Creative Methods I Use to Save for Future Travel
Traveling is my life. Naturally, I try to save every penny I can to go toward the bigger trips. The trouble is that it’s easy to get tempted into spending that savings on something now versus going for the big picture of travel later on. Equally so is the chance that something comes up (like a toothache), which requires you to dip into your travel funds to take care of the necessities.
Since life can be unpredictable I’ve found it best to build my travel fund by tapping into my creativity. Because money for the travels come from these irregular methods I’m inclined to leave those funds alone since it’s “fun money.” There’s a whole psychological component behind this idea that’s worth reading.
What I’m getting at is that you can continue to go about your day and have that wonderful vacation you’ve dreamt about if you’re willing to make a few sacrifices and try something new toward savings.
- Make it a priority
- Tap into your credit
- Explore money-making opportunities
- Leverage everyday activities
- Find a way to couple it with business
First up is the fact that if you truly want to travel, you need to make it a priority in your life. Travel needs to be a priority because it’s very easy to become distracted by other milestones such as settling down and buying a house. Placing travel as a major goal, even just for now, will make it so every financial transaction is conscious; you second guess the purchase since that money can go toward a trip. Having travel as a goal will quickly build the funds necessary to make it a great trip.
The second action you should take is to tap into that wonderful thing called credit. Hopefully, you didn’t do like many younger people did and run their first credit card into the ground. Even so – if you paid your dues and rebuilt your credit then you likely have an opportunity to acquire an airline miles card.
Mix this card with airlines that have the best frequent flyer programs and you can quickly rack up free trips around the world. Cards and flyer programs are the bread and butter of those who are nomadic.
Third on the list is to do whatever you can to earn money on the side. Those strapped for time need not worry because here are quite a few that will work:
- Sell unused items online
- Start a blog and share your expertise (and sell products in that market)
- Tutor (in-person or online)
- Flip items found in town to others online (or vice versa)
Any skill or particular area of expertise you possess has the potential to earn money because there is always someone that is in need of assistance. Put your name out there and find clients.
Coming in fourth is turning your everyday activities into something which can contribute to your savings. I, for example, may take an hour of my time prior to grocery shopping to find the best deals in my area along with coupons.
The savings I gain from this everyday activity is immediately deposited into my account as if I had used the full amount so it becomes out of sight and out of mind. There are plenty of other areas of your everyday life where you can save a few bucks and throw it toward a trip.
The final way I go about saving for my travels is to use what I’ve learned and help others that are in a similar situation. Just ask around your social group and see how many would also like to travel. You could share your knowledge on finding cheap flights, help them book the ticket, and earn a couple bucks while you’re doing it for yourself. Business as usual. Now take that idea and bring it to a larger environment such as your place of business or local meetups!
What do you think – does travel seem as “impossible” as it did before?
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