7 Ways To Save Up For You Dream Vacation On A College Budget | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Lifestyle

7 Ways To Start Saving Up For You Dream Vacation, Even On A College Budget

Are you waiting to graduate so that you can afford that long awaited trip? What if you can do that on your next college break?

480
7 Ways To Start Saving Up For You Dream Vacation, Even On A College Budget

I have always loved traveling.

Before college, all the trips I took were mostly with my family and I was fortunate that my family was well-traveled. That's where I picked up the knack for traveling but once I came to college in the United States, traveling to exciting and exotic destinations became a distant dream.

The options were reduced to small hiking trips, fraternity networking trips to nearby cities, and spring break to Florida.

While there are many options to scratch your traveling itch in college, not all of them are very accessible to many students. Study abroad is a great option but without scholarships, they can be very expensive.

They can span anywhere from a few weeks to a couple of months and rack up a lot in travel, living, and tuition costs.

College is a time to shape our thoughts, perspective, and worldview. Traveling during this formative time can make you into a more well-rounded individual.

Within my first two years in college, I had traveled to quite a few states across America but small trips across the country were no longer doing it for my hunger for exploring new places, culture, and food.

I needed the means to travel to my dream destinations while on a college budget!

We all know our student jobs pay peanuts! With a few well-balanced lifestyle changes, I was able to fit in at least one big trip abroad every year which included affordable places like Bali and more expensive cities like London.

In the end, it is all about planning out your spending and researching on bagging the best deals that can get you the vacation of your lifetime while in college.

So here are step-by-step 7 ways you can also save up for traveling to your dream destinations in college.

Good luck and safe travels!

1. Create a savings account.

Giphy

As we have established before, college jobs don't pay enough. One way I was able to make most out of my paycheck was by creating a savings account.

Break down what your expenses are and where your income goes. After you have covered your basic essentials, save 60% of your disposable income in a separate savings account and forget about it.

Those funds will be safe from any impulse purchases or a spree on a drunken night out. Think of it as your virtual piggy bank.

2. Save on grocery shopping.

Giphy

I can't stress this enough, it's all about psychology. I cannot count the times, I have spent way too much on groceries when I went to Walmart after having done three classes and not eating a single thing the whole day.

I have filled up my cart with unhealthy food and spent hundreds.

On the contrary, I have spent way less and made no impulse buys when I stuck to a strict list of things and went shopping after having something to eat.

This way, you eat healthier and save a lot.

3. Plan your travels WAY ahead of time.

Giphy

The early bird definitely gets the worm. Decide what you want to explore and where you want to go next. Once you have figured out the dates, buy your tickets.

The rest can be planned out later. You will save a pretty penny by buying your tickets way ahead of time.

Airline companies use different algorithms to price tickets. Tickets are much pricier on weekends, peak season, and the closer you buy to the date of departure. Avoid these traps to get great deals.

4. Buy tickets for off-peak season.

Giphy

Do your research. We all want to go to tropical destinations when it's too cold during winters or summers in Switzerland. However, with some digging, you can find places to visit that are great over off-peak seasons.

Bali and Thailand are just as nice in summer as in winter with beautiful temperate climates most of the year.

You can score some great deals on tickets and hotels during summer/fall break depending on what country you choose.

5. Try alternative accommodations.

Giphy

Airbnb is all the rave in the travel industry for young travelers. They have taken the hotel industry by storm. But Airbnb sounds like humble rooms and minimal amenities.

Far from the luxury, you crave for your dream travels.

But, in destinations like Bali, St. Lucia, and many other locations, you can get a whole villa to yourself for the price of a mid-range hotel room. Small concept hotels, boutique hotels, and local resorts are driving the competition in the hospitality industry and you can benefit from it.

6. Save on nights out.

Giphy

We want to save money but hey we are in college right! We want to have fun too. You don't even have to hear it from me, one tried and tested way to save money on night outs is to pregame!

Split costs with friends and pregame at home before going out to bars or clubs where drinks cost way more.

7. Do date nights in.

modern family movie night GIFGiphy

If you're like me, I like to split the check on dates. But that can get expensive if you are a woman/man on a mission to save money. Do cute date nights in.

Hone your cooking skills together and make something new. You save money and it is romantic.

Report this Content
Featured

15 Mind-Bending Riddles

Hopefully they will make you laugh.

190539
 Ilistrated image of the planet and images of questions
StableDiffusion

I've been super busy lately with school work, studying, etc. Besides the fact that I do nothing but AP chemistry and AP economics, I constantly think of stupid questions that are almost impossible to answer. So, maybe you could answer them for me, and if not then we can both wonder what the answers to these 15 questions could be.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

Most Epic Aurora Borealis Photos: October 2024

As if May wasn't enough, a truly spectacular Northern Lights show lit up the sky on Oct. 10, 2024

15080
stunning aurora borealis display over a forest of trees and lake
StableDiffusion

From sea to shining sea, the United States was uniquely positioned for an incredible Aurora Borealis display on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, going into Friday, Oct. 11.

It was the second time this year after an historic geomagnetic storm in May 2024. Those Northern Lights were visible in Europe and North America, just like this latest rendition.

Keep Reading...Show less
 silhouette of a woman on the beach at sunrise
StableDiffusion

Content warning: This article contains descriptions of suicide/suicidal thoughts.

When you are feeling down, please know that there are many reasons to keep living.

Keep Reading...Show less
Relationships

Power of Love Letters

I don't think I say it enough...

457991
Illistrated image of a letter with 2 red hearts
StableDiffusion

To My Loving Boyfriend,

  • Thank you for all that you do for me
  • Thank you for working through disagreements with me
  • Thank you for always supporting me
  • I appreciate you more than words can express
  • You have helped me grow and become a better person
  • I can't wait to see where life takes us next
  • I promise to cherish every moment with you
  • Thank you for being my best friend and confidante
  • I love you and everything you do

To start off, here's something I don't say nearly enough: thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you from the bottom of my heart. You do so much for me that I can't even put into words how much I appreciate everything you do - and have done - for me over the course of our relationship so far. While every couple has their fair share of tiffs and disagreements, thank you for getting through all of them with me and making us a better couple at the other end. With any argument, we don't just throw in the towel and say we're done, but we work towards a solution that puts us in a greater place each day. Thank you for always working with me and never giving up on us.

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

11 Signs You Grew Up In Hauppauge, NY

Because no one ever really leaves.

26703
Map of Hauppauge, New York
Google

Ah, yes, good old Hauppauge. We are that town in the dead center of Long Island that barely anyone knows how to pronounce unless they're from the town itself or live in a nearby area. Hauppauge is home to people of all kinds. We always have new families joining the community but honestly, the majority of the town is filled with people who never leave (high school alumni) and elders who have raised their kids here. Around the town, there are some just some landmarks and places that only the people of Hauppauge will ever understand the importance or even the annoyance of.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments