It’s true that once you’ve had a taste of travel, you just can’t get enough. Ask any traveller how they combat the post travel blues and they’ll say by booking their next trip … or two!
While you might have an extensive bucket list of places you want to visit, and cultures you want to immerse yourself in, you won’t get very far without a bit of money behind you.
And that’s where saving comes in!
Most frequent travelers are pros at saving, why? Because they quickly realized that they prioritize travel experiences more than they do their morning latte!
Wondering how you can save a little extra money? It’s generally something everyone can do if there’s enough commitment, and it doesn’t have to be painful or overly complicated.
Don’t believe me? The following are the simplest ways you can save money for your next trip.
Simple Ways to Save Money For Your Next Trip
Watch Your Electricity
Cost of living is more expensive than it ever has been, and one of the biggest expenses most households face is electricity. While politicians are constantly promising cheaper (and cleaner) electricity, there are a couple of really easy ways you can reduce your own bill.
Firstly, make sure you switch off your lights when you’re not using them. It’s a simple, basic, straightforward tip, but one we’re all guilty of. Actually pull plugs out of the wall too, as often, even if the switch is off, there could still be a circuit running.
Avoid electric guzzling appliances, and if you’re upgrading or buying new big ticket items like your fridge or your washing machine, make sure it has a good energy rating (research this if you need to).
Consider too making changes around your household like manually hanging clothes on the line instead of a dryer, or opening the windows to let in the breeze instead of using fans or air conditioning.
Another idea is switching your lights to LEDs or less powerful bulbs; you’d be surprised just how much money this can save you. For more information about LED lighting, check out this website.
Be Happy With Your Clothing
We’re living in a world that simply loves fast fashion, and even though you can pick up a nice top for a decent price, it doesn’t mean that you should. Or that you can afford to (remember – you’re saving!)
Cutting back on your clothing budget for a couple of months means that you can save the money and use it for your trip instead. Do you want that new pair of high heels, or do you want to book a trip to Italy?
Most people already have a wardrobe that’s bursting with clothes, so go through them and add some accessories to switch them up or try different combinations. Do your clothes need mending? Start sewing!
Realistically, no-one is going to know if your leggins were purchased last season, or in fact, four seasons ago, and honestly, no-one cares! Especially when they’re so distracted by your epic tales of adventure through Tanzania!
So, restrict your clothing budget and be happy with your current wardrobe – you can save money, look great and be eco-friendly at the same time!
Ask for Money Rather Than Gifts
Do you have a birthday coming up? Christmas? Easter? Ask your friends and family to give you money rather than gifts (go for money instead of travel vouchers, as cash has far more flexibility).
And don’t feel bad about requesting money – phrase it as you would prefer a contribution to your travel dreams instead of material things. It actually makes life easier on them!
It doesn’t have to be a lot of money, and make sure you let them know this, but every little bit helps, and if 10 people give you $20, that’s an extra $200 to go towards your trip.
Get Used to Cooking
We all love a takeaway after a busy week – we deserve it, right? But that weekly habit is probably costing you more than you think. Instead of spending £30 a week on fast food, put the money straight into your travel fund instead!
You’ll be amazed at how much you increase your savings by cutting out takeaway completely – the average US household spends around $3,008 per year on dining out based on a recent report, and that’s a lot of money you could be saving.
Just by going to the grocery store and simply eating at home will save you money, especially if you plan ahead and write a weekly meal menu so you can do one large shop instead of many small impulse buys.
Pro Tip: Don’t go grocery shopping on an empty stomache. Make sure you have eaten a proper meal before you go so that hunger won’t dictate your choices.
Cooking larger portions of your meals and using them as leftovers cuts down on waste and means you can take your lunch to work, and make healthier choices as well as cutting down on costs.
And this also goes for takeaway coffee; you can save a lot of money on coffee by brewing it at home. The cost per cup is usually between 40 – 60 c, compared to the $3 – $6 you might pay at a cafe or store.
Bottling your own water, and taking a drink bottle with you is a great way to cut down on drinks purchases. And choosing water over soft drinks or alcohol will not only save you significant amounts of money, but you’ll lose weight from lowering your sugar intake.
Reduce Your Vices
Do you smoke? Drink? Have an addiction to coffee? You would be amazed at how much you can save by cutting back on your vices (healthy and wealthy … winning!)
Some will be fairly insignificant and easy to de-prioritize, like luxury purchases, or upgrading your iPhone every 3 months. Others may be more difficult to endure, like kicking a coffee addiction, or cancelling your Netflix.
My best advice is to sit down and weigh up whether your goals of travel are worth the price. Are you willing to drink water instead of alcohol if it means you can fly to Iceland next month? Are you willing to quit smoking, if the money you save will pay for 4 weeks of vacation?
Whether it’s alcohol, smoking, or shopping, our vices are often a way to relieve stress. If you are going to give up a vice in order to save money, it’s important to find a healthy and sustainable way to relieve your stress, and make sure you can deal with the withdrawal.
Cancel Your Memberships
The gym, netflix, monthly magazine subscriptions; if you’re signed up for memberships sit down and decide if you really need them, or if that money could be better spent towards travel experiences.
If you’re paying for a monthly gym membership, learn to exercise at home or take full advantage of the world outside by walking or biking to work instead of driving. If you go to weekly yoga, buy a $10 yoga mat and do Yoga via Youtube which is free from home.
Also, unsubscribe from marketing emails; one of the best ways to avoid impulsive purchases and unnecessary spending is to remove the temptation. You’ll find an unsubscribe link at the bottom of each email, and by law every email is required to have this option.
Marketing strategies are very savvy these days, and they often tailor content based on your previous purchase / search history, so unsubscribing means it’s out of sight and out of mind – you won’t even be tempted!
Sell Your Stuff
If you’re looking for a quick way to save money for travel, selling stuff you don’t use anymore is a great way to boost a travel fund.
Go through your closet, garage, and those dusty boxes in the attic to find items you are no longer using. You can list them on Amazon, Ebay or Craigslist, or go the more traditional route with a garage sale.
And, if you take a long hard look at your situation and decide to sell big ticket items like a TV, or your car (you can sell your car online at carbrain.com), these create a flow on effect; you’ll save more in the long run by not needing to pay ongoing expenses like a cable bill, auto insurance, or petrol.
Once again, it comes down to an assessment of whether your goals are worth the price, and what you’re willing to pay to get there. If it’s worth good money which you could use for travel, ask yourself if it’s really worth hanging onto.
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Megan is an Australian Journalist and award-winning travel writer who has been blogging since 2007. Her husband Mike is the American naturalist and wildlife photographer behind Waking Up Wild; an online magazine dedicated to opening your eyes to the wonders of the wild & natural world.
Having visited 50+ countries across all seven continents, Megan’s travels focus on cultural immersion, authentic discovery and incredible journeys. She has a strong passion for ecotourism, and aims to promote responsible travel experiences.
