How To Save Money To Travel Anywhere
Photo © martinak15 | CC BY 2.0
While it’s true that it’s possible to travel for free, you may be the type of person who doesn’t want to volunteer or couch surf to see the world. In that case, you need to save money to travel. A lot of people live paycheck to paycheck, and they don’t feel that it’s possible. I’m here to tell you, that it is possible.
If you really want to travel bad enough, there are ways to save money to do it. Here are my tips for how to save money to travel anywhere.
How To Save Money To Travel Anywhere
1. Pay Yourself First
When you get paid, immediately put the same percentage of money each paycheck into a savings account that you have set aside for travel. You may think that you don’t have the money to put into savings, but there is always a way to cut back on the money you spend on food and entertainment. After all, wouldn’t you rather spend Christmas on the beach of your dreams, rather than have another coffee at Starbuck’s. You can do it if you plan. This is a great strategy to use not just to save money for traveling, but to save money for anything you want to buy such as that new Harley-Davidson or an RV that you may want to use for a road trip.
2. Simplify Your Life
Start keeping track of where your money really goes. Do you really need cable TV? Try buying used things instead of brand new ones. Don’t make impulsive purchases. Do you really need the latest gadget, or would you rather save money to travel? Start using cash instead of credit cards to keep better track of where your money goes.
3. Cook At Home
Eating out costs a lot more than cooking at home. You will be surprised at how much those meals out cost when you tally them up. You can even start small and bring your lunch to work rather than buying lunch out, and the savings will be greater than you think.
4. Make A Budget
Many people who aren’t saving money have never created a budget for their spending. By creating a plan for your money, you will have more control over where your money goes. Calculate how much money you earn each month, calculate your expenses, and then set your goal for your travel savings. Mint Budgeting app is my favorite app to help create a budget and keeps track of my spending, too.
5. Pay Off Debt
If you have debit, the first thing you should use your savings for is paying it off. It will be hard to relax while traveling the world if you have bills that are left unpaid. Make sure to add money in your budget to pay off your debt before anything else.