Money-saving tips for work-related travel

Travel is exciting, whether for work or personal reasons. While traveling for work should sound stressful, strangely it usually isn't for many millennials. Add in the perk of having your trip financed by a third party, probably your company or client, and it might get way too exciting. So much so that you start dipping into your own cash reserves.

While you may not be the one spending the money. Traveling overseas for work presents a great opportunity to save up some cash, probably enough to travel again in the future.

The first step as with any frugal spending approach is to sit down with pen and paper and examine your budget; what is essential and what is trivial. What can you live without and what is crucial. Keep these four money tips in mind when next you're traveling for work.

- Consider going for cheaper accommodation. An economical option might be opting for short-term Airbnb units instead of expensive hotels. There are also services, like Homestay, which allows you to stay with a host in your destination for a reduced price. Often, you get to mix with the locals and actually experience what living in that city or country feels like. However, ensure to find out if this wouldn't be in violation of company policy.

- Check out cheaper airlines. You can snag a deal on flights and other essentials with a service like Lowfares that allow you to compare rates on airfares, hotels, and car rentals. Another tip is to travel during off-peak periods.

Generally, weekdays, especially midweek, are a great time to secure cheap rates. FareCompare CEO, Rick Seaney, in an article on USAToday https://eu.usatoday.com/story/travel/columnist/seaney/2018/01/02/best-and-worst-days-fly-2018/995658001/ , puts Jan 9 - March 16 as the cheapest times to fly through Europe. Since prices drop as much as 40% over holiday fares.

- Cut back on restaurants and drinks. Money spent on food per day can easily add up, especially when you're not the one spending. However, it only takes a little discipline to be thrifty and get some cash saved. One tip is to plan out what you'd eat every day and how much you want to spend. Don't get too cut up in the local cuisine, while ignoring your pocket. An advantage of a service like Homestay is that it allows you to spend little on food.

- Teach a language or offer a service. You can try a service like Diverbo, which will cover some of your vacationing costs and in exchange, you help locals with their English. AdventureWork shows listings of jobs in the adventure space. Folks literally pay you to teach skiing and snowboarding etc. You can also babysit or teach a language. https://www.forbes.com/sites/laurabegleybloom/2016/07/27/23-companies-that-will-help-you-travel-the-world-for-free-and-maybe-even-pay-you-to-do-it/#4e5d1881e0fd . So, if you have some free time on your hands, you can consider offering a service or volunteering.

There are also discount services or loyalty rewards on hotels and fares. You can take advantage of these if you frequent the same location multiple times a year.

Traveling overseas for work presents an opportunity to work, have fun and maybe get enough money saved up to finance your next travel.

In a seller's market, like the US, buyers must be prepared to do some ground work and move fast whenever they spot homes that offer what they are looking for. In a competitive market, a buyer with cash doesn't necessarily win these days. 2015 Realtytrac stats say that about a third of property buyers in the US are cash buyers. Cash might still have an advantage over mortgage but below are some more tips to create a winning offer.

Only a few sellers can reject an offer of cash but chances are you're not the only one bringing cash to the table. Hence you need other strategies when making a home offer:

1. Move fast.

Moving fast could help you win when making a home offer in a competitive market. If you’re dealing with a seller who doesn't have much time (who does?) and wants to sell fast, all you need to do is put your best foot forward and follow other steps in these article to seal the deal.

You can also offer to close quickly. A standard closing period is about 30 days. If you can close in three weeks instead, this could convince the seller to accept your offer even over one that offers more money.

2. Get a professional.

A proactive and knowledgeable agent will know what works in that community and will be able to create a winning offer fast.  A good agent will be the strongest weapon in your arsenal when in a competitive market. A knowledgeable agent will guide you through winning strategies in that competitive market that may seem crazy when you try them in a slower market.

3. Be human.

Display personality with your offer. One way to do this is by writing a letter to the seller that tells him the reason why you want to buy. Indicate a subtle feature you like about the house (which other buyers didn't notice). Other sellers will appear impersonal.

4. An earnest deposit

A substantial first deposit makes a major difference. A reasonable first deposit will be about 3% of the value of the house. A seller often takes this offer seriously and can feel positive you are focused on the stand by position this offer.

This may give you a winning edge. Submitting a pre-approval notice with the first deposit puts your offer before others by telling the owner you are serious.

5. Money talks.

Of course, the more money you can offer upfront, the better your chances. If you can afford a 30% or 40% down payment (or more), sellers will be tempted to accept your offer. And, in the long run, it will save you money on a mortgage, shortening the length of your loan and the interest you pay. You can also waive some contingencies, depending on what your agent approves.

These tips can put your offer on top of the pile. However, in a competitive market, beating the competition depends on your creativity. 

While some analysts believe Brexit has made the UK housing market porous. Others believe Brexit will pave way for a stronger housing market in coming years

The interaction between real estate and foreign policy is clear cut and this is more than proved by Brexit. As the March 2019 final Brexit negotiations approach, a precursor has been set, which might influence London's real estate market in coming years.

A recent report from international property firm, Knight Frank, puts London as the top favorite destination for global capital. This is due to the fact that London still presents liquidity and stability, factors attractive to investors.

Nick Braybrook, Knight Frank London's head of capital markets says ‘Despite the political turmoil surrounding the UK with Brexit, London is once again the most liquid real estate market in the world. It is more popular as a home for international investment than Paris Central, Manhattan, Munich, and Frankfurt combined,’.https://www.propertywire.com/news/global-news/londons-commercial-property-market-top-draw-international-buyers The influx of foreign investors particularly Asian buyers could be due to a weakened pound sterling, which has led to a slow growth in home prices.

According to an article by FT https://www.ft.com/content/87b1f284-1452-11e7-80f4-13e067d5072c "home prices have seen slow growth since the 2016 Brexit announcement. In May 2018, prices fell by 0.4% in London from an annual rate of 12% in 2016."

The pre-Brexit rise in home prices, which were growing at above 10 percent year over year before the EU referendum has given way to slower price growth. 2018 so far has seen a price growth of only 3% all over the UK. For millennials and London residents, the pre-Brexit rates had kept them on edge with staggering prices. Now the current fair price increases and a residential market that is more or less slow present better odds of landing favorable home deals.

Currently, London's economy is great. There is a low unemployment rate and inflation rates are down. Speculators, however, believe that the thriving economy will lead to higher interest rates soon. This means that first-time homebuyers would need to pay higher down payments on mortgages.

And even though foreign investment has decreased in most sectors, due to the uncertain climate surrounding BREXIT, real estate foreign activity is at its peak. Even the tax hikes introduced on foreign landlords, renting out their houses, hasn't diminished London's foreign real estate activity.

2019 will definitely be an interesting year for the UK's housing market, depending on the outcome of the final negotiations between the EU and the UK. However, an abrupt Brexit will do no one any good. Mark Carney, the governor of the bank of England has warned that a "disorderly" Brexit will lead to interest rate hikes which might greatly affect the property market.

According to FT, Theresa May’s government is actively seeking to avoid such a scenario. The prime minister has softened her position on Brexit in recent months and has agreed to a transition period that would maintain much of the status quo until at least 2021.

What changes do you think might take place before 2021? Leave your thought