Monday’s Money Saving Tips – NEVER buy toothpaste or toothbrushes!
As we travel round the world, trying all sorts of new foods and drinks, we need to constantly clean our teeth. I’m a “minimum twice a day” person – I’ll try to clean them as much as I can! And it’s CHEAP. I haven’t bought a toothbrush for about 5 years, nor have I bought toothpaste for about a year! Here are my Monday’s Money Saving Tips on why nomads never need to buy toothpaste or toothbrushes. This post was inspired by fellow travel blogger Katie Aune’s comment on Facebook this week that claims that hotels don’t have FREE toothpaste and toothbrushes. From my experience they do, and so do some hostels (which is my preferred way to travel), and most aeroplanes. You just need to know where to get them!
Cleaning my teeth for FREE. For about 5 years…
OK so really just TWO main tips on this, so simple and so effective:
1. Everytime you stay in a hotel, TAKE ALL the toothbrushes and toothpaste!
From my experience almost ALL hotels will have free toothbrushes and free toothpaste. And more than one packet of them. Once you get into your hotel room, check the bathroom. If there’s none sitting out, check all the cupboards and drawers. In China they sometimes keep them in drawers. If there’s still none – just ask reception. They’re not going to say no – you’re a customer. I’ve worked in hotels that had toothpaste and toothbrushes. My girlfriend actually recently complained because I had about 30 toothbrushes! That should be enough for a few years!
Enough toothbrushes to last a few years…
2. Everytime you’re on a flight, TAKE ALL the toothbrushes and toothpaste!
On flights, visit the toilet on the plane and open the cupboards to take out the FREE toothpaste and toothbrush packets. OK, so cheap ass airlines like Ryanair and Easyjet might not have them, but in the last year I’ve never had an airline say no to free toothpaste or toothbrushes. If they’re not in the cupboard just ask the flight steward/stewardess for them. Again, they won’t say no, unless that airline really doesn’t have them.
Nice bit of FREE toothpaste and toothbrushes recently with Singapore Airlines…
I currently have about 30 toothbrushes and 20 small tubes of toothpaste. Another advantage is that the toothpastes you get for FREE are small and therefore they fit easily in your toiletry bag and never get banned in airports. You’ll never need to buy either toothpaste or toothbrushes again now…
Monday’s Money Saving Tips – FREE toothpaste!
Happy brushing! Happy Saving Money!
I’ve started just using baking soda or baking soda with a little peppermint essence it in. It’s cheap as hell and has no sh*tty chemicals in it.
Forest Parks recently posted…You Say Tomato, I Say Ermmmm: How Travel Changed My Language
NICE tip there Forest! Safe travels. Jonny
I stand by my claim that the vast majority of hotels in the US and Europe (at least) do not provide toothpaste and toothbrushes in the rooms. If you ask for them at the desk, sure. If they did, why would someone have felt the need to write an article investigating why no hotels offer free toothpaste? (which is what I originally shared that got this whole discussion going in the first place). http://www.slate.com/articles/life/culturebox/2013/07/toothpaste_in_hotels_why_do_they_provide_shampoo_soap_and_high_end_toiletries.single.html
Katie Aune recently posted…Ghost Hunting in Memphis
Thanks for your comment Katie – I just read the article last week and was baffled by it, as I sat going through my bag of toothbrushes and toothpaste i had picked up for free over the years! I’m a tight ass cheapskate backpacker at the best of times and wanted to share my tips on how to save money on dental care! Agree to disagree and safe travels. Jonny
Brilliant tip! Not sure if I’d find it here in Latin America where even toilet paper in public places can be hit or miss.
Mig recently posted…7 Tips to Reduce Spending on the Road
Thanks for the comment Mig – best thing about the travel blogging industry is we all help each other out hope this can help a few nomads out – I know about the toilet roll issue from my days in South America and agree – it’s another essential to carry with you at all times!! Safe travels. Jonny