What is any traveller’s worst enemy? Unsurprisingly, it is of course their bank account. How often have I heard that the reason for not travelling is that it is too expensive and there is simply no money for that flight to [insert dream destination]. I often get asked how I can afford to travel so much, and while there are certain perks as a travel blogger that allow me to utilize my hard-earned money a little differently on a holiday, I still save every penny I can to invest in my next holiday.
Saving money is hard – it takes discipline and a strong will – but it is not as hard as it might seem. Not matter if you earn minimum wage or $20 an hour in your current job, here are 25 simple ways to save money for travel that anybody can easily integrate in their lives.
1. Sell your car and stop taking taxis. Use alternative transport instead: a bike, carpooling or even walking.
2. Get a bike and cycle everywhere. You will not only save the cost of fuel or bus fares, you also get a free workout. (see 17.)
3. Don’t eat out or order takeaway all the time – cook your own dinner. Bring any leftovers for lunch at work the next day.
4. Make a meal plan and shop once a week, rather than meal for meal. Always use a shopping list and stick to it.
5. Rather than buying cheap food, change your diet. For example, eat less meat or none at all.
6. Make your own coffee and bring it in a re-useable takeaway cup
, instead of paying $4+ at a coffeeshop.
7. If you can’t live without takeaway lattes, get a loyalty card and save on every 10th coffee.
+ Some coffee shops even give you a discount if you use your own cup.
8. Have a girl’s night in instead of girl’s night out – invite your friends over and have a bottle of wine at home.
9. Skip clubs and music venues with entrance fees and check out free events in your city instead.
10. Quit the booze entirely. Every time you go to a bar or pub, put $5 (£/€ etc.) in a jar, every time you go to a club make it $10.
11. Watch an old movie on DVD rather than seeing a new flick in the cinema – they’re usually not that good anyways.
12. Cancel your Cable and Netflix subscriptions and check out these (mostly) free movie platforms.
13. The same counts for books and magazine subscriptions: get a library card or find free books/magazines online rather than buying them.
14. Sort out your closet and sell unneeded things on Ebay, Gumtree, Craigslist, Shpock or Vinted.
15. For every clothing item you want to buy new, sell at least three pieces of your old clothes.
16. Dig for second-hand treasures in a charity shop rather than pricey vintage boutiques.
17. Quit the gym and start running and cycling instead.
18. Let your hair grow long or ask a friend to cut your hair. You can also get free/cheap haircuts from trainees and college students training to become hairdressers. Trust them – it’s just hair!
19. Skip pricey Christmas presents and give DIY gifts or experiences (like a home-cooked meal) instead.
20. Downsize your apartment, share a flat, move back in with your parents or rent a spare room out on AirBnB.
21. Replace your light bulbs – energy saving bulbs are so much cheaper in the long run.
22. Reduce your mobile plan and start using WiFi only. If you already pay for internet at home, you can save on a double-expense this way. Maybe you don’t need internet at home altogether?
23. Open a savings account strictly for your travel money – once the money goes in, you don’t touch it except for travel expenses.
24. Meticulously plan your monthly expenses and put aside the difference as soon as your paycheque comes in.
25. Consider applying for a new travel credit card – there are some great deals out there and you can collect ‘free money’!
You see, saving up money for your travel is not hard at all – you just need to spend a little more time on planning your expenses. Once you saved up enough and booked your flights and travel insurance, you can continue saving money while traveling – here are our 24 Tips on How to Travel on a Budget and 7 Ways to Earn Money while Travelling.
For more inspiration take a look at our 10 Reasons to Try CouchSurfing, How to spend a year abroad with European Voluntary Service, How to travel for free with WorkAway, all you need to know about Wwoofing and more personal stories related to work and travel!
Did you ever have to save up money for travel? Share your top tips in the comments!!
Great - and very practical and doable - tips!
Fantastic post, this is such excellent and practical advice! I followed virtually all of these tips while I was saving for my 8 month holiday, it's amazing how much you can save with a bit of determination!
Tessa at Bramble & Thorn
These are some great tips. Really in need of saving some more for my next trip.
Leonie ♥ Lo On The Go
I categorized my spending so each month I could see how much I spent on Entertainment or Food. I tallied up each category at the end of the month and challenged myself to go lower each month. I also got a second job and cut down on a lot of spending, earning about $7,000 in 6 months.
A couple yrs ago I decided to spend 2 weeks traveling Paris, Strausburg, and Munich for a December holiday. I started saving mid-September, putting away a LOT of my paycheck to cover expenses each month and I stopped paying for anything nonessential altogether. I also saved the same amount the following January and February to cover incoming credit card payments arriving after the trip. I was able to save a LOT for a great vacay. I also rented an inexpensive studio on AirBNB for Paris and a room on AirBNB for 2 nights in Strausburg, saving a ton compared to other housing options.
I swear by the tip with opening a savings account for travel purposes. Each time I get payed, the same day, I transfer a certain amount in that account and don't touch that money until it's time for my next trip. Saving even a little for this every month really adds up, so you don't have to struggle to afford a plane ticket or accommodation. Another good tip would be to stay with friends / relatives if possible - saves a lot in the long run!
maybe just be a westerner where your money brings a greater mile.
I love these kind of posts! I'm always adding to my personal list of ways to save more money. I did my own post of a few easy ways to save money for travel over on my blog and a lot of mine kind of touch the same notes that yours do. Great post!
http://www.kaytivstheworld.com/2015/01/six-easy-ways-to-save-money-for-travel.html
xx
Put any change your get in a jar: you used a $5 bill for a $2.25 expense? Put the change in the jar. Any $1 or coins you get, put them in a jar, in a few months that you be your one night hotel room somewhere, a ride from the airport to downtown, a nice meal in Milano,... , and you won't even see a difference on your daily expenses!
That's a great idea, Mathilde! And such an easy thing to do!
We do a lot of the things you are mentioning here and after a couple of months we managed to save up some money in order to try and start a nomad's life! :)
Will keep you posted on how that goes! :)
I just got a new job which is awesome but I fell back into the not bringing my lunch game and it is PRICY. Definitely going to start making my lunch and bringing coffee from home. I already rarely buy magazines, stopped buying new makeup and am working on using up stuff I already own. I need a travel savings account and to go over a budget with my husband. Great post.
Pingback : Meine Lieblingsfundstücke im Dezember 2015 - soschy on tour
Great post and very useful tips!
Saving money for travel is indeed a matter of priorities. Once I decided that traveling was what I really wanted, I stopped buying things I didn't really need, I started cooking and walking more and sold the stuff I didn't use anymore.
Great ideas! Thanks, Kathi :)
I love to travel and I also love clothes! Shopping on a site called Poshmark lets you find great stuff second hand and you can even bargain with the seller. I get most of my clothes from Poshmark instead of an actual store.
Switching from coffee to tea is also very cost effective!
I took work in Saudi Arabia! Higher salary, more vacation time :)