(Jules is a guest blogger from Don’t Forget To Move.)
Having travelled around the world for the last four years, people are always amazed when I tell them that I’m just an ordinary guy. I mean I haven’t won the lottery or haven’t struck it rich in the stock market or in real estate. Far from it! Instead, all my travels have come through careful planning and good saving techniques. When chatting with people back home about my travels one of the most common question I receive, without a doubt, is ‘how can I start saving for travel?’
I’m a strong believer that everyone can and should be able to travel. It might not be a big six month trip through luxury hotels in Europe, but anyone start small and see the incredible beauties of the world if they really want. Obviously money is a big restriction to those wanting to travel, but if you follow these simple saving tips you’ll start pumping up that saving account in no time!
See also: Cheap Travel and Airfare That Won’t Break the Bank
1. Reduce your little purchases
Used to buying lunch at work? Start making your own sandwiches or salads. Spending $3 a day on coffee? Bring your own coffee in a thermos. The more you think about it the more you’ll find crafty ways to start reducing your spending and adding more to that growing travel fund.
2. Keep a record of your spending
It sounds pretty obvious, but you’d be surprised how all those little purchases start to add up. You don’t realise throughout the day how much you actually spend on little things here and there. When they start to add up to $10-15 dollars a day (especially considering that could be a night stay in Mexico or Thailand) it makes sense to track your spending.
3. Draw the comparisons
Sometimes when you’re not traveling it’s hard to draw the comparison between what the money you spend at home could buy you while traveling. But if you can remind yourself that that extra pair of jeans or night of the town could in fact be a whole day of island hopping in the Philippines it makes for an easy decision. I don’t know about you, but I’ll re-wear my old jeans any day to explore the islands of El Nido, Palawan.
4. Start planning your trip
You might not have the funds to travel just yet, but if you know where and what you want to do you can start budgeting and planning for it. Having a specific number you’re working towards will make saving for your trip feel more realistic. Knowing ahead of time where you want to go is also the easiest way to find cheap flights, which usually accounts for a lot of your savings. Search sites like Kayak, Skyscanner and Momondo for cheap flights, sign up to airline newsletters to get the heads up on sales and scan deal sites. If anything it’ll help keep you inspired to head off on your trip.
5. Stay motivated
The best way to save is if you’re motivated! When you’ve got that burning desire to explore the wonders of Machu Picchu or walk the streets of Paris the rest will come. Print out some pictures of your future destinations and post them around your home and workspace. Next time someone asks you to come out for an expensive lunch just look up at that picture of the Eiffel tower and say ‘non merci.’
