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For many people, setting a budget is integral to their travel plans. As long as you have a reasonable budget, you can find almost anything, including a flight, which will fit into your plans. Setting a budget is the easy part; the more difficult part is finding the right trip that fits your criteria.

Determine the time and dates you are willing to go. The broader range you give yourself, the more likely you are to find something that fits your monetary needs. Remember that many lower airplane fares come with restrictions, such as a mandatory weekend stay or a ticket purchase two or three weeks ahead of time.

After you figure out your budget and time ranges, go to a couple travel sites. Check on several dates and times, as certain days are often cheaper than others. For instance, leaving on a Tuesday will almost always be less expensive than leaving on a Saturday, though this isn't always the case.

If you live in a small town, look for departures in a bigger city, as the airports are bigger and carry more options for potential travelers. However, if the nearest city is two hours away, you may want to rethink that option. The same goes in a larger city: the bigger airport usually has the best airfares because it's more competitive.

Look for ticket options far enough ahead of time that you can revisit your search later and check for lower prices or better deals.

Another option for travelers is to serve as couriers. This is best for people doing a long commute without check-in luggage: you essentially carry packages or items for the airline, which are substituted for your baggage options. Companies often offer much lower fares to those who choose this option, so its worth looking into.

And last but not least, put that credit card to good use. If you fly a lot, you probably already have a credit card with frequent flyer mileage awards; if not, look into it. Even if you fly only once a year, you can rack up miles quickly and save up for a trip or use your miles for a first class or business class upgrade.