{"id":41395,"date":"2015-05-19T16:47:15","date_gmt":"2015-05-19T23:47:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.movoto.com\/blog\/?p=41395"},"modified":"2015-05-19T16:47:15","modified_gmt":"2015-05-19T23:47:15","slug":"live-in-portland-on-a-budget","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.movoto.com\/blog\/live-in-portland-on-a-budget\/","title":{"rendered":"21 Ways To Survive In Portland On A Budget"},"content":{"rendered":"

1. Invest In A Good Bike<\/h1>\n

\"bicycle\"<\/p>\n

Source: Travel Portland Facebook<\/div>\n

Portland<\/a> is one of America\u2019s most bikeable cities, and getting around on a bike is free transportation and exercise in one.
\nJoin the bike commuter rush on Hawthorne between 8-9 a.m. and you\u2019ll realize how awkward you would feel driving.<\/p>\n

2. Eat Well At Home<\/h1>\n

\"farmers-market\"<\/p>\n

Source: Travel Portland Facebook<\/div>\n

If you think eating healthy has to be expensive, think again. Local and organic produce and foods alongside Oregon wines, freshly baked goods, and artisanal creations can be found at the Portland State Farmer\u2019s Market along with other local markets for discounted prices.<\/p>\n

3. Don\u2019t Fear The Food Trucks<\/h1>\n

\"food-truck-client\"<\/p>\n

Source: Food Trucks Portland Facebook<\/div>\n

With over 500 food trucks to be found in the city, there are no shortage of ways to enjoy a good meal for under $10. A porchetta sandwich from People\u2019s Pig and pierogis from Eurodish are just a couple of options you could be enjoying right now.<\/p>\n

4. Lay Your Own Eggs<\/h1>\n

\"chickens\"<\/p>\n

Source: Oregon Live<\/div>\n

Well, you won\u2019t be laying them. But the chickens in your backyard could. Chickens are popular pets in Portland and the city allows you to keep up to three of them. But note: no roosters allowed.<\/p>\n

5. Get Free Entertainment From Mother Nature<\/h1>\n

\"city-view\"<\/p>\n

Source: Travel Portland Facebook<\/div>\n

The skies might not always be blue but you can always count on Portland to be as green as it gets. From all of the moss to the endless landscape of parks, there\u2019s always somewhere to go to escape the city and get back to nature.<\/p>\n

6. Being Cultured While On A Budget Is Possible In Portland<\/h1>\n

\"bw-artwork\"<\/p>\n

Source: Portland Art Museum Facebook<\/div>\n

Don\u2019t miss free days at the Museum of Contemporary Craft every first Thursday of the month from 11-8 p.m. and also at the Portland Art Museum on the fourth Friday of the month from 5-8 p.m.<\/p>\n

7. Take Advantage Of Free Activities For Kids<\/h1>\n

\"kids-playing\"<\/p>\n

Source: Portland Children\u2019s Museum Facebook<\/div>\n

Every kid in Portland loves the Portland Children\u2019s Museum and parents love that admission is free the first Friday of every month from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. And sign up for the Oregon Zoo\u2019s email updates to find out when they feature their special free admission days for residents.
\n\/\/
\n\/\/ <\/p>\n

\n<\/p>\n
\/\/ <\/div>\n<\/div>\n

8. Hop On The Street Car<\/h1>\n

\"streetcar\"<\/p>\n

Source: Wikipedia<\/div>\n

Portland was one of the first in the country to reintroduce streetcars back in 2001. A two hour ticket will only cost you $1 or you can get an all-day pass for just $5 and will get you around Portland without having to worry about traffic, gas, or parking.<\/p>\n

9. Shop Local And Actually Get More Bang For Your Buck<\/h1>\n

\"portland-street\"<\/p>\n

Source: Travel Portland Facebook<\/div>\n

With so many great places to shop in Portland, no sales tax makes a pretty big difference in those receipts. Shopping local helps keep all that money in your community\u2019s economy, too, which is great for everyone.<\/p>\n

10. Find A Cheaper Way To Enjoy Craft Beer<\/h1>\n

\"craft-beers\"<\/p>\n

Source: Widmer Brothers Brewery and Pub Facebook<\/div>\n

Portland is known for its stellar craft beer scene, and it doesn\u2019t always come cheap. But you can still enjoy some time out on the town with a good brew without emptying out your wallet by taking the free tours of many of the local breweries for tastings at places like BridgePort Brewing Company and Widmer Brothers Brewery Company.<\/p>\n

11. Think About Getting A Home Security System<\/h1>\n

\"dog\"<\/p>\n

Source: Portland Dog Parks Facebook<\/div>\n

If you\u2019ve heard that Portland has a high crime rate, it\u2019s actually true. You don\u2019t have to walk around feeling unsafe, though, as most of the crime is property related.
\nGet a guard dog or invest in a security alarm. It will help keep your stuff safe, give you peace of mind, and even knock a few dollars off of your homeowner\u2019s insurance.<\/p>\n

12. Keep Away The Blues By Facing Them Head-On<\/h1>\n

\"mermaid-costumes\"<\/p>\n

Source: Lucky Labrador Brewpub Facebook<\/div>\n

There are plenty of ways to break up the overcast in the city with fun events and festivals. Check out the Worst Day of the Year Ride, which takes place in Mid-February which is listed as the year\u2019s worst weather day, for a 16-mile fun bike challenge course which ends with beer and a bowl of soup at Lucky Labrador brewpub.<\/p>\n

13. No Need To Contain The Science Excitement<\/h1>\n

\"dinosaur-exhibit\"<\/p>\n

Source: Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI) Facebook<\/div>\n

Kids and adults alike love the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry with a variety of exhibits and hands-on fun. But the icing on the cake is that admission drops to just $2 every first Saturday of the month from 9:30 to 5:30 p.m.<\/p>\n

14. Savor A Cup Of Coffee In Its Intended Form<\/h1>\n

Forget that $8 kitchen sink Frappuccino at Starbucks. Stumptown Coffee Roasters\u2019 high quality coffee will make you never even want to drop the extra dollars for all the extraneous mix-ins.
\n\/\/ <\/p>\n

\n<\/p>\n
\/\/ <\/div>\n<\/div>\n

15. Don\u2019t Worry About Buying Razors<\/h1>\n

\"beards\"<\/p>\n

Source: Portland Beer Company Google+<\/div>\n

Have you seen the price of razors lately? Who needs them when you live in a city so big on facial hair?
\nGrow yours out and maybe you can even join the Portland Mustache & Beard Club or the Stumptown Stash & Beard Collective.<\/p>\n

16. Spend As Much Time Outdoors As Possible<\/h1>\n

\"waterfall\"<\/p>\n

Source: Black Watch Sasquatch Facebook<\/div>\n

With so many great outdoor activities that cost next to nothing after equipment, there\u2019s no excuse to be bored in Portland.
\nHiking, foraging, mushroom picking, fishing, kayaking, windsurfing, beach combing, and mountain biking are just a few ideas to get you moving this weekend.<\/p>\n

17. Get Your Own Clams<\/h1>\n

\"beach\"<\/p>\n

Source: Langdon Cook<\/div>\n

Cutting your hands while digging Pacific razor clams from the coast is well worth having a plate full of them for dinner for free.<\/p>\n

18. When You\u2019re Hungry, Donuts Will Keep You Alive<\/h1>\n

\"giant-donut\"<\/p>\n

Source: Travel Portland Facebook<\/div>\n

Don\u2019t let anyone tell you that you can\u2019t live off of donuts. Whoever tells you that is just jealous that they don\u2019t have Voodoo.
\nAnd don\u2019t believe the snobs who tell you that Voodoo is overhyped, either. They\u2019re just mad that they\u2019re standing in a four hour long line for a $35 brunch.<\/p>\n

19. Have A Job Lined Up<\/h1>\n

\"cityscape\"<\/p>\n

Source: Travel Portland Facebook<\/div>\n

If you\u2019re moving to Portland from outside of the area, don\u2019t just make the jump blind. You\u2019re going to want to have a job sealed so that you can hit the ground running here.
\nIt\u2019s not that there are no jobs in Portland \u2013 they\u2019re just mostly taken and sometimes slow to come by.<\/p>\n

20. Take Public Transportation To The MAX<\/h1>\n

\"portland-max\"<\/p>\n

Source: Wikipedia<\/div>\n

Navigating Portland without a car is easy. And when you need to get out to places like Washington Park, PSU, or the airport, the MAX is an awesome light rail system that will get you there. Tickets are $2.50 for a 2-hour ticket, $5 for a day pass, or $25 for 10 tickets.<\/p>\n

21. If It\u2019s An Option, Buy Instead Of Rent<\/h1>\n

\"home-listing\"<\/p>\n

Source: Oregon Live<\/div>\n

Buying isn\u2019t always an option for everyone. But with home values in Portland averaging around 35 percent higher than the Oregon average, buying a home instead of renting can be a huge investment, both financially and for your future in Oregon. See homes in Portland<\/a> that you can buy right now.
\nLike This Post? You\u2019ll Definitely Love These:<\/b><\/p>\n