I’m not good at much – just ask my IM volleyball team – but if there is one thing I’ve mastered in my lifetime, it’s the art of drinking. It’s not like it came naturally; I’ve devoted much of my adult life to hitting the bottle. It’s been a lot of hard work, dry heaves and hairs of the dogs that bit me, but I am finally a boozing master.

And being that I am a self-proclaimed expert in the subject, I think it is imperative that I share some of my hard earned knowledge with the world. You see, drinking is a difficult task and there are many things to know in order to truly be good at it. Namely: the things that don’t mix well with alcohol.

You may feel the need to go out and try these combos for yourself, but just trust me on this one and stay far, far away from the following mixers:

1. Cereal: Lucky Charms and Baileys sounds like a delicious combo, but it is not. Especially before a long day of classes.

2. Automobiles: Obviously, everyone (well, everyone besides those morons in Hollywood) knows that driving drunk is dumb. But so is riding in the back of a cab. With a window that doesn’t work. You never know how far vomit can splash until you are in that situation.

3. Going commando: There is something about the combination of alcohol and the desire to constantly lift one’s skirt that just doesn’t quite work.

4. Serious talks: If you need to have it out with someone you know, doing it while drunk is not a good idea. Unless, of course, you like screaming/crying/punching/hugging in the middle of a busy street.

5. Cameras: Dropping it and watching the screen shatter while doing the worm in the middle of a dance floor is the least of your problems. In fact, after realizing the sh*tshow that is documented on that memory card, it may just be the solution.

6. Bunk Beds: Top or bottom, you will get injured.

7. Fine Dining: You may think a fine meal isn’t complete without a (few) bottle(s) of wine, but I’m sure the bus boy who has to wipe up your vomit from under the table would disagree.

8. Tights: They look totally hot with that mini, but aren’t so wonderful after you break the seal and have to pee every 10-12 minutes for the rest of the night.

9. Fire: No explanation needed.

10. Slides: “OMGEEE IT WOULD BE SO FUN TO SLIDE DOWN THAT RIGHT NOW…FACE FIRST,” says the girl who now is missing the skin from the right side of her face.

True story. All of them. Just heed my advice and be careful out there.

What’s a girl to do?

A few years ago, I backpacked through Greece with a close friend. We spent eight days traveling throughout the country, taking ferries, visiting the islands, lounging on the beach and shopping. It was a fabulous vacation and we both managed to spend under $1000! How did we save so much money? We didn’t eat huge meals, took transportation during off-peak hours and stayed in hostels.

Now, I know what you’re thinking: hostels are gross! And to tell you the truth, they are. But, if you’re traveling in Europe and want to save a few bucks, you’re going to have to stay in them. Keeping that in mind, here are a few tips for hostel survival and general vacation budgeting from someone who’s been there:

1) Never travel alone- It’s always best to have a buddy with you, especially if you’re staying in large communal rooms. Although I traveled with a girl friend, having a boy around definitely couldn’t hurt.

2) Book ahead for your first night- Even if you’re planning on winging it and staying wherever your feet (or that strange European train) take you, you’re going to want to have a guaranteed bed your first night, so figure out where you’re staying before you leave the country. For the remainder of the trip you can use the hostel’s computer or go to a local Internet cafe to book your stays the day of. By booking last minute, you can choose your next destination based on the price of a room…

3) Think about going suitcase-less- If they’re making me pay $15 a bag just to fly from Boston to Baltimore, I can only imagine how much they’ll charge to bring my suitcase all the way to Europe. Instead, try to consolidate your clothing, toiletries, etc into something you can carry on the plane. Think about it this way: you’ll not only save money but also have less stuff to schlep around from place to place.

4) Bring shower shoes- Even if you’re packing light, you can re-wear them on the beach. Communal showers are disgusting. End of story.

5) Take the top bunk- My second night in the hostel in Athens, I found myself tossing and turning and unable to sleep. I kept having this dream that the guy in the bed next to me was watching me. Well, it wasn’t a dream. When I opened my eyes, the creepy guy was staring at me. Plus, his feet were in my bed. Now, I realize that creepy guys can still watch you sleep when you’re in the top bunk bed, but they’ll definitely be less likely to try to climb in bed with you. Another option would be to ask ahead and see if they have an all female room. Yeah, you could run into some crazy ladies, but they’re a lot less threatening than creepy stalker men!

6) Skip the communal room and “splurge” on a private one- If the above story or that awful movie Hostel (which I refuse to see) freak you out, you should definitely get a private room. The night after the incident, my friend and I opted for a hotel. But honestly, you don’t really have to do that; the price of private rooms is not all that much higher than staying in a communal room, especially if you’re traveling in a big group.

7) Take advantage of the hostel’s knowledgeable staff- Want to find the hottest beach or the best place to get a cheep beer? The people working at the hostel are your best bet. Sometimes they can even give you restaurant coupons; I know we scored 10% off our first Greek meal simply by asking for restaurant recommendations!

8 ) Don’t go to Starbucks- It’s not like you don’t have 5 of them on your campus already. Why spend money on an already overpriced drink at a boring American location, when you can discover a little cafe unique to your destination?

What are your money saving vacation tips?