise, shooting and vlogging all day. But with Koda, they've learned to slow down .

Watch: Why Seeing Eye dogs are so expensive to breed and train

Main content

Money blog: Couples reveal how they split finances when one earns more than other

Welcome to the Money, your place for personal finance and consumer news and tips. Read our weekend feature on relationship finances below and let us know how you and your partner divide money in the comments box. We'll be back with live updates on Monday.

Saturday 17 August 2024 12:43, UK

Essential reads

Couples on how they split finances when one earns more than other
What's gone wrong at Asda?
The week in money
Best of the Money blog - an archive of features

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By Emily Mee , news reporter

Openly discussing how you split your finances with your partner feels pretty taboo - even among friends.

As a consequence, it can be difficult to know how to approach these conversations with our partner or what is largely considered fair - especially if there's a big imbalance salary-wise.

Research by Hargreaves Lansdown suggests in an average household with a couple, three-quarters of the income is earned by one person.

Even when there is a large disparity, some couples will want to pay the same amount on bills as they want to contribute equally.

But for others, one partner can feel resentful if they are spending all of their money on bills while the other has much more to spend and is living a different lifestyle as a result.

At what stage of the relationship can you talk about money?

"We've kind of formally agreed there is some point in a relationship you start talking about kids - there is no generally agreed time that we start talking about money," says Sarah Coles, head of personal finance at Hargreaves Lansdown.

Some couples may never get around to mentioning it, leading to "lopsided finances".

Ms Coles says if you want to keep on top of finances with your partner, you could set a specific date in the year that you go through it all.

"If it's in the diary and it's not emotional and it's not personal then you can properly go through it," she says.

"It's not a question of 'you need to pull more weight'. It's purely just this is what we've agreed, this is the maths and this is how we need to do that."

While many people start talking about finances around Christmas, Ms Coles suggests this can be a "trying time" for couples so February might be a "less emotional time to sit down".

How do you have the conversation if you feel the current arrangement is unfair?

Relationship counsellor at Relate , Peter Saddington, says that setting out the balance as "unfair" shouldn't be your starting point.

You need to be honest about your position, he says, but your conversation should be negotiating as a couple what works for both of you.

Before you have to jump into the conversation, think about:

Letting your partner know in advance rather than springing it on them;
Making sure you and your partner haven't drunk alcohol before having the conversation, as this can make it easy for it to spiral;
Having all the facts to hand, so you know exactly how much you are spending;
Using 'I' statements rather than 'you'. For example, you could say to your partner: "I'm really worried about my finances and I would like to sit down and talk about how we manage it. Can we plan a time when we can sit down and do it?"

Mr Saddington says if your partner is not willing to help, you should look at the reasons or question if there are other things in the relationship that need sorting out.

If you're having repeated arguments about money, he says you might have opposite communication styles causing you to "keep headbutting".

Another reason could be there is a "big resentment" lurking in the background - and it may be that you need a third party such as a counsellor, therapist or mediator to help resolve it.

Mr Saddington says there needs to be a "safe space" to have these conversations, and that a third party can help untangle resentments from what is happening now.

He also suggests considering both of your attitudes to money, which he says can be formed by your early life and your family.

"If you grew up in a family where there wasn't any money, or it wasn't talked about, or it was pushed that you save instead of spend, and the other person had the opposite, you can see where those conversations go horribly wrong.

"Understanding what influences each of you when it comes to money is important to do before you have significant conversations about it."

What are the different ways you can split your finances?

There's no one-size-fits-all approach, but there are several ways you can do it - with Money blog readers getting in touch to let us know their approach...

1. Separate personal accounts - both pay the same amount into a joint account regardless of income

Paul Fuller, 40, earns approximately £40,000 a year while his wife earns about £70,000.

They each have separate accounts, including savings accounts, but they pay the same amount (£900) each a month into a joint account to pay for their bills.

Paul says this pays for the things they both benefit from or have a responsibility for, but when it comes to other spending his wife should be able to spend as she likes.

"It's not for me to turn around to my wife and expect her to justify why she thinks it's appropriate to spend £150 in a hairdresser. She works her backside off and she has a very stressful job," he says.

However, their arrangement is still flexible. Their mortgage is going up by £350 a month soon, so his wife has agreed to pay £200 of that.

And if his wife wants a takeaway but he can't afford to pay for it, she'll say it's on her.

"Where a lot of people go wrong is being unable to have those conversations," says Paul.

2. Separate personal accounts - whoever earns the most puts more into a joint account

This is a more formal arrangement than the hybrid approach Paul and his wife use, and many Money blog readers seem to do this in one form or another judging by our inbox.

There's no right or wrong way to do the maths - you could both put in the same percentage of your individual salaries, or come up with a figure you think is fair, or ensure you're both left with the same amount of spending money after each payday.

3. Everything is shared

Gordon Hurd and his wife Brenda live by their spreadsheet.

Brenda earns about £800 more a month as she is working full-time while Gordon is freelance. Previously Gordon had been the breadwinner - so it's a big turnaround.

They each have separate accounts with different banks, but they can both access the two accounts.

How much is left in each account - and their incomings and outgoings - is all detailed in the spreadsheet, which is managed weekly.

Whenever they need to buy something, they can see how much is left in each account and pay from either one.

Gordon says this means "everyone knows how much is available" and "each person's money belongs to the other".

"We have never in the last decade had a single disagreement about money and that is because of this strategy," he says.

Money blog reader Shredder79 got in touch to say he takes a similar approach.

"I earn £50k and my wife earns just under £150k. We have one joint bank account that our wages go into and all our outgoings come out of. Some friends can't get their head around that but it's normal for us."

Another reader, Curtis, also puts his wages into a joint account with his wife.

"After all, when you have a family (three kids) it shouldn't matter who earns more or less!" he says.

Reader Alec goes further and says he questions "the authenticity of any long-term relationship or the certainly of a marriage if a couple does not completely share a bank account for all earnings and all outgoings".

"As for earning significantly more than the other, so what? If you are one couple or long-term partnership you are one team and you simply communicate and share everything," he says.

"Personally I couldn't imagine doing it any other way and I do instinctively wonder what issues or insecurities, whether it be in trust or something else, sit beneath the need to feel like you need to keep your finances separate from one another, especially if you are a married couple."

A reader going by the name lljdc agrees, saying: "I earn half of what my husband does because I work part-time. Neither of us has a solo account. We have one joint account and everything goes into this and we just spend it however we like. All bills come out of this too. Sometimes I spend more, sometimes he spends more."

4. Separate accounts - but the higher earner pays their partner an 'allowance'

If one partner is earning much more than the other, or one partner isn't earning for whatever reason, they could keep separate accounts and have the higher earner pay their partner an allowance.

This would see them transfer an agreed amount each week or month to their partner's account.

Let us know how you and your partner talk about and split finances in the comments box - we'll feature some of the best next week

By Jimmy Rice, Money blog editor

The centre-point of a significant week in the economy was inflation data, released first thing on Wednesday, that showed price rises accelerated in July to 2.2%.

Economists attributed part of the rise to energy prices - which have fallen this year, but at a much slower rate than they did last year.

As our business correspondent Paul Kelso pointed out, it felt like the kind of mild fluctuation we can probably expect month to month now that sky high price hikes are behind us, though analysts do expect inflation to tick up further through the remainder of the year...

Underneath the bonnet, service inflation, taking in restaurants and hotels, dropped from 5.7% to 5.2%.

This is important because a large part of this is wages - and they've been a concern for the Bank of England as they plot a route for interest rates.

On Tuesday we learned average weekly earnings had also fallen - from 5.7% to 5.4% in the latest statistics.

High wages can be inflationary (1/ people have more to spend, 2/ employers might raise prices to cover staff costs), so any easing will only aid the case for a less restrictive monetary policy. Or, to put it in words most people use, the case for interest rate cuts.

Markets think there'll be two more cuts this year - nothing has changed there.

Away from the economy, official data also illustrated the pain being felt by renters across the UK.

The ONS said:

Average UK private rents increased by 8.6% in the 12 months to July 2024, unchanged from in the 12 months to June 2024;
Average rents increased to £1,319 (8.6%) in England, £748 (7.9%) in Wales, and £965 (8.2%) in Scotland;
In Northern Ireland, average rents increased by 10% in the 12 months to May 2024;
In England, rents inflation was highest in London (9.7%) and lowest in the North East (6.1%).

Yesterday, we found the UK economy grew 0.6% over three months to the end of June.

That growth rate was the second highest among the G7 group of industrialised nations - only the United States performed better with 0.7%, though Japan and Germany have yet to released their latest data.

Interestingly, there was no growth at all in June, the Office for National Statistics said, as businesses delayed purchases until after the general election.

"In a range of industries across the economy, businesses stated that customers were delaying placing orders until the outcome of the election was known," the ONS said.

Finally, a shout for this analysis from business presenter Ian King examining what's gone wrong at Asda. It's been one of our most read articles this week and is well worth five minutes of your Friday commute or weekend...

We're signing out of regular updates now until Monday - but do check out our weekend read from 8am on Saturday. This week we're examining how couples who earn different amounts split their finances.

Each week we feature comments from Money blog readers on the story or stories that elicited most correspondence.

Our weekend probe into the myriad reasons for pub closures in the UK prompted hundreds of comments.

Landlords and campaigners, researchers and residents revealed to Sky News the "thousand cuts" killing Britain's boozers - and what it takes to survive the assault.

Here was your take on the subject...

I've been a publican for 19 years. This article is bang on! It's like you've overheard my conversations with my customers - COVID, cost of living, wages - the traditional British boozer going out of fashion. (My place: no food, no small children). Hey Jood

I own a small craft ale bar or micropub as some say. The current climate is sickening for the whole hospitality sector. This summer has been ridiculously quiet compared to previous ones. Micropubs were on the rise pre-COVID, but not now even we're struggling to survive… Lauren

I am an ex-landlord. It's ridiculous you can buy 10 cans for £10 or one pint for £5 now. It's not rocket science, it's a no-brainer: reverse the situation. Make supermarket beer more expensive than pub beer, then people will start to go out and mix again rather than getting drunk at home. Ivanlordpeers

Bought four pints of my regular drink at a supermarket for less than one pint in our local pub. It's becoming a luxury to go to a pub these days. Torquay David

Traditional pubs are being taken over by conglomerates who don't sell traditional beer, only very expensive lager, usually foreign, and other similar gassy drinks. How can they be called traditional pubs? Bronzestraw

The main reason for pubs closing is twofold! 1: The out-of-reach rents that the big groups charge landlords. 2: Landlords are told what stock they can hold and restrict where they can purchase it from. Strange, but most pubs belonged to the same groups! A pub-goer

Less pubs are managed now, pub companies are changing them to managed partnerships, putting the pressure onto inexperienced young ex-managers. Locals complain that their local pub has gone. but they don't use them enough. Can government regulate rents and beer prices for business owners? John Darkins

I was a brewery tenant in Scotland for many years and sequestrated because of the constant grabbing at my money by greedy brewers who wanted more and more. I made my pub very successful and was penalised by the brewery. James MacQuarrie

The only reason pubs are closing is locals only use them on Boxing Day, New Year's Eve, and one Sunday a year. Plus breweries don't need pubs, they sell enough through supermarkets! Use them or lose them. Peter Smith

The closing of pubs is a terrible shame. I still go to my local and have great memories of getting drunk in many in my hometown. They are important places in society. As someone once said: "No good story ever started with a salad." Kev K

It's the taxman killing pubs. £1 of every £3 sold. Utter disgrace. Stef

I go with my girlfriend, Prue, every day to my local. It's a shame what's happening to prices. It used to be full of people and joy but now it's a ghost town in the pub since prices are too high now. I wish we could turn back time and find out what went wrong. Niall Benson

Minimum wage is around £11 and the tax threshold is £12,600 per year. How can you possibly afford a night in a pub out when a pint costs between £3 and £8 a pint on those wages? Allan7777blue

Unfortunately, the very people who have kept these establishments going over the years (the working man) have been priced out, and they're paying the price. Dandexter

The pubs are too expensive for people to go out regularly as we once did a decade or so ago. People's priorities are on survival, not recreation. Until the living wage increases beyond an inflation that wages haven't risen above in years, then we will see shops, pubs, etc. close JD

Who wants to spend hard-earned money going into a pub that's nearly always empty. It takes away one of the main attractions - socialising. Michael

Monzo has been named the best bank in the UK for customer satisfaction, according to a major survey.

More than 17,000 personal current account customers rated their bank on the quality of its services and how likely they would be to recommend to friends or family.

Digital banks made up the top three, with Monzo coming out on top, followed by Starling Bank and then Chase.

Some 80% of Monzo customers said they would recommend the bank.

The digital banking app said topping the tables "time and time again" was not something it would "ever take for granted".

Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) was bottom of the ranking for another year.

The banks with the best services in branches were Nationwide, Lloyds Bank and Metro Bank.

Gail's bakery chain has come under fire for repurposing unsold pastries into croissants and selling them for almost £4 the next day.

The retailer lists the "twice baked" chocolate almond croissants as part of its "Waste Not" range, which means it is made using leftover croissants that are then "topped with almond frangipane and flaked almonds".

The scheme has been hit with criticism online, with many pointing out the £3.90 price tag is 95p more than the original croissant.

One X user said: "The audacity of bragging about it being part of their 'Waste Not' range like we should be grateful to them and proud of ourselves for contributing to reducing food waste when they could just sell it for less money – not one pound more than yesterday.

"Unsure whether to be impressed or horrified that someone has come up with a concept to capitalise on yellow sticker goods to make more profit."

It should be added, however, that the practice was not invented by Gail's - and almond croissants were originally created by French boulangeries to reuse day-old croissants and stop them going stale.

When factoring in the extra ingredients (almond frangipane and flaked almonds) and baking time, the bakery chain would likely defend the increased price by pointing to the additional costs incurred.

It comes as locals in a trendy London neighbourhood signed a petition against a Gail's bakery setting up shop in their area.

After (unconfirmed) rumours began circulating that the chain was looking to open a site in Walthamstow village, more than 600 have signed a petition opposing the plans.

The petition says the village "faces a threat to its uniqueness" should Gail's move into the area (see yesterday's 11.54am post for more).

Gail's has been contacted for comment.

British retailers saw a rise in sales last month after a boost from Euro 2024 and summer discounting, according to official figures.

High street retailers said sales of football shirts, electronics such as TVs, and alcoholic drinks were all stronger amid the Three Lions' journey to the final.

Total retail sales volumes rose by 0.5% in July, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said. It was, however, slightly below predictions, with economists forecasting a 0.7% increase.

It followed a 0.9% slump in volumes in June as retail firms blamed uncertainty ahead of the general election and poor weather.

ONS director of economic statistics, Liz McKeown, said: "Retail sales grew in July led by increases in department stores and sports equipment shops, with both the Euros and discounting across many stores boosting sales.

"These increases were offset by a poor month for clothing and furniture shops, and falling fuel sales, despite prices at the pump falling."

The data showed that non-food stores saw a 1.4% rise, driven by a strong performance from department stores, where sales grew by 4% for the month as summer sales helped to stoke demand.

However, clothing and footwear shops saw a 0.6% dip, whilst homeware retailers also saw volumes fall 0.6%. Food stores, meanwhile, saw sales remain flat for the month.

There are fears that the £2-cap on single bus fares could be scrapped after the government declined to say whether the policy would continue past December.

Bus companies said it was vital the cost of using their services is kept low for young people to "enhance their access to education and jobs".

Alison Edwards, director of policy and external relations at industry body the Confederation of Passenger Transport, said: "Bus operators are working closely with the government so that together we can find a way to avoid a cliff edge return to commercial fares.

"Analysis has shown that supporting fares, which can be done in a range of different ways, is great value for money and can support many other government objectives.

"For example, keeping fares low for young people would enhance their access to education and jobs, while also encouraging them to develop sustainable travel habits to last a lifetime."

Transport Secretary Louise Haigh said in a recent interview with the PA news agency that her officials were "looking at various options" in relation to the cap, including whether they could "target it better".

It's been a busy week on the economic front.

There was no major shift in the overall outlook - since Monday we've had it confirmed that the UK economy has lower inflation and more growth than the last two years, while wages have grown faster than the overall pace of price rises.

On the back of all that news the pound is at the highest rate since early this month against the dollar, worth $1.2882, and the highest since July when it comes to buying euro with one pound equal to €1.1733.

Signs of a recovery from the global market sell-off of Monday last week can be seen in the share prices of companies listed on the London Stock Exchange.

Share prices have grown among the most valuable companies on the stock exchange, those that comprise the Financial Times Stock Exchange (FTSE) 100 list of most valuable companies.

Today though, this benchmark UK index fell 0.19% but finishes the week higher than the start.

Also finishing the week higher than the start are the more UK-based companies of the FTSE 250 (the 101st to the 250th most valuable firms on the London Stock Exchange).

On Friday morning that index was up 0.08%.

With tensions in the Middle East and Eastern Europe high as Iran mulled a retaliatory strike on Israel and Ukraine made incursions into Russian territory, there had been concern about energy price spikes.

But the benchmark oil price has remained steady at $80.13 dollars for a barrel of Brent crude oil.

Gas prices have remained below the Monday high of 100 pence a therm (the measurement for heat) and now are 94.50 pence a therm.

A Cabinet Office minister has said it is "unfair" to suggest other public sector workers will be queuing up for a pay rise after the government's offer of a 15% increase for train drivers and junior doctors.

"I think that's an unfair characterisation as well," paymaster general Nick Thomas-Symonds told Times Radio.

"I think what is absolutely crucial here is we are a Government again that is sticking to the promises we made in opposition.

"We promised we would sit down and find solutions, and people expressed scepticism about that, but actually that is precisely what we have done in Government."

Last month, the government and the British Medical Association struck an improved pay deal for junior doctors in England worth 22% on average over two years.

Meanwhile, train drivers will vote on a new pay deal following talks between representatives of drivers' union ASLEF and the Department for Transport.

The new offer is for a 5% backdated pay rise for 2022/23, a 4.75% rise for 23/24, and 4.5% increase for 24/25.

The Dartford Crossing is the highest-earning toll road in the UK, new data shows.

The Kent to Essex route raked in £215.9m in the last year - 2,159 times more than the Whitney toll bridge in Hereford.

The crossing, which was supposed to stop charging customers in 2003, costs between £2 and £6 to use (depending on the vehicle you're driving) between 10am and 6pm every day.

Car finance company Moneybarn found it earned just over £209m in 2022.

It topped the chart of 13 toll roads in the country, making over £100m more than the second highest-earning road in 2023 - the M6 Toll in the West Midlands.

In third place was the Mersey Gateway Bridge between Halton and Cheshire, which made £48.9m.

You can see how the other toll roads fared below...

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Trump Says Harris Easier Than Biden to Beat as Race for Pennsylvania Heats Up

Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, August 17, 2024. REUTERS/Jeenah Moon

By Nathan Layne and Joseph Ax

WILKES-BARRE, Pennsylvania (Reuters) -Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump said on Saturday he believed Democrat Kamala Harris will be easier to beat than President Joe Biden even as some polls showed her edging ahead in the race for the Nov. 5 presidential election.

Trump, the former president, spoke at a rally in Wilkes-Barre in northeastern Pennsylvania, a state looming large in the campaign. Vice President Harris will conduct a bus tour of western Pennsylvania starting in Pittsburgh on Sunday, ahead of the kickoff of the Democratic National Convention on Monday in Chicago.

"I believe she will be easier to beat than him," said Trump, referring to her as "radical" and a "lunatic."

Trump has sought to portray Harris as far left on a number of policies. At the rally, he highlighted her previous call for a ban on fracking, an industry important to the state. Harris' campaign has recently indicated she would not support a ban.

He also continued to attack Harris on personal terms, even as some political analysts say such comments could hurt Trump with moderate voters.

"Have you heard her laugh? That is the laugh of a crazy person," Trump said, adding that he was displeased by the illustration of Harris on the cover of the latest issue of Time magazine. "I'm much better looking than her."

In a meandering speech, Trump repeated his false claim that he lost the 2020 election due to fraud, dismissed the threat of climate change and said his plan to impose across-the-board tariffs on foreign goods would not act as a tax on U.S. consumers, an assertion that most economists contest.

The Mohegan Sun Arena, where Trump appeared, has a capacity of roughly 8,000 and was nearly full when he started speaking. But the crowd began to thin after the one-hour mark. He spoke for more than 100 minutes in total.

Trump said Harris should have done more to tackle inflation and other issues since she and Biden took office. If reelected he said he would sign an executive order directing cabinet secretaries and agency heads to take action to lower prices.

"Another rally, same old show," Joseph Costello, a spokesperson for the Harris campaign, said in a statement responding to Trump's rally speech, which he described as filled with "lies, name-calling, and confused rants."

Pennsylvania was one of three Rust Belt states, along with Wisconsin and Michigan, that helped power Trump's upset victory in 2016. Biden, who grew up in Scranton, Pennsylvania, flipped the trio back to the Democrats in 2020.

With 19 electoral votes out of the 270 needed to secure the White House, compared with 15 in Michigan and 10 in Wisconsin, Pennsylvania may be the biggest prize in this year's election and potentially tip the balance for either candidate.

Harris' entry into the race after Biden ended his reelection bid last month has upended the contest, erasing the lead Trump built in the final weeks of Biden's campaign. Harris is leading Trump by more than two percentage points in Pennsylvania, according to the poll tracking website FiveThirtyEight.

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Trump won Pennsylvania in 2016 by about 44,000 votes, a margin of less than one percentage point, while Biden prevailed by just over 80,000 votes in 2020, a 1.2-point margin.

Both campaigns have made the state a top priority, blanketing the airwaves with advertisements. Of the more than $110 million spent on advertising in seven battleground states since Biden dropped out in late July, roughly $42 million was in Pennsylvania, more than twice any other state, the Wall Street Journal reported on Friday, citing data from the tracking site AdImpact.

Democratic and Republican groups have already reserved $114 million in ad time in Pennsylvania from late August through the election, more than twice as much as the $55 million reserved in Arizona, the next highest total, according to AdImpact.

The Harris campaign said on Saturday it planned to spend at least $370 million on digital and television ads nationwide between the Labor Day holiday on Sept. 2 and Election Day.

The battleground states - seen as critical for winning the election - also include Arizona, North Carolina, Nevada and Georgia.

New polls published on Saturday by the New York Times found Harris leading Trump among likely voters in Arizona, 50% to 45%, and in North Carolina, 49% to 47%, and narrowing the former president's leads in Nevada, 47% to 49%, and in Georgia, 46% to 50%. A pollster from the Trump campaign said the poll results underestimated the Republican candidate's support.

Trump will give remarks on the economy at a campaign event in York, Pennsylvania, on Monday. His running mate, U.S. Senator JD Vance, will hold an event in Philadelphia that day as well.

Trump's trip to Wilkes-Barre in Luzerne County was aimed at solidifying support among the white, non-college-educated voters who lifted him to victory in 2016. The blue-collar county voted Democratic for decades before swinging heavily toward Trump in 2016, mirroring other similar regions around the country.

Harris and her running mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, will make multiple stops across Allegheny and Beaver counties on Sunday, the campaign said. The tour is the first time Harris, Walz and their spouses have campaigned together since their first rally as a presidential ticket in Philadelphia earlier this month.

(Reporting by Nathan Layne in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, and Joseph Ax in New York; Additional reporting by Jarrett Renshaw in Philadelphia; Editing by Colleen Jenkins, Alistair Bell, Daniel Wallis, Paul Simao, Cynthia Osterman and Deepa Babington)

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Delta Air Lines passengers still struggling to get reimbursements: 'Don't expect loyalty'

Delta Air Lines is still processing reimbursement requests from passengers who were affected by the CrowdStrike outage last month.
The airline has been vague about what is and isn’t covered in its expanded reimbursement policy.
Some passengers say they’ve been denied reimbursement for expenses that they believe should be covered.

Get more news like this delivered to your inbox by signing up for our Travel newsletter here .

Delta Air Lines’ operations may be back to normal after their extended meltdown following the CrowdStrike outage last month, but for many passengers who were caught up in the chaos, it’s still a headache trying to get the compensation they’re owed.

When Delta announced an expanded reimbursement policy for affected travelers, Mia Williams said she was expecting a painless process for all the extra expenses she incurred.

“I made the assumption that when they said they would reimburse for expenses accrued, it would include things like your pet sitter, your long-term parking for extra days at the lot,” she told USA TODAY. Instead, Williams said, most of the expenses she claimed for reimbursement were denied by the airline, and the appeals process hasn’t been clear.

Williams and her husband, who live in Layton, Utah, were visiting their timeshare in Key West, Florida, when the outage occurred. She said their July 20 flight home (via Atlanta) kept getting canceled, and they couldn’t return until July 26.

“I’m starting to feel like we’re stuck on the island for ‘Survivor’ or something, just waiting for Jeff Probst to put out the torch so we can leave,” she said. “The length of our vacation almost doubled. If you plan on a one-week vacation and you’re gone for two, that greatly increases your expenses.”

So far, Williams said, she’s received $300 from Delta for meal reimbursements, which she said seemed to be capped at $30 per day.

For its part, Delta has been vague about what is and isn’t covered in its expanded policy.

In response to questions from USA TODAY, a spokesperson said there is not a $30 cap on food reimbursement but otherwise pointed to statements on the airline’s website, which only refer to broad categories of reimbursable expenses but do not detail everything that is and isn’t covered by the policy.

Under normal conditions, Delta will reimburse passengers for hotel, ground transportation and meals for flights that are canceled or delayed more than three hours, according to the airline’s policy . With the expanded reimbursement allowances for passengers affected by the fallout from the CrowdStrike outage, the airline said it will also cover “the fare paid to purchase another airline ticket in the same class of service, after subtracting the value of the unused Delta ticket,” as well as “alternative transportation methods such as rental cars, rideshares, trains or buses that a customer used to reach their destination, after subtracting the value of the unused Delta ticket.”

In response to a question from USA TODAY, Delta would not say whether expenses that fall outside of these categories, such as additional parking charges, are handled on a case-by-case basis. The airline did say it will cover “reasonable costs for additional categories of expenses,” but did not specify what those categories are.

Kat Zimmerman was planning to fly back to Los Angeles from Traverse City, Michigan, with her partner on July 20 and, like Williams, was marooned by Delta’s information technology struggles.

Zimmerman said she submitted expenses for extending her car rental until July 23, additional parking in Los Angeles and new airline tickets to get home. She said her claim was totally denied and she’s yet to receive any compensation.

“I’m just floored by it,” Zimmerman told USA TODAY. “I received this email, there was no email to send to appeal this, no clarification, nobody had contacted me. I don’t understand how you investigate a claim without talking to people.”

She said a Delta customer service representative told her they ultimately sent her case to another department for “special handling,” but she has yet to receive any indication of if or when she will be reimbursed.

Are you entitled to a refund? Here's what to know in the CrowdStrike fallout.

When Southwest Airlines experienced a massive operational meltdown in Dec. 2022, it ultimately paid about $1 billion in refunds and reimbursements to affected passengers. It even reimbursed one customer who bought a cheap car to get where they needed to be.

Delta said it has already refunded hundreds of thousands of customers who chose not to continue their travels after July 19 and is still processing reimbursement requests.

A Delta spokesperson told USA TODAY that customers can appeal reimbursement decisions from the airline by replying directly to the email they receive with the notification.

Consumer protections

It seems likely that the airline will continue to face scrutiny from Washington as a result of the fallout, with the Department of Transportation already investigating and members of Congress sending the airline’s CEO pointed letters about what happened.

Delta has maintained throughout the aftermath that CrowdStrike is ultimately to blame, and the airline said it plans to sue the technology companies involved. In letters between all the companies’ lawyers, there’s been a lot of legal finger-pointing, but one thing is clear: Delta took much longer to recover from CrowdStrike’s outage than any other U.S. airline.

For Williams and Zimmerman, who both said they’ve been loyal Delta flyers for years, the trouble getting reimbursed is making them wonder if that loyalty goes both ways.

“I was just so disappointed in them as a company, that they would take no responsibility for leaving people stranded,” Zimmerman said. “I’m sure they’ll apologize but what I want to hear from them is we’re going to compensate you for these very reasonable expenses, and we’ll do better.”

Williams added it feels like Delta is trying to get out of giving reimbursements at all by making the process so opaque and complicated.

“It’s almost like they want you to just quit. It’s almost like they don’t want to give you your money back,” she said. “If you treat people who are loyal to you like this, don’t expect loyalty in the future.”

Zach Wichter is a travel reporter for USA TODAY based in New York. You can reach him at [email protected].

The Key Points at the top of this article were created with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and reviewed by a journalist before publication. No other parts of the article were generated using AI. Learn more .

Journey to Moscow

Welcome to Moscow - the capital of Russia, its political, scientific, historical, architectural and business centre, from which power and might of the Russian state developed.

What to do about student loan payments if you lose your job

This article is reprinted by permission from NerdWallet .

If you recently lost your job and are worried about paying your student loans, you have several options to set your bill to $0.

Though the national unemployment rate was just 3.8% in August, up slightly from July, layoffs continue to hit workers in industries like tech, media, entertainment, fashion and consulting. Nearly 1,000 tech companies have collectively laid off some 230,000 workers so far in 2023 , according to tech industry layoff tracker Layoffs.fyi.

To make matters even more stressful, federal student loan payments are set to resume in October, after more than three years of an interest-free payment pause that began in March 2020.

“Don’t feel bad if you have to make tough choices and reprioritize,” says Scott Stark, a senior financial planner at Financial Finesse, a workplace financial wellness company.

Here’s how you can make your student loans fit into your budget as you get back on your feet.

Evaluate your budget and spending

Check your budget and spending to see where you can cut back.

“It’s crucial to get an accurate sense of your essential expenses and rank them in order of priority,” says Akeiva Ellis, a certified financial planner and CFP Board ambassador. “Take the time to negotiate where it’s possible, and consider areas where you can trim your budget.”

Student loans often have options for pausing payments that debts like credit cards or auto loans do not.

“It’s just about staying afloat until you get that next job,” says John McCafferty, director of financial planning at Edelman Financial Engines, a financial advisory firm.

Be sure to read: What to do if you get laid off: Take a deep breath, and make these 6 financial moves

Contact your servicer

After a layoff, reach out to your student loan servicer or lender to learn about what assistance may be available to you, says McCafferty.

Your student loan servicer can walk you through relief options and their implications, help you update your payment amounts if you’re on an income-driven repayment (IDR) plan and answer other questions you may have.

Here are some specific relief options that could be available to you.

If you have federal student loans

An income-driven repayment (IDR) plan is the best option for most borrowers who lose their jobs because monthly bills are capped at a certain percentage of your discretionary income . If your income disappears, your payments should drop to $0 per month.

You can sign up for an IDR plan at any time, including after a layoff.

Even if you’re already on an IDR plan, you’ll need to submit a new IDR application to update your income post-layoff. The application will ask why you’re submitting it; write that you are submitting early because you want your servicer to recalculate your payment immediately.

You only need to recertify your income for an IDR plan once a year. If you qualify for $0 payments, that’ll last until your next recertification deadline, even if you get a new job sooner. This can give you some extra breathing room as you catch up on other bills.

A new IDR plan called SAVE is a good option to explore. The income threshold to qualify for $0 payments is more generous under SAVE than other IDR plans at about $32,800 for a household of one.

And unlike other IDR plans or some unemployment deferments, unpaid interest will not build if you’re on the SAVE plan, which could save you a lot of money in the long run.

The ‘on-ramp’ is a temporary safety net

From Oct. 1, 2023, to Sept. 30, 2024, borrowers who don’t make payments won’t be penalized under a 12-month student loan “on-ramp,” including no defaults, decreased credit scores or garnished paychecks. However, this is not an extension of the payment pause.

But if you lose your job during the on-ramp, you can skip payments if needed without signing up for a deferment or forbearance. The on-ramp is automatic, so it will kick in even if you simply don’t pay your student loan bill.

The on-ramp isn’t for everyone, Stark says. Interest will still accrue, increasing the amount you may eventually pay back, and payments are still due. Pay your bills if you can, either under an IDR plan or another repayment plan.

Once the on-ramp expires in late 2024, borrowers who lose their source of income may need to consider other options.

Unemployment deferment

Borrowers can pause payments for up to three years with a student loan unemployment deferment. This route could be helpful for borrowers who are receiving unemployment benefits or actively job-hunting, says Ellis.

However, depending on the type of federal loan you have, a deferment could increase the amount of interest you’ll eventually pay.

If you have subsidized or Perkins loans and don’t want to sign up for SAVE, an unemployment deferment might be a better option than the on-ramp because subsidized loans don’t accrue interest during a deferment.

However, if you have unsubsidized or parent or grad PLUS loans and don’t want to sign up for SAVE, the on-ramp may be better. Interest will build on these types of loans during deferment, and if you don’t pay the interest as it accrues, it will be capitalized after your deferment period ends, which means it will be added to your loan principal. This could increase the total amount you’ll repay over the life of your loan since you’ll be paying interest on a larger principal sum. But with the on-ramp, interest won’t capitalize.

Also read: Parent PLUS borrowers: What to watch for as student loan payments resume, including a loophole

If you have private student loans

Private student loans offer fewer protections for unemployed borrowers than their federal counterparts. Your options will depend on your loan terms and lender.

For example, private student loan lenders Ascent and FundingU offer hardship forbearances, limited to 24 months over the life of your loan. Interest will accrue during your forbearance and capitalize after the period ends, and your repayment term will be extended.

To see what help is available after a layoff, like a temporary deferment or forbearance, contact your private student loan lender directly.

“Always remember, whether federal or private, that communication with your loan servicers is key,” says Ellis. “They’re there to help you navigate these challenging times.”

From Nova Scotia to Montreal: Driving Solo (and on a Budget) in a ‘Relocation’ R.V. Rental

When rental companies need to move their vehicles, they frequently offer one-way trips at a steep discount. Our Frugal Traveler snapped up a deal that took her through eastern Canada.

A vividly colored illustration shows an R.V. camper van parked in a clearing next to some orange and yellow rock formations. In the foreground are two Canada geese with black necks and heads and white throats. The sky is hot pink and in the background are silhouettes of trees and a pink and orange sky, with the sun just setting into an aqua sea.

By Elaine Glusac

Elaine Glusac is the Frugal Traveler columnist, focusing on budget-friendly tips and journeys.

Quebec City was designed to be imposing. On a steep hill above the St. Lawrence Seaway, behind 17th-century ramparts, the city’s streets are narrow and cobbled — no place for a road-hogging, 21st-century recreational vehicle.

Or so I thought, as I planned an ambitious solo R.V. road trip across eastern Canada — from Halifax, Nova Scotia, to Montreal — that would take me through one of the oldest European cities in North America.

Colonial streets weren’t my only mental roadblock when I set out in May to take advantage of a six-night “relocation” deal on an R.V. rental for 39 Canadian dollars a night (about $28) from the Canadian company CanaDream ; its trips normally start at 136 dollars nightly.

When R.V. companies need to move their vehicles to satisfy seasonal demand, they frequently offer relocation or one-way trips at discounted prices. The R.V. rental company Cruise America calls them “one way specials,” which recently included 75 percent off a trip in July from Las Vegas to Orlando. One-way sales from El Monte RV recently listed departures from 30 to 90 percent off.

Based in Calgary, CanaDream shuffles its fleet among seven locations across Canada. With relocation itineraries, the company stipulates the vehicle and departure and arrival dates. Renters pay for gas, food and campsite access in addition to the discounted vehicle.

Travel by R.V. took off during the pandemic as North Americans discovered the convenience and privacy of taking a home on the road. As someone who makes a living traveling light, I considered that style of travel freighted, sluggish and spontaneity-sapping.

What I got over six nights and nearly 800 miles on my maiden R.V. journey was an adventure in driving, a test of self-sufficiency and an introduction to slow-lane travel.

Driver’s ed

Before setting foot in Halifax, I had watched a video about my vehicle — the 22-foot-long Deluxe Van Camper — introducing the many indicators that monitor electricity, waste and water. My sense of responsibility only grew when I got the keys and set out on my journey.

While small for an R.V., the two-person Deluxe Van Camper was taller, longer and less nimble than camper vans I’d driven in the past, which you might expect from a vehicle that you can comfortably stand upright in (its interior height was 6 feet, 3 inches).

The apartment on wheels contained a bathroom with a hose extension on the faucet that doubled as a shower head; a galley kitchen with a microwave, stove and small refrigerator; and a sofa in the back that converted into a firm queen bed. Storage areas, cabinets and drawers contained removable window shades and amenities that seemed essential to me — namely bedding, towels and kitchenware, which cost 175 dollars. A roof hatch and ceiling fan kept air circulating overnight.

Setting out after stops for food and drinking water (the water on board is not potable), I was immediately met by what I came to consider the “R.V. Symphony,” a soundtrack of clattering dishes and tinkling utensils punctuated by the squeak of wood cabinets.

Aware of the extra space needed to brake in an R.V., I drove like an A student fresh out of driver’s training, distant from vehicles ahead, going under the speed limit and, when it was time to park, picking remote, traffic-free spots.

Though I would become more comfortable driving with each passing day, my pace was deliberate as I stuck by my instinct to never drive more than 90 minutes straight. Sightseeing breaks relieved the concentration required of driving.

Tidal adventures

Over the first two days, I skirted the Bay of Fundy, where the highest tides in the world vary up to 53 feet. A few hours from Halifax, I followed the signs to Joggins Fossil Cliffs (free), a UNESCO World Heritage Site where tides have exposed the fossil remains of a 300-million-year-old forest along cliffs roughly 100 feet high.

Crossing into New Brunswick, I continued along the north shore of the bay to a campsite at Ponderosa Pines Campground (70 dollars). It neighbors Hopewell Rocks Provincial Park , one of the province’s biggest attractions, with its tide-carved sea stacks.

My quiet lakeside campsite, like all the R.V. parks I visited, included power and water hookups, a fire ring and picnic table.

In the morning, awakened by honking Canada geese, I took a mile-long forest trail from the campground to Hopewell Rocks (admission 15.85 dollars).

High tide peaked just before the park opened at 9 a.m., surrounding the park’s more than 20 free-standing sea stacks — monoliths that had eroded from the mainland cliffs — in water. As the tide rapidly receded, a park interpreter pointed out the resemblance of the rock profiles to humans.

“There are a lot of native legends of people turned to stone,” he said, echoing the Indigenous Mi’kmaq legend in which an angry whale transforms runaway slaves into rock.

From Hopewell Rocks, a rural half-hour drive passed barns and fields in route to shoreside Alma just outside of Fundy National Park . Tiny Alma has a string of restaurants near its working marina. At Alma Lobster Shop , I savored a briny lobster roll and seafood chowder combo (29 dollars) from a bayside picnic table near sun-bleached whale bones.

With about three hours to visit Fundy National Park (admission 9 dollars), I stopped at the ranger station for advice on a speed tour. The staff seemed accustomed to the question, sending me first to Dickson Falls Trail to hike a nearly mile-long loop through a lush, fern-filled gully split by the stone-carving cascade. Farther down the shore, I followed the pine-shaded Shiphaven Trail along an estuary where shipwrights once built schooners on a gravel bar.

Back in the R.V., I settled in for a two-hour drive — punctuated by a few bird-watching stops — to my next campsite in the provincial capital of Fredericton . On the St. John River, Hartt Island R.V. Resort was quiet in spring, its water park still awaiting warmer weather (60 dollars). Several riverside sites away, my closest neighbors were a pair of backpacking cyclists from England.

I stoked a campfire with dried leaves and watched diving ospreys, soaring eagles and paddling loons as the temperatures dropped with the sunset.

Local encounters

A former British garrison, Fredericton is filled with intriguing 19th-century buildings that made me long for a ride that was a bit more agile on city streets. But I braved them the next morning to hit the city’s renowned Fredericton Boyce Farmers Market at 7 a.m. when parking was available.

The weekly Saturday event draws more than 200 vendors of everything from local produce to food-truck samosas. The best provisioning of the trip turned up aged Cheddar from neighboring Prince Edward Island (10 dollars), a loaf of sourdough (8 dollars) and spinach pies (2 dollars each) from a Lebanese vendor.

Before leaving town, I arranged to meet Cecelia Brooks and Anthony Brooks, a mother-and-son team who guide forest walks with an Indigenous point of view through their company, Wabanaki Tree Spirit Tours (60 dollars). We met at Odell Park , a 400-acre swath of old-growth forest just minutes from downtown and began by burning small amounts of sweetgrass in homage to the giant hemlocks, some of which are over 400 years old.

We meandered through the forest for more than two hours, stopping to discuss plants and fungi that were used by First Nations people as medicine or food and to sample the balsam fir tea and homemade acorn cookies that Ms. Brooks, who is Mohawk and Wolastoqiyik, toted along in a basket.

“The elders say the Creator gave us everything we need,” she said.

Quebec, plugged and unplugged

In Rivière-du-Loup , on the south shore of the St. Lawrence, a seasonal Christmas castle and its giant Santa sculpture came between my site at Camping du Quai (39 dollars) and the water.

In search of better views, I joined locals in camp chairs awaiting sunset at Parc de la Pointe , a boulder-filled beach park a 30-minute walk down the shore.

The next morning, I topped off the water tank and made the drive in a little over two hours (with a short rest break) to Quebec City and Bassin Louise RV Parking . I reached the public lot in Old Port near the city walls by skirting the traffic-knotted center of town.

Bassin Louise offers “ boondocking ,” or R.V. camping, without services like electricity and water. As a woman sleeping in her vehicle in a city, I closed the window shades for the duration. So did the occupants of dozens of R.V.s and vans around me. The lot seemed quiet, but having met the French Canadian couple in a truck camper next door, I knew that — if needed — help was a honk away (overnight parking costs 75 dollars, according to the lot’s website, but the on-site kiosk only asked for 16 dollars).

Short of spending 10 times more for a hotel within the walls, I couldn’t imagine a better location, just five minutes on foot from the tourism office where I joined a two-hour walking tour I booked through GetYourGuide ($26).

“I love my city,” said Hélène Lemieux, the guide who ushered our group of 12, most of them from the United States, among landmark buildings while relating the city’s history as of 1608 when the French explorer Samuel du Champlain arrived to set up a trading post.

The British took over after a pivotal battle in 1759 and Ms. Lemieux helped us distinguish French buildings — with small windows, rough stone facades and dormered roofs — from English ones, made with rectangular stones. She seemed to delight in leading us where other groups weren’t, including the rear of the 17th-century Quebec Seminary .

She ended the tour in a deserted alley, saying, “If you see a little passage, go inside!”

City traffic

The final frontier was getting the R.V. safely to Montreal, a roughly three-hour trip — with a break worked in — through rush hour. It was the last, stomach-churning challenge.

I didn’t miss the R.V. Symphony as I rode toward the airport in an Uber. But I missed my mobile home in the way you miss a great campsite. Taking all the conveniences of home — including a bed, bathroom and kitchen — on the road seemed indulgent. And it was; gas, which came to about $285, cost nearly as much as the vehicle, $290.

In total, the relocation offer saved more than $400 and the R.V. itself forced me to slow down, stop frequently and, possibly, see more.

Follow New York Times Travel on Instagram and sign up for our weekly Travel Dispatch newsletter to get expert tips on traveling smarter and inspiration for your next vacation. Dreaming up a future getaway or just armchair traveling? Check out our 52 Places to Go in 2024 .

Open Up Your World

Considering a trip, or just some armchair traveling here are some ideas..

52 Places: Why do we travel? For food, culture, adventure, natural beauty? Our 2024 list has all those elements, and more .

Lake Como, Italy: Stars like George Clooney frequent this scenic corner of northern Italy, but you might be surprised by how affordable it can be. Here’s an insider’s guide .

South of France: Horses, bulls and birds of all types live among the pink marshes of the Camargue, a rugged landscape shaped by the relentless push and pull of sea and river.

Disney Theme Parks: As Disney has raised the cost of tickets and hotel rooms at its theme parks, and added pricey, difficult-to-navigate tools, even its most loyal fans are asking themselves if they should rethink their vacations.

Helsinki, Finland: Explore the stunning architecture of the new central library, browse treasure-filled shops in the Design District, sweat in a wood-burning sauna, sip cocktails on a schooner and trek across islands in the surrounding archipelago.

Salzburg, Austria: The compact Austrian city of medieval alleys, majestic Alpine views and just 150,000 residents bursts to life in the summer .

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The average cost of total car ownership in the U.S. rose 16% from 2019 to 2022, according to the U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics. A new study from NerdWallet conducted by The Harris Poll finds that this cost is wearing on American vehicle owners.

The study — conducted among 2,060 U.S. adults from Jan. 31 to Feb. 2, 2023 — finds that 25% of Americans who own a personal vehicle worry that the price of fueling or charging their vehicle will impact their ability to pay for other necessary goods or services.

Cost of vehicle ownership

Although vehicle costs are weighing on some owners, about a third (36%) of Americans are planning to purchase a new vehicle in the next 12 months, according to the study. Loans for those vehicles have an average annual percentage rate — or APR, the interest charged for an auto loan — of 6.07%. That can help drive up the overall cost of vehicle ownership.

NerdWallet finds that while 43% of vehicle owners say $1,000 in monthly vehicle costs is too high for them to stomach, a minority — 10% of owners — crack that ceiling. Generation Z and millennial owners are more likely than others to end up with monthly bills over $1,000 (20% and 18%, respectively, compared with 6% of Generation X owners and 3% of baby boomers).

Younger generations have generally higher monthly vehicle bills overall, according to the study. Gen Z and millennial vehicle owners spend an average of $921 and $821 per month, respectively, on their vehicles. Gen Xers spend $433 monthly, and baby boomers spend $308. As a result, 35% of Gen Z vehicle owners say their vehicle expenses make up a significant portion of their monthly budgets.

Parents also pay more for their vehicles, the study found. Vehicle owners with children in their households spend an average of $792 per month on their vehicles, while those without kids spend an average of $430.

Mounting stress from costs

Those higher bills lead to an increase in stress for vehicle owners, with 23% of them saying the cost of ownership causes them stress, according to the study. One in 4 (25%) of all vehicle owners say they worry that the price of fueling or charging their vehicle will impact their ability to pay for other necessary goods or services, including things like rent, food and utilities.

That may be because not every owner thinks about all the associated costs of ownership when purchasing a vehicle. It can be easy to focus on your monthly payment or even your vehicle's out-the-door price, which includes costs like taxes and fees.

"What isn’t included in out-the-door price," NerdWallet auto writer Shannon Bradley says, "is ongoing ownership costs — like gas, maintenance and insurance — so when planning to buy a car, it’s important to budget for those, too."

A straightforward way to avoid falling into a stressful situation is to budget for a vehicle before you buy it. Remember that your monthly vehicle costs won't just include your loan payment and insurance. You'll also need to account for gas, upkeep and other costs.

You can also shop around for an auto loan before buying, which could save you thousands. Bradley says, "Reducing a $30,000, 60-month car loan from a rate of 10% to 8% will reduce total interest paid over the life of the loan by $1,700.”

Finally, used cars may be the most straightforward way to save money, at least in the long run. In our study, 48% of consumers planning to buy a car in the next 12 months said they were planning to buy a used car; 68% were planning to buy new (the values don't add up to 100% because respondents could answer for multiple planned purchases).

According to automotive pricing guide Kelley Blue Book, the average new car price in January 2023 was $49,388, while the average used car price was $26,510. That's a savings of over $22,000 — an amount that could help lower overall financial stress.

Ultimately, buying a car is like making most other large purchases. You can minimize stress by budgeting for all the associated costs and by shopping around before making a purchase.

On a similar note...

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Oxford Hills school district pauses third budget proposal to survey community on spending priorities

After two proposed school budgets went down during referendum votes on June 11 and Aug. 6, a survey on the Maine School Administrative District 17 school budget is expected to be available this week to voters in the eight sending towns.

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Maine School Administrative District 17 Superintendent Heather Manchester addresses Oxford Hills voters during the budget validation meeting held at Oxford Hills Comprehensive High School last May. Two proposed 2024-25 school budgets were easily approved during public hearings but rejected during referendum votes at the polls. A survey on the M SAD school budget is expected to be available this week to voters in the eight sending towns . Nicole Carter/Advertiser Democrat file

PARIS — After two proposed school budgets went down during referendum votes June 11 and Aug. 6, Maine School Administrative District 17’s board of directors and administration are putting the third cycle on pause.

According to Superintendent Heather Manchester, no procedural dates have been set for the school board to approve a third budget draft; schedule a public meeting to validate the warrants; or hold a districtwide referendum. The process is dictated by Maine state statute.

She said she expects those events to happen in October, well after the 2024-25 academic school year has started.

Until then, directors have set a stopgap local share based on the most recently approved budget validation, which was done during a July 23 public meeting, in accordance with state law.

That validated budget of $50.5 million will allow the eight sending towns of SAD 17 to finalize their property tax rates and mail out tax bills by the end of September. Local taxpayer shares for communities will be adjusted once a budget is finalized.

About 10% of voters in the eight sending towns of Harrison, Hebron, Norway, Otisfield, Oxford, Paris, Waterford and West Paris participated in the most recent referendum. Of the 1,299 votes cast, passage fell 107 votes short. Advertisement

“We determined (during the director’s budget meeting this week) that we need to get more information from the community before we do more cuts,” Manchester said. “We had low voter turnout of the 12,000 voters in the district.

“We are concerned about making further changes when so few people voted and we have no clear mandate. Particularly when the budget was approved during two budget meetings, by a significant majority.”

To that end, SAD 17 is assessing its communications methods and strategies with the community. Administrators are developing a survey to gather information from residents with goals to increase voter participation and determine where residents see budget cuts as most feasible.

Electronic surveys will be emailed to parents with a robocall prompt, and downloadable from SAD 17’s website and social media pages.

Hard copies will be distributed to town offices, post offices and at other local businesses for voters to pick up. Respondents will need to return printed surveys to the Central Office in South Paris.

“We want to understand where people get their information so we can include those outlets in our communications,” she said. “And (ascertain) what changes to the budget will improve its likelihood of being approved.”

Manchester added that while many budget allocations are federally mandated and cannot be decreased or eliminated, it is important to include all concerns in a productive dialogue.

The survey is expected to be published, posted and distributed this week.

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In this post, we're going to break down the costs of one of my first big road trips. I took this trip during the launch of my book How to Travel the World on $50 a Day with the intention of keeping my daily costs below $50 USD.. After 116 days traveling around the United States on this trip, I spent $6,262.67 USD, or $53.98 USD per day.
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Travel tips. Best Time to Travel. KAYAK for Business. NEW; Trips. English Your trip calculator ... are based on an analysis of current and historical minimum roundtrip flight prices for one traveler and average car rental prices in the past 31 days. Actual prices may vary. Always check current prices and routes before booking.
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Use free grocery discount cards - many chains like Kroger, Safeway, Meyers, etc. offer discount cards for free and the savings can really add up. Shop local farmers markets along your road trip route - the produce will be fresh and often cheaper than the supermarket.
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Rental Cars. For drivers under the age of 25, additional fees and/or restrictions may apply. For information and assistance in completing your reservation, please call: Package not available on dates selected. Please enter alternative dates. A cruise tour is a voyage and land tour combination, with the land tour occurring before or after the ...
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2024 Honda CR-V Hybrid

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2024 Volkswagen Atlas

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2024 Ford Mustang

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