Let's face it, not everyone can afford to hit the road for months at a time. We'd all like to have a million bucks in the bank and be able to travel at our leisure, but luckily there are ways that you can see the world without wreaking havoc on your bank account. 

Budget backpacking can sometimes be more fun than extravagant spending.  It's the art of the penny-pinch, the Tao of frugality.  It's all about stretching your dollar as far as it will go, while still getting the most out of your trip.

With that in mind, here are a few tips to help get you on the road, regardless of your account balance.

Freeloading is Free

Hostels are a great way to travel on the cheap and meet some cool people, but it's even better to travel on the free. Talk to locals and try to make friends with them.  If you're especially charming, you can sometimes get friendly locals to open their homes and their lives to you.  A better (and probably safer) strategy is to use a website like CouchSurfing.com or GlobalFreeloaders.com. These websites are basically huge databases of people willing to let you stay at their house (usually on their couch) for free.  When you freeload, you not only get a free place to stay, but you also get a local who can tell you where to go, and sometimes even give you free tours of their city!

Bootleg a Tour Guide

This is one of my favorite budget travel techniques.  Every major touristy locale, from the Coliseum in Rome to the Old City in Jerusalem, will have tour guides in almost every language.  Hang around until a guide speaking English comes by and slip into the group for a free guided tour!  Some guides can be snooty sticklers, and it can be fun to let them catch you - just smile and pretend you don't speak English.

Dinner Roll Reprise

This one is pretty sneaky, but if you've ever traveled on a tight budget, you'll appreciate this super-thrifty move.  When you go out to dinner, steal the dinner rolls (don't get caught!) and stash them in your pack for breakfast or for a snack on the go.  This works especially well if you travel with some preserves.  A stolen dinner roll for breakfast is great with a bit of jelly.  For lunch, buy a bit of cheese or meat from a local vendor and make yourself a sandwich.  If you're not into thieving, then buy your own bread. Making your own food is probably the best way to save money on the road - just don't forget to sample the local cuisine at least once!

Night Train to Scrimpville

If you've got a long haul ahead of you, you should consider sleeping on the night train to save some time and money.  If you're feeling exceptionally frugal (or if that pesky negative balance is forcing you to be), you can book a standard train ticket and sleep in your seat.  This is usually not comfortable at all, but you can sometimes find an empty row to stretch out in.  I recommend getting a sleeper (often called a couchette) for just a couple bucks extra.  The prices tend to range from $20 to $40 in addition to your ticket, but you'll get a bed, and often a light breakfast in the morning.  You won't save too much money with this tip, but you'll save a day of travel, which can sometimes be more valuable.

Remember: you'll be sleeping through the scenery, so if you're in Switzerland, you might want to wait for the day train.

Card Carrying Miser

Get an international student discount card before you leave, there are a few options to choose from, including ISE and ISIC.  These cards are especially useful if you plan on visiting museums and historical sites-you can sometimes save a ton of money.  It's also worth saying you're a student, even if you aren't.  I've gotten crazy discounts from flashing my expired international student ID, but I've also been turned down more than a few times.

Drink Like the Locals

Local brews and vinos will almost always be cheaper than imports.  I know you love your Jack Daniels, but try sampling the local beers, not only is it cheaper, but it's also part of the cultural experience of traveling. Bonus tip: If you smoke, buy tobacco and rolling papers-you'll fit in with the Euro bohemian crowd, and save some money.

Ride Public Transportation

Taking busses and metros is usually much cheaper than taking taxicabs in the city, and it can really be a lot of fun. In many cities, taking the metro is the norm, so the seats aren't filled with snoring homeless men and creepy weirdos.  Instead, you'll be riding with schoolchildren on their way to class, and businessmen on their way to the office. Public transportation can be a great way to really get to know a city and get from A to B without breaking the bank.

Water is Free

Ok, this one is obvious, but often overlooked.  Bring a water bottle - always.  It doesn't have to be one of those fancy Nalgene deals, it can just be a regular old water bottle, crinkled and worn from reuse. By drinking water instead of soda, and by taking advantage of sinks and public fountains with free, potable water, you'll save yourself quite a bit of cash.  (Remember to check if the water is drinkable!  Montezuma's revenge is no fun.)

Walk Like an Economist

Take a look at you map or ask a local for directions.  If you only have to go a mile or two, consider walking to your destination.  As long as you're not in a real hurry, walking can be the best way to see a city.  You'll be on the front lines of tourism, brushing shoulders with locals as they pass you on the street and stopping at markets for a snack.  Not only will you save your bus fare, but you'll get a better feel for the city you're visiting.

Avoid Tourist Traps

This doesn't always work - if you're in Paris, you'll have to see the Louvre and the Eiffel Tower, but in many cases, there are more interesting, more local things to do what will save you some serious cash.  If you see all the tourists heading in one direction, try going the other way.  This is called counter-tourism - when they zig, you should zag.  You never know what you'll discover, but it will probably be cheap and interesting.

Justin Jones is a thrifty nomad who consistently lives wildly beyond his means.  Check out his blog at www.KingAmongRunaways.com for tales of excess from a budget travel junkie.

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