How to Save for Your Trip
Alright so we get a looooot of questions that revolve around money and traveling, so I’m writing this article to help shed a little light on the situation. YES: you need money to travel. NO: you don’t need to be rich (not even close).
Before we begin, please take into consideration that not everybody’s situation is the same. Some of these options are more viable for some than others, and for some, they may not even be options at all. But for many, these tips and tricks are fantastic ways to save your money quickly and efficiently.
There are literally hundreds if not thousands of ways to pinch pennies so that you can more comfortably afford your voyage before you go. This post is basically our personal advice on how to do exactly that.
Keep your spending to a minimum! Leading up to your departure date, resist the urge to go out for food and drinks. You’ll likely want to see friends and family before you leave. Go to the superstore, buy your groceries ahead of time and prepare your meals at home. Or stock up on food at your parents’ house whenever you’re there. You shouldn’t be spending $20 on a meal at a bar or restaurant if you’re trying to save money. And don’t even get me started on alcohol. If you need to have some drinks with friends, go to the liquor store, grab a case of beer or a bottle of whiskey and bring your friends over to your place. Buying drinks at the bar is a fantastic way to spend too much money on something that you don’t need!
Try to think ahead when commuting. Take a bike to and from work, carpool with somebody. If you can manage your time a little, you might be able to take a little bit longer and get around where you need to without spending anything at all. Plus you might even get a little exercise in the process. Exercise = good!
Take note of your earnings. Familiarize yourself with how much money you’ve got coming in, and how much money you’re spending DAILY. Very often people will brush off minor expenditures as if they don’t impact your savings at all. Look at it on the whole. $5 a day for a Frappuccino might not seem like much, but $150 bucks a month can be a significant difference when you’re traveling. Hell, that’s more than your phone bill. Take note of all your major and minor expenditures, then find a way to reduce and minimize them as best you can. Remember: a small hole can sink a large ship!
If you’re paying for rent somewhere, look into subletting your place to somebody else while you’re away. A big issue we had when going away was having to pay $800 bucks for rent when we weren’t even going to be there. It sucks. This option could be unrealistic for some, but it’s definitely something worth looking into. Put in a little time and effort, and it could end up saving you a ton of money. If you live with your parents, then you’ve dodged the bullet on this one. Consider yourself fortunate!
Without knowing your work situation, it’s hard to offer advice, but obviously work as long as you can leading up to your trip. You’re going to want as much saved up as you can before you go. And coordinate with your job so that you can start working again shortly after your return. Coming home broke from traveling is a reality that many of us face. The quicker you can get back into your work routine, the better. If you have to find a new job upon return, have a few places in mind before you get back. A job search can be tedious and time-consuming, and you’re not guaranteed to land the job(s) you’re applying for.
Find other small sources of income if you can. Help your family or friends with errands, sell a few of your possessions that aren’t needed, take your cans and bottles to the recycling depot. Every bit of money helps so think about some ways that you can maximize your income while you’re still home.