The question that I am most often asked pertaining to travel seems to be, "How do you afford it?" or "I would love to go, I'm just not sure of how to pay for it." The simplest answer is that you just have to love it enough. When we love something enough, we tend to prioritize it over other things. I happen to believe that experiencing all that the world has to offer whilst I have the opportunity, is one of the best things that my money can go towards. To quote Eugene Fodor, "You don't have to be rich to travel well."
Below are just a few ways that I have learned to manage my money in order to see the world.
1. Get rid of the unnecessary.
Simplify your life. If not for travel, do it for yourself. We often acquire so many things over the years only to find that we've forgotten that we even have them. They ultimately just take up space and leave us feeling cluttered. I've cleaned out my closet numerous times and although I never get close to half of the money back from my clothes that I've put into them, it still feels better than having clothes I haven't worn in ages hanging around in my closet. Besides, when it comes to traveling, every little bit helps. Getting rid of old technology is a good way to make a few extra bucks to throw in your travel fund.There is no need to hold on to perfectly good cameras and iPhone's after you have upgraded. Let someone else fill them with beautiful photos and memories after you've had your time with them. Speaking of upgrading, the more I find myself wanting to buy plane tickets, the less I find myself feeling as if I have to have the latest and greatest of everything. It's the little things that can add up in your travel fund.
2. Stop spending on the unnecessary.
On the other side of getting rid of the unnecessary, is to stop spending on the unnecessary. I recently added up the monthly total of all of the the small things that I found myself purchasing on a daily basis, and the results were mind blowing. I cut back on the things that I was only buying out of habit. Morning drive through coffees that I can brew at home. Packing my lunch for work instead of driving through fast food restaurants. I save my urge to eat out for one evening per week, when I get together with friends. Workout at home. Be creative. Use the outdoors. It's free and getting lost in nature is never bad for your health or for the soul. These expenses do not seem so bad at the time, but it amounts to quite a bit at the end of the month. Cutting out my spending on small things such as these have made a huge difference in my being able to save money for the next adventure.
3. Scope out the deals.
Sure it's more work and it's much more time consuming than just booking it, but if you're a budget traveler like myself, it usually results in longer trips and more new places. Think hostels. They're super cheap and very nice. They are often centrally located and you will meet the friendliest of people from all over the world. Do your research and book early if possible. Airlines usually have specific days that they offer the lowest rates. Sign up for the mailing list to travel sites so that you can be the first to know of the deals that they post. Take photos with the camera that you have already spent your money on instead of splurging on souvenirs. I love looking through photos of my travels. They bring back memories and spark the wanderlust to go again. Research your destination. For example in France, when you order a water, you are only offered still or sparkling and both for a fee. After several cafe experiences that resulted in my friend and I paying six euros for a bottle of water, we learned that the waiter has to serve you tap water if you request it. It's frowned upon, but it's a small way to save a few extra bucks for something more exciting than water.
It truly is all in prioritizing. It isn't for everyone, but making these seemingly tiny changes has resulted in just a few more stamps in my passport over the last few years. To me, travel is worth more than that expensive purse that everyone has. It's worth more than a huge car payment. It's worth more than a closet full of clothes and shoes that are only worn a few times. I'm still learning the concept of budgeting, but I have found that I regret splurging on "things" far more than I regret seeing the world.
Budgeted travel is owning less, but gaining so much more.
