Money Saving Tips to Travel
This is the most asked question Ian and I get, how do we afford to travel and pay for these weekend adventures and/or the big trips. These tips are so crucial to the way we save money to go on trips. Also, before we get into these tips, we want to make sure you know that there will be sacrifices made. Just as if you wanted that new car, new house, a certain electronic or whatever luxiouris thing you may want to buy, you have to make sacrifices. We whole heartedly believe that traveling is way more important then the nicest furniture, luxury kitchen pots and pans, the trending clothes, biggest tv, cable, best cell-phone plan, fastest wifi and everything else society tells you that you need when you become an adult. That is the "sacrifice" we make when we know we get to travel the world. This will be harder for some people, but just ask yourself how important that material items are compared to the experiences you could have?
When planning your travels, make sure you aren't setting an unrealistic goal either. This is supposed to be a fun way to set yourself up for a trip of a life time. If you are wanting your dream trip to Bora Bora, be aware and realistic it might take a year, or more. If you are doing a budget trip to Southeast Asia it might only take 4 months. Don't set yourself up for failure. This is how we budget and afford our trips and we hope this helps you plan that trip you thought you could never afford.
1) SELL. SELL. SELL
Like I said, it's all about sacrifice. When we left for Asia, we sold most of our belongings and ended up making about $1500 together to go towards our trip. We sold our couch, furniture items we thought we could never part ways with, but it was the best decision. Do you own a huge tv? Or better yet, multiple televisions. YOU DON'T NEED IT!!! Sell on eBay, Amazon, Craigslist or even hold a yard sale.
2) Stop eating/drinking out
We are currently saving up for another long distance trip and we only go grocery shopping for food and we have saved about $500 last month alone. We were known for always eating out and getting to-go food, but it has also been a blessing is disguise and we eat a lot healthier now. So that's a plus as well.
3) Cancel your high speed wifi
We have the most basic WiFi. Yes, its annoying sometimes because you want to have the highest speed but it's not necessary. If you are really committed - cancel it all together. You can find WiFi ANYWHERE now a days, most of the time its free! We lived a year and a half without having WiFi, while going to school. Guess what? We survived - LOL!
4) Cancel Cable
Guys this is huge!! We are so busy anyways, we rarely watch T.V. We pay for Netflix and get our moneys worth by binge watching Friends every night before bed. If there is a show you desperately need to watch, go find a friend that has cable and make it tradition to watch it together every week so you can spend quality time.
5) Become an entrepreneur
When you were young and you wanted a toy, you had a lemonade stand. That doesn't work out as well as an adult, however, you have to have the same mind set. You can literally sell ANYTHING!!! Go to garage sales and try to buy something cheap and resell it on Craigslist or Ebay. If you have a talent try to make an income doing that. Sewing, baking, painting, babysitting, life coaching, just do it. We love flipping furniture. There was one time we bought a table for $50, refurbished it and sold it for $500.
6) Stop spending money on your luxurious habits
Think about what your luxurious treat is. Is it getting your nails done? Going to target and getting the newest collection of home decor? How about a Starbucks once a week? New shoes? Are you a smoker? Candles? (Mine is candles so I had to put this in here - it literally hurts my heart if I can't get a new one). Figure it out and cut it out of your life. All those things are not necessities and I promise you will live if you don't get it. I'm not saying it won't suck sometimes.
7) Get a separate savings account specifically for travel
Do NOT have an ATM card for the account. I actually have a entirely different bank for my checking/savings "travel" account and don't have a single debit card to access it. Most people have an online app for their banks as well. Don't download it. Walk into your bank if you really need it. It makes it a million times more personal when a person sees you pulling out 100 dollars. Make it as hard as possible to get money out of your account so that you know you really had to think it through.
8) Credit Card Rewards
Open up the best credit card you can find that gives cash back or rewards to help save on travel tickets and hotels. Pay for EVERYTHING you can onto the card. Once you get home from getting gas, groceries, or any other necessities - pay it off immediately so that you get "points" but are not paying a crap ton in interest. We have stayed in Hiltons and had free flight upgrades all because of credit card points.
9) Cut down your Utility bills
Don't turn on your heater or AC (depending on where you live). Wear more clothes or buy a blanket. If you live somewhere hot, then constantly wear a bikini and go sit by a pool, ocean, river or any body of water. Stop leaving those unnecessary lights on in the house (my parents are going to read this and laugh because we always argued over this when I was young, sorry Mom and Dad).
10) Pay off your debt
If you have money sitting in your savings account but you have debt, just pay it off! You are probably paying more in interest every month then if you would be just paying it off completely.
11) Set a Budget and stick to it
Discuss it, visualize it, completely immerse your self in it. Tell your family and friends so that people can hold you accountable. Plan that dream vacation and post pictures on your wall, nightstand, refrigerator or bathroom mirror. Set constant reminders for why you are sacrificing so much. When you want something, believe you are going to make it happen. We have always been like that and literally everything we have truly wanted, we have made it happen.