If your dream is to travel the world and you’d love to learn how you can save money to do so, I’ve got you covered.
We all have dreams, but those dreams range from nebulous and uncertain to crystal clear tangibles. The only way to make our dreams of traveling the world a reality is to shape those thoughts into something we can see as real. Then we must commit to that purpose. That may sound scary, but there are ways you can save up for world travel without turning your whole life upside down. Here are some tips on how to save money for travel to start you on the right track.
Set Goals Now
Anybody who has achieved their goals will tell you about the importance of setting them. Be firm about them. Envision them and let them crystalize in your mind. It helps to even make visual reminders of your goals. It’s the very first step in learning how to save money for travel because it will tell you how much you need to save and it will remind you of the importance of saving. The more real and concrete you make them, the better you will be at working toward those goals. They become part of your reality and that is the most essential first step in saving up for travel.
Move Money Now
Budgeting is so important in reaching your financial goals. But a lot of people don’t do it. They avoid it like the plague. While I do advocate getting down to the nuts and bolts of budgeting for long-term success, you can start to save without making huge life changes. It starts by cutting off unnecessary spending on your bank statement. Find those things you don’t need but are paying for. They will show you how to save money for travel. Cancel those costs and immediately move that money to a travel fund instead. Don’t let the money you save float around without direction. Move it fast and keep it secure in your travel account until it’s time to use it.
Pay Your Way
You may cut things from your monthly statement that can contribute to your travel fund just by moving the money you are already spending on things that aren’t helping you reach your goals to something that is. If you don’t have those kinds of monthly bills that you can just cancel, you will have to create a new monthly bill for yourself. This is the first bill you should pay each month. Do this even if you already have a travel fund you are contributing to in other ways. Be serious about making this payment and don’t use your travel money to pay other bills. This is where budgeting really helps if you find that this is difficult to do. Find a way. There is always a way. But if you don’t pay yourself first, that money will disappear from you.
Give Up Something Small
Here is another example of how to save money for travel. Instead of committing to huge life changes, you can make little sacrifices. This works especially well if you have a habit of ordering food through an app or going to espresso bars every day. A small temporary change can free up some real money you would have otherwise spent without even thinking.
- Try making coffee at home if you don’t already
- Keep your pantry and freezer stocked with easily prepared meal options to fight off the temptation of Uber Eats.
Look For Money Everywhere
You can save money by cashing in the bottles and cans you buy for the CRV they tack on at the store. It’s baffling that we pay this extra charge and then pay for our cans and bottles to be recycled by the city. Redeeming the refund value is a good way to rack up some cash. So is giving up soda, beer, etc. altogether in order to save even more.
Pile up your change from refunds and use cash for purchases. Round up your change by emptying your pockets into a travel fund piggy bank that you can empty each month into your travel fund account.
Sell What You Can
We all have things we don’t need but are holding on to. One person’s trash is another person’s treasure. I am not telling you to get rid of everything you own, but think about what somebody else might want that you no longer use or need. We tend to hold on to things because they have sentimental value or because we think we might need them someday. But if you really want to travel, you will make it happen by any means necessary. So go through your stuff and find things of value that can be sold online or at a garage sale. Turn your unwanted things into cash so you can put them toward your travel fund account right away.
Start A Side Hustle
The internet has made it easier than ever to make extra money on the side. If you have a special skill or knowledge, you can share it with others and get paid for it. You can start a blog, create an online course, or offer consulting services. There are endless opportunities to make money online if you are creative and willing to put in the work.
Find Creative Ways To Save
The best way to save money is to be creative about it. There are many ways to cut costs and save money that don’t involve making huge life changes. You can do small things like make coffee at home instead of going out every day. Or you can commit to bigger things like getting rid of your car payment by selling your car and taking public transportation instead. It’s all about making small changes in your spending habits that will add up over time and give you more money to put toward your travel fund.
Think Outside The Box
There are many ways to save money for travel that don’t involve traditional methods like cutting back on expenses or earning more money. You can look for creative ways to get free travel or find ways to live cheaply while you’re on the road. There are also a number of creative financing options available if you are willing to think outside the box. You can use credit card points to cover the cost of flights or hotels, or you can take advantage of house-sitting opportunities to live rent-free in different parts of the world. Get creative and explore all the possibilities that are available to you.
In Conclusion
If you want to save money to fund your travels, you need to be creative and committed. There are a number of ways to save money, but it will take some effort on your part. You can start by making small changes to your spending habits and looking for creative ways to earn and save money. If you are willing to think outside the box, there are a number of ways to finance your travels and live cheaply while you’re on the road. The most important thing is to get started and start saving so you can make your travel dreams a reality.
