I would love a vacation, but without the vacation prices. Airfare can get expensive, and finding a decently priced flight can feel impossible at times. However, there are ways to cut the costs.

Here are some tips for booking flights on a budget!

Search at the right time
Search for domestic flights three and a half months beforehand, and five and a half months when going international. In addition, buy your ticket at least 2 weeks in advance to avoid paying a premium.

Buy at the right time
Most sale fares begin on Monday at 8 p.m., and end on Thursday at 8 p.m. Research done by FareCompare.com shows that the greatest number of cheap seats are found at 3 p.m. on Tuesday. Buy then!

Don’t fly on weekends
You can find cheaper flights on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays.  In addition, look for early morning flights and overnight flights, which are often cheaper than flights later on in the day.

Skip the nonstop
Yes, it’s nice to get to your destination in one sitting, but is it worth the extra cash? Connecting flights are significantly cheaper – enjoy that layover.

Set up email alerts to track fares
If you don’t have the time to constantly be searching, sign up for  fare alerts from sites like Airfarewatchdog. You will be notified about the lowest fares from your home city!

Follow airlines on Twitter and Facebook
This is social media at it’s finest – Airlines often post time-sensitive airfare deals using social media. Follow them, and you’ll see the deal first!

-Shalyn Tharayil