Budget-Friendly Souvenir Ideas To Consider For Your Next Trip

Souvenirs are one of those things that we frequently worry we'll overpay for, pack too much to bring home, or break en route. Depending on their destination, the average traveler spends from $50 to $200 on souvenirs or other merchandise during their travels. Obviously, if you go somewhere like Walt Disney World, you're more likely to spend more on souvenirs from ships than on a camping trek around various National Parks.

While tchotchkes like souvenir spoons are out of fashion (although we are definitely still on Team Spoon Collector), travelers are becoming more creative in commemorating their adventures. Some of these options are more innovative than others, yet you shouldn't let your artistic prowess or lack thereof stop you from embracing more unique ways of remembering a vacation.

Phones full of thousands of photos don't do us any good if those photos just sit gathering digital dust. Better to pick up a souvenir, especially if doing so doesn't break the bank.

These are terrific because you can order them on a website like Vistaprint or Shutterfly when you get home from your trip. You can take the pictures and worry about ordering the magnets later — less baggage, anyone? Photo magnets are budget-friendly souvenirs suitable for yourself to remember the trip by or to send to loved ones too. These are exceptionally terrific souvenirs to commemorate special trips celebrating an engagement, honeymoon, babymoon, or baby announcement. They also make great holiday cards and save-the-dates.

How creative you get with the magnet will likely determine its cost — for example, prices on Shutterfly as of writing range from $6.38 to $14.99 each. Frequent discounts are floating around online for custom photo gift sites, and the magnets are usually cheaper if you buy several at a time rather than just one. Be sure you favorite or separate your best photos during the trip so it isn't so difficult to sift through them once you're home, although there is never a bad time to look through holiday photos.

This is a fun one because sometimes you'll have leftover money (whether coins or cash), and you can frame the notes or turn the coins into art or jewelry. Especially if you're going to places known for having some of the most beautiful currency on the planet, like the Maldives, the French Pacific Territories, or Sao Tome & Principe, the money can be a fantastic way to remember your trip.

It is generally recommended to avoid converting money at the airport because those locations usually charge higher fees. If you decide to pull money from an ATM, do so in the local currency. Whatever bank owns the ATM is more likely to give you a better conversion rate if you take out your cash in the local currency equivalency rather than U.S. dollars. Many places worldwide accept credit cards, yet having a bit of currency on hand is always a good idea, even in an increasingly cashless society. Not only does cash help in tight situations, but it also makes for a fantastic souvenir.

This cheap souvenir is an excellent idea if you're on a backpacking adventure. For example, if you're backpacking Europe, you can pick up a patch in every new country and adorn your backpack with it. That way, you can show where it's been — like decorating a hard shell suitcase or old steamer trunk. If you cannot find patches in specific locations (this writer can confirm that can be a challenge), grab one you like online and have it sent home.

You'll usually find them at souvenir shops or kiosks in most major cities you visit. For the most part, they range in price from $5 to $15 depending on the intricacy and design of the patch, where you are in the world, and what kind of store you find them in. Remember that if you pick them up at the airport, they'll probably be more expensive than at a random souvenir kiosk on the street.

Patches are another souvenir collectible suitable for things like picture frames or other means of wall decoration. Another good option is to get a corkboard and adorn it with patches, which can be pinned to the board independently or with appropriate photos from each destination. Clusters of photos around each patch are an excellent way to diversify the board. You could also purchase mini corkboards and dedicate each of them to an individual destination.

They're an old standby for a reason. Postcards are colorful, beautiful, and easy to turn into collages or other art you can enjoy in your home. If, for some reason, you struggle to find any while on the road, postcards can be purchased online and sent home. Sure, you won't collect the local postal stamp, but at least you'll have the postcard. Amazon will have the cheapest and best range of bulk postcard options, though you may want to check sites like Etsy, too. 

Another way to make the postcards you collect in the locations more special is by writing down some memories from the destination, as you would if you were sending them to a friend. You can put them in a photo album to see both sides of the card and remember what made each location special. Postcard photo albums are a marvelous tradition, one that this writer was encouraged to begin by coworkers before leaving on their honeymoon. It's a tradition that can be suited to any place in the world and will help you collect souvenirs and memories.

The senses of taste and smell are so tightly bound to our memories that collecting recipes is an incredible way to instantly snap us back into a bygone memory. An easy way to collect them is to buy recipe cards in advance and have a way of organizing them once you're home. Bring the recipe cards with you on your trip, write down recipes along the way, and remember to mark where the recipe is coming from. You can ask Airbnb hosts, new friends, bakers, or even restauranteurs for specific recipes for dishes you love during your journey.  You can include the city, country, and even the specific location, like a restaurant or bed and breakfast. 

Not all folks will be willing to divulge their beloved recipes, so be prepared for declinations. You may also want to note any ingredients you'll need to acquire from specialty grocers when you get home. Asking for a recipe can be a little awkward, but it doesn't hurt to ask. The worst that will happen is they'll turn you down. The best that will happen is that you'll head home with your new favorite dishes to prepare for your loved ones. 

In cities like Paris or New Orleans, artists are selling their work along the sidewalks everywhere you look. Often, you can get an inexpensive work of art, and since those cheaper pieces are usually small, it's easy to haul them around. They are usually on a stiffer paper board or small canvas, making it a bit easier to get home.

Smaller pieces in a city like New Orleans can run around $10-$15, depending on the artist and the medium — sketch paintings in black and white tend to be cheaper, for example. Larger pieces can be $50-$100 or more. If you find something you like, it could be that the artist also has prints (which are cheaper than original works), so don't be afraid to ask.

Consider how you're traveling when you pick up one of these artworks. For example, keeping the art safe in your pack can be challenging if you're backpacking Europe. It isn't impossible, just more difficult than if you had a traditional suitcase. As with the guide maps, try keeping the art in a place where it will remain flat, like in a laptop backpack sleeve. For something like a canvas, try wrapping it in soft clothing like t-shirts or sweaters to prevent it from getting punctured by other items in your luggage. After all, you won't be saving any money on souvenirs if you get the art home and it's ruined.

Lapel pins have made a huge comeback in the last decade or so. Artistic enamel pins, in particular, have become a significant collector's item, and tourist destinations have cashed in on the appeal. They can cost anything from a few dollars to tens of dollars for the most detailed enamel pins. In some cases, you may even find giant pins that could run you upwards of $100 or more, though the smaller ones are much easier to find.

The one significant downside with pins is that the backs can become bent or even broken if they aren't packed correctly. Too much pressure on the pins can permanently damage or bend them, so they must be properly stowed away. One way to prevent this is to keep them with the cardboard they are purchased on or to keep them in the front or top of your pack so they aren't subjected to much pressure. Don't forget to buy some locking pinbacks if you intend on displaying them on a bag or your lapel so you don't lose them.