How to travel cheap or what's worked for me

Travel to third world countries

Travel Insurance

Don't buy souvenirs

Get your airfare on sale
Transportation will be your single most expensive thing. It is essential that you research the best fare. The internet makes this easy. Sign up for all the e fare specials. Last minute fares etc. I save a ton by letting the special e fare tell me where I'm going.

Use Air hitch to go to Europe
$169 is an absolute bargain. I have used it and it is real. I even managed to fly first class from NYC to Copenhagen, Denmark using them.

Take the cheap buses

Do not take taxis

Don't buy unnecessarily expensive travel gear

Use a digital camera -don't use film cameras

Sleep at the cheapest places

Eat at cheap local places

Supplement your diet with cheap foods like ramen noodles, make you own sandwiches etc

Use a electric immersion heater and ceramic cup to boil water in your room for coffee, tea, soup, oatmeal etc.

Don't use guides for anything

Live cheap at home so you can travel more often - read "Your money or your life" to put things in prospective

Don't use travelers checks

Always ask for a discount
I have saved a bunch of money by simple asking for a discount. It's fun to try. I room is already cheap but I've save even more by asking for a reduced rate. It helps if you are staying longer than a day or two and you are using cash. In João Pessoa, Brazil, I talked the manager down from $12 a night to $10. The room was the best in the hotel with a beautiful view of the ocean. There may have been 50 rooms but this was the only one with a view. I know its not a big price difference, but it's sort of a thrill to get a nice room at a good price even cheaper.

Don't give money to beggars

Don't agree to any street hustle that your offered

Hitch hike (although risky) it's free transportation

Choose a budget focused travel guide book
 At the heart of my cheap adventures. Their are only two - Lonely Planet and Let's Go. No other books come close. Nothing pisses me off more than a book telling me about $50 dinners and $200 hotel rooms.

Don't over pay
The important thing to remember when traveling in a third world country is not to pay first world prices for things, believe me, the locals will be happy charging you American prices. It's funny whenever something was kind of expensive I would say they’re charging American prices. You need to be careful even though something may seem inexpensive it could be much more than locals would pay.