Free hotel breakfast + apple and little to go pack of peanut butter and a banana to go for lunch. For longer trips, dinner is either 90 min rice or quinoa, frozen veggies and fresh spinach in the microwave (bonus points for bringing Asian or curry sauce from Aldi in checked bag) OR something from the hospital cafeteria (usually have substantial employee discounts). I also bring a little bottle of detergent, a couple pieces of silverware, sponge and plastic bowl if I don’t book a Residence Inn or Element. For shorter trips, choose a Marriott with a concierge club or embassy suites as they usually have food in the evenings.
Once you’re at the top level of a hotel loyalty program, Hilton Diamond for instance, you get access to their executive lounge or concierge room depending on the size of the hotel. It’s basically free food and drinks, to include alcohol and which can’t normally be expensed.
Between the meal on the plane, the lounge access, and the Continental breakfast, I rarely had to spend money on meals.
If staying in hotels, stay in modest ones both because they’re cheaper, but also because mid-level hotels give you free breakfast (snag a bagel and apple as a light lunch), and have a microwave and mini fridge in the room so you can prepare groceries bought at the supermarket instead of take-out food.
Better yet, select an Airbnb that is 1) cheaper than a hotel and 2) has a kitchen, often kitchen basics like spices, coffee, oil and vinegar, etc., and free laundry machines.
At conferences, I rarely buy any food at all - there’s breakfast offerings in the morning sessions, snacks in the afternoon and receptions to go to in the evening.
If I do need to purchase food or am trying to be healthy, I’d purchase prepared salads (Trader Joe’s has a nice variety) and keep them in the hotel fridge.
If I want a drink or two, I’ll buy beer or a bottle of wine at a liquor store and not go to the hotel bar.
When my father works out of town, he gets a $250 per diem. That is supposed to pay for the room, mileage, and his food for the day. My dad will get the cheapest room with a kitchenette and buy all of the food at a grocery store. He usually pockets about $100 a day. Sometimes, he’s gone for the whole month and comes back with a big wad of cash. He’s happy, and CRA has no idea.
Spend it all and enjoy, you’re already saving what you would have spent at home. Traveling for business on a tight budget is boring and you won’t last.
All expenses are paid and $80 for meals per day that have to have receipts. This can be anything and I use it to its fullest even if it’s going to a grocery or drug store and buying stuff to take home and consume.
I travel for sales. We get a $100 per day while traveling. I make sure to visit customers for lunch or dinner and that becomes a separate expense from my per diem.
Grocery Store.
I rarely eat out. But it depends on where I’m overnighting & who I’m traveling with. I bring my own liquor & meal prep or pack shelf stable foods. I know what amenities each hotel offers. Sometimes there’s no fridge or microwave, but I always have my soft-side cooler & my Hot Logic.
I save my per diem to buy shirts with complicated patterns from Dan Flashes.
I’ve always had company cards and been treated like an adult.
I’ve never worked anywhere where they gave out cash.
Rylan said:
I’ve always had company cards and been treated like an adult.
I’ve never worked anywhere where they gave out cash.
Do you know what per diem is?
Rylan said:
I’ve always had company cards and been treated like an adult.
I’ve never worked anywhere where they gave out cash.
Do you know what per diem is?
I’m aware.
@Rylan
I’d like to believe your comment isn’t dumb, and you’re just ignorant so I’ll explain to you in simple terms Mr adult.
When I travel, depending on the city, I get a 60-75 dollars daily allowance for food. I get that money whether I spend it on food or not. For every other expense I use my company card. Hotels, rental cars, gas, etc.
No one is handing me cash. When I do my expense reports, for every day on the road, the $60-70 get added up and deposited directly to my bank account.
Hope that clears it up for you.
@Drew
Well Mr OP, I was given a company credit card which I used for everything.
We weren’t given an allowance like children, we were trusted to spend reasonably. BTW, Cash per diems are a thing with some companies.
Organizations like yours are poorly managed by letting you keep any money you don’t spend.
Lucky for you, but still shitty financially.
Enjoy your allowance, champ!
@Rylan
Thanks, I will? You’re talking about me making more money as if it’s supposed to be a bad thing? Lol this is the wildest take I’ve ever seen on Reddit.
I’m not gonna name them but trust me, the company I work for is a global juggernaut, they’re just fine (I myself am just a grunt of course). But yeah go tell them about all their shitty finances.
Per diem is just a standard benefit in this line of work. But it seems you were given the short end of the stick, so sorry, feel bad for ya.
But on the bright side, hopefully you have a better understanding of per diem now!
@Drew
I did fine thank you, I just don’t feel giving people money they didn’t “earn” just because they didn’t spend what they were allowed is a bit shortsighted.
You’re obviously happy being a leech.
Rylan said:
@Drew
I did fine thank you, I just don’t feel giving people money they didn’t “earn” just because they didn’t spend what they were allowed is a bit shortsighted.
You’re obviously happy being a leech.
Leech? That’s crazy coming from Sardine man. 
@Zan
I like a sardine…so sue me!
Back to your comic books.