The struggle is real when you want to escape to a far off land, but your bank account doesn’t agree. With a few adjustments to your budget, you can begin to bank those dollars. Here are a few strategies I use and they just may work for you too:
Put the pen to paper and make a list
Set some goals. What are the the top places you’d like to see in the next three years? Write those down. This helps create that vision in your mind. Also, three years is easier to see in front of you than a longer period of time.
Break out the spreadsheet
Research and make note of the things you want to see and do. Put a cost estimate to every item. This gives you an idea of how much you need in the piggy bank to fund your adventures.
Chop chop! It’s cutting time
You have that magic number of what your travel adventures in the next few years will cost. You now can rearrange your finances to meet that number. Date back and calculate month by month how much moolah you’re going to need to put under your mattress OR in your savings account to make those trips happen.
Quick budget tips:
- Track your expenses. Are you buying things you need, or are you including some things you just want?
- Set a budget for every spending category – bills, loans, groceries, car payments, everyTHANG
- Carry cash only – once it’s gone, it’s gone! Leave credit cards at home.
- Assess every purchase
Get your side hustle on
You’ve slashed and squeezed your budget and there’s no way you will be able to jump on that plane. Don’t sweat it! If you’re full-time income doesn’t have enough flexibility to allow you to fund your trips, there’s always a way. What skills or knowledge do you have that you can sell? Whether as a freelancer or as a part-time worker – there’s money out there to earn. Find another avenue to bring in those dollars to help achieve your travel dreams. It is possible!
Keep focused
Trust me, I got a thing for some BS (bag and shoes, oh yes), so I completely know how challenging it can be to stick to a budget. Something always seems to come up! Car breaks down, the furnace is shot, purse strap busts off…the list goes on. Whether it’s a birthday around the corner, a car repair, or a broken home appliance – something is bound to happen. If at all possible, save a little somethin’ somethin’ for those annoying emergencies.
Seeing it, is believing it AND helps bring it into reality! Put your travel dreams, really ANY of your dreams right in your face. Like in your mirror, on a vision board in front of your bed, simply some place where you will see it every day. It’s a constant reminder of the reasons you’re putting in all that work to save those coins. It’s about making your dreams and goals come true!
Have you used some of these to fund your travels? I’d love to hear to from you and if you have any extra tips for our fellow travelers.
Once it’s gone, it’s gone! So true! Love your tips, Gee! These are definitely doable and real.
Thank you so much for your feedback!