Congratulations, you’ve got a case of the travel bug, wanderlust is calling your name, and you just cannot wait to spend an amazing vacation in a new place. Planning a vacation is so exciting! Picking out the accommodations, the places you will visit, and the food you will eat! The only problem is, how much will it cost you? How can you actually afford to travel when bills continue to pile up and everyday life expenses get in the way? We are here to show you that regardless of how much money you are making and your bills, with the tips below, you can make your travel dreams come true sooner than you thought. So, strap your seat belts on, we are about to take off. Here are 5 tips to be able to afford travel.
Are Your Necessary Expenses Really Necessary?
Take a look at your current spending and do an audit. What are you spending most of your money on and how can you reduce that for the time being? You will be surprised at how much money you spend on subscriptions you rarely use!
What are your current subscriptions? Are you subscribed to Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, YouTube TV, or all of the above? Chances are, you rarely use one or more of those subscription services. Take a look at packages that are being offered to see if you can combine any of those services, or eliminate them altogether.
While we may not be a fan of the latte theory, the idea that you are able to save a hefty amount of money by cutting out your daily Starbucks run stands true. We aren’t asking you to quit your coffee drinking habit if that is what brings you joy, but reducing the number of times you visit your local coffee shop can have quite an impact on your travel budget. An average cost of drinks at Starbucks ranges between $4-$5. If you visit it at least 3 times a week, that is $60 a month you can put towards your next trip. On a scale of a year, that is a plane ticket to your next destination. Delayed gratification is the key to being able to afford travel.
Do You Have a Side Hustle?
Let’s face it, in today’s economy having a 9-5 job is only the beginning. Your 9 to 5 can only provide you with so much income. This is the time of the gig economy. In fact, 45% of Americans report having a side hustle. That is roughly 70 million people! Whether you are aware of it or not, you possess a skill that others would pay for. Now you may be wondering, what can I do to make extra money? This is one of our favorite tips for being able to afford travel.
When it comes to side hustles, the world is your oyster. If you are skilled in anything technical, such as website design, writing, graphic design, or content creation, you can offer your services on websites such as Fiverr and Upwork. If you have a knack or photography, you can become a designated photographer for local events. And if you simply have some spare time on your hands, you could become a personal grocery shopper for Instacart or drive for Uber or Lyft.
Are You Overspending on Flights?
Contrary to popular belief, travel doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg. There are plenty of affordable options when shopping for your next flight. When planning your next trip consider some of our tips.
Always plan your trip out at least two months in advance. That is when the international flights are at their optimal prices. Consider flying out of season, not only will the flights and accommodation be cheaper, but there will be fewer crowds and price gauging. When looking for your next flight, opt-in for using incognito mode on your browser. Most airline websites are able to track your search history and will show higher prices if they have seen that you have been looking for quite a few times. Always shop on an incognito mode for flights and hotels.
Consider looking at flights on websites such as Skyscanner and Google Flights. They are able to show you individual prices on each day of the month. Flights are typically cheaper on Tuesdays and Saturdays, you can check that when looking at the flight calendar. Along with many other hacks, these should be able to save you a hefty amount on your next trip.
Do You Have a Travel Budget?
Budgets are incredibly helpful when adulting. Tracking everything you spend on a monthly basis can put a lot of things into perspective. What are your major spending categories, where are you overspending, where can you cut back? By tracking your spending in an app such as Mint or even as simple as creating your own spreadsheet in Excel, you can gain a deeper understanding of where your money is going, and from there, you can make adjustments. By understanding where your money goes each month, you can create a budget and a plan to reduce that spending. In turn that will let that money go to travel and other expenses you have been putting off now due to lack of funds. Trust that by seeing it right in front of you, your money becomes more real.
A great idea that many have been utilizing is money envelopes. If you have never heard of it, it essentially means taking out cash after being paid and allocating each envelope to an area of your life such as bills, leisure, savings. By having your money in front of you in cash, you are able to be more diligent with the distribution. Give it a try, it might be quite transformative.
Are You a Part of a Rewards Program?
Are you the type of person to immediately say no when someone asks you to join a rewards program? Little do you know that those programs can save you quite a lot when traveling. By joining a hotel rewards program, you dedicate yourself to staying in a hotel of that brand. This means that you show them your loyalty, and for that, you may be heavily rewarded. Our favorite program is Marriott’s Bonvoy program, which not only earns you free upgrades, but also free nights. You receive a discount on your stays, get special deals exclusive to their members, and even accumulate points that can then be exchanged for a free night’s stay! It pays off to be loyal to one brand.
Another quite controversial topic is travel hacking with the use of credit cards. That is a topic that we will explain in an in-depth blog post, but essentially using credit card points is on of the major tips to afford travel. By utilizing the point system and initial welcome offers that most credit cards offer, you can travel for free! Yes, those points can be transferred as miles to airlines as well as hotels or can be redeemed for cash that can pay for your next trip. By taking advantage and getting the most out of your points, you can have your entire trip paid for.
Whether you plan to travel now or in the future, it is important that you know the options available to you that will save you money on your flights, hotels, and other accommodations. Travel should be fun and stress-free, and we are here to show you that it can be. With proper budgeting and simple life hacks, and these tips to afford travel, you can plan your future trip with the peace of mind that it will not make you go bankrupt. After all, there is so much in this world to see, and you deserve to see it all!
