Aside from Canada (which doesn’t really count), I’ve never been outside the United States. I’ve been all up and down the east coast. NYC, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Nashville, Boston, Washington, D.C., Cleveland, Charleston, Savannah, Atlanta, Miami, Ft. Lauderdale, Miami… I’ve been to a lot of major cities on the eastern side of the U.S.

But I want to travel MORE.

I want to go to Europe. I want to go to Australia. I want to see the world. But that requires money… and as a broke college student, I don’t have that kind of money.

This thought hit me hard over the summer. So I decided to do something about it. Instead of just having my bank account mock me, I am determined to fill it up. So, I told my mom my plan and she said, “More power to ya!”

So my plan: save all the money!! I set aside this small container I have with Union Flag on it and decided this is will be the container that holds the fate of my travels. So, I started saving. Instead of going out to dinner and spending $20, I ate at home or stuck it out in the caf. There’s $20 in the jar. That super cute top from American Eagle? Nope you don’t need it. There’s $30 in the jar. Found a few ones in your coat pocket? Add ‘em in the jar! Every dollar is one step closer.

It’s a slow process, but eventually it adds up. Especially is you follow the biggest rule of all… DO NOT TAKE ANY MONEY OUT. Nope. You are NOT allowed to. This defeats the entire purpose. It’s simple math: adding more and more money plus no subtractions equals cash money.

Since I have been doing this for about 5 months now, I have a decent amount saved up. Not too shabby for a college student. It actually is a fun and exciting process. I always get a little rush of excitement when I put money in my canister because I know how much I want to travel. It’s also rewarding! You are taking the initiative to save all this money for something you are determined to do.

As the my canister fills up more and more, my traveling seems more and more real. I can picture myself standing in front of the Eiffel Tower all lit up on a warm evening in Paris. Or walking down a cobblestone road to get to the heart of London. Or tossing a coin into the Trevi Fountain without dropping my cannoli. Or looking over the Cliffs of Moher in Ireland as a light wind blows my hair back. (As you can see, I have a vivid imagination and a very strong wish to travel.)

I’ll get to all of those places one day. It’s just a matter of the means of making it happen. I will not let money stand in my way and neither should you! Traveling is a way to explore our amazing world and all it holds.