Brett Graff, THE HOME ECONOMIST, talks about cutting Labor Day travel costs on NEWS 8’s LET’S TALK LIVE in Washington DC.

This week, the Washington DC show LET’S TALK LIVE on NEWS 8 invited The Home Economist Brett Graff to discuss
tips for saving money on Labor Day travel. You can watch the full segment by clicking here, or you can read the tips below so you enjoy this free day by blowing all your money.

1. Eat your big meal – or try that trendy restaurant – for lunch rather than dinner. You’ll find menu prices are cut considerably for the mid-day meal. Take the new restaurant Joe’s Seafood, Prime Steak and Stone Crabs in Washington, which recently opened with great fanfare and was featured in all the metro’s glossies. An 8 oz fillet is $4 cheaper, sea bass is $5 less expensive, and for fried chicken there’s a $3 difference between lunch and dinner. With four of diners and three vacation days, the tab adds up.
2. Cut gas costs by gallons. You may know where pump prices are cheap at home but when you’re traveling, it’s best to use the governments www.fueleconomy.gov. – it spits out gas prices at every station in the city. Also, you’ll want to pack light and keep your tire pressure perfect – the more you weigh down the car, the more fuel it needs to power forward.
3. Avoid vacation scams. You didn’t win a free vacation and if you did, that’s great – just don’t pay a fee first or give your credit card number. Because summer is over, some of the “vacation clubs” will be on the prowl. Remember that high pressure sales tactics are red flags, usually meaning the club offers a limited number of destinations at some unusual travel times. Ask about resort fees, sometimes they’re not included in advertised hotel prices. Make sure the hotel or resort can give specifics about “luxury” and “five star.” And always pay with a credit card, so if you’re deceived you can dispute the charges.