One of the most common questions I receive as a full-time traveler is: “How can you afford to travel?” Except, usually, the question is phrased a little differently…
“Wow, you’re so lucky.”
“I wish I could travel half as much as you do.”
“I love your Instagram. I’m so jealous.”
I understand that these statements are well-intended with flattery, and I appreciate them; however, the said jealousy really isn’t jealousy at all. According to the dictionary by Merriam-Webster, to be jealous is to be “hostile toward a rival or one believed to enjoy an advantage” (Merriam-Webster, Inc., 2020). Contrary to popular belief, the travel budget mindset has little to do with advantage and everything to do with prioritizing your personal budget.
Myth: I cannot afford to travel.
Truth: Travel is not my priority.
Maybe your current priorities are food, shelter or education – all of which are vital. But, where do your other “priorities” lie? What is your heart truly set on?
This is what we are going to examine in this guide, which I personally implement on a daily basis, on how to save money to travel.
1. Save money on essentials.
We all spend money on the basics: food, shelter and education (whether that be formal education at a university or another form of education). Despite the high cost of supply and demand, though, there are numerous ways to save money in these areas.
Save money on food.
First and foremost, always go out of your way to purchase groceries from the store or market with the lowest prices. My favorite U.S. grocery store is ALDI, and then Walmart for secondary groceries that ALDI may not carry. My favorite European store is the ALDI equivalent: Lidl!
Become a shameless bargain-hunter, say yes to the nice entrance employees who are offering you the daily-deal coupons, and take time to search and save coupons even if it means trips to multiple store locations.
(And don’t try to argue me with the “but the gas cost will be more than my savings” argument. If you are persistent in your couponing, you can come out ahead.)
Save money on housing.
Second, you can – and should – try to save a lot of money on housing. This is where many people usually lose interest, but, trust me, you can live comfortably and conservatively in most cities.
Whether you like to hear it or not, you don’t need a fancy multilevel apartment with a dishwasher, in-unit washer and dryer, and attached garage to live a comfortable life. These types of apartments are really just a bank-draining luxuries.
Furthermore, find a roommate. Or, better yet, find multiple roommates. Be open to the idea of sharing a bedroom.
To save even more money on housing, move back into your parents’ house if you’re single and local. All too often, our modern pride robs us of the idea of living with our parents until our careers are providing surplus income. But, can you guess where I am sitting as I type this guide up? Yes, that’s right, my childhood bedroom in my parent’s house. I don’t know about you, but I would much rather spend $600 on six days worth of traveling every month (i.e. 3/4 of the month’s weekends) than I would on rent and utilities.
(Disclaimer: I would never recommend living in a toxic environment, whether that be with roommates or your family. Your long-term mental and physical health should always take priority.)
Save money on your education.
Finally, education: I know this area of spending does not apply to everyone, as some choose not to attend college, which is perfectly okay, and some receive college funding from parents, which is equally okay, but the overarching concept remains.
Let’s face it. The concept of a “dream college” is a fairytale. Believe it or not, you can be just as content at a local public college as you will at a $30,000-per-year private university, and you will – more often than not – end up with the same rewarded degree.
I gave up my dream school, a private four-year university with a sticker price tuition of $27,000 per year, for general-ed classes at a two-year community college and major coursework at a local public four-year university. My entire undergraduate degree cost less than $15,000. It was the best decision I’ve ever made.
Now you may be asking, “What if I already went with the high-price school? I have student debt. There’s no turning back.”
That’s okay! You might be a little more limited until your loans are paid off, but you can still save money to travel. Hang tight!
2. Save money on the non-essentials.
These subheadings may seem like common sense, but don’t roll your eyes quite yet. First, answer these questions:
How many times have you gone out to eat in the past month?
Do you visit coffee shops frequently?
How much do you spend on drinks when you go out?
These costs add up, folks. They add up fast.
For example, let’s say you visit a coffee shop three times a week on average: once for morning fuel, once for meeting up with a friend and once for a quick change in a work scenery. Now, let’s assume that each drink costs you about $5 on average.
$5 x three visits per week = $15 per week
$15 per week x four weeks = $60 per month
$15 x 52 weeks in a year = $780 per year
I’m the furthest thing from a math whiz (please correct me if my math is wrong), but you could go on a pretty nice trip for $780.
That’s almost $1000! Wrap that around your head. And this number doesn’t even account for restaurant food or alcohol.
Here’s the hard truth: You can go out with friends and order nothing. Be polite to the wait staff, tip if you ask for “just water,” etc. Your friendships and related FOMO shouldn’t cost you half-priced appetizers and a margarita every single week.
This rule applies for every other non-essential expense as well. Do you really need that specific car? That brand of shirt? Those shoes?
Where do your priorities lie?
3. Learn how to travel cheap.
“Cheap travel” probably sounds like an oxymoron to most, but it’s actually very feasible if you’re willing and determined.
The vast majority assumes you need to budget thousands of dollars to travel as a single. This is so false. In fact, most of my travels cost less than $300 total, including ground transportation, accommodations, food and experiences.
Aim to save as much money on travel transportation, accommodations and food as possible by doing the following:
Transportation
- Always use public transportation when available. When it is not available, try walking or Uber. Avoid unnecessary taxis or other expensive forms of transportation.
- Book flights as far in advance as possible.
- Don’t be afraid of third-party booking sites like Hotwire or Booking.com that compare prices and have competitive offers. (Be cautious, but not afraid.)
- Become brand loyal to airlines. This will allow you to score reward miles, points and free upgrades.
- Think about family members who may have a buddy pass you could use (pilots, retired pilots, flight attendants, airline employees, etc.). Buddy passes are essentially free or discounted standby plane tickets. I caution you not to ask friends, though. Airline workers get asked for “the hookup” a lot. Your friendship isn’t worth a free flight.
Accommodations
- Never book hotels or resorts full-price – ever.
- Never book a hotel off of the hotel website. This will book the accommodations at full-price.
- Again, don’t be afraid of third-party booking sites. These sites are especially perfect for last-minute booking, as they offer hotels’ leftover open rooms for a huge discount. (At the end of the day, hotels would prefer giving a discount over having an empty room!) My favorite site is Hotwire.
- Always consider Airbnb or other homestay platforms.
- Consider staying at a hostel. The people who refuse to stay in hostels are missing out. Worst case scenario, you have a horrible experience and never stay at that hostel again – although this is very unlikely. However, unlike hotels, I would advise you to book hostels directly through the hostel site, as some third-party platforms will overcharge hostel stays with a convenience fee.
- Weigh your options. Check Hotwire, check Airbnb, check hostels and check again. Take your time (i.e. several days) to find the highest quality accommodations for the lowest cost. Luxury and saving don’t always have to be antonyms.
Food
Raise your right hand and repeat after me: “I will not eat out for every meal on my trip.”
Vacationers usually spend way too much on food. Choose one night to treat yourself to dinner and/or drinks, and for the rest of the trip, find a grocery store.
If grocery prices are higher where you’re going, bring granola bars and snacks from home. Buy your fresh and smash-able foods (breads, fruits, etc.) there.
Moreover, buy plenty of groceries so that your hunger doesn’t tempt you to go out for food. You’ll probably be hungrier than normal from swimming, hiking and other activities, so always buy more at the grocery store than you think you’ll need.
Bonus: Make your groceries fun by packing picnics. Who doesn’t love a lunch with a view?
4. Shift your mindset.
By now, you know how to save money so that you can travel well and often.
But, will you actually go through with it? No free guide, however valuable it may be, is able to provide you the funds to go. Let’s review the introduction’s myths and truths about how to save money to travel.
Myth: I cannot afford to travel.
Truth: Travel is not my priority.
Adapt this, taking your new knowledge into consideration.
Myth: I cannot afford to travel.
Truth: I will prioritize travel in my budget so that I have the financial liberty to travel.
Stop complaining, stop dreaming and start executing. It’s all about perspective and priority! Make travel tangible by giving yourself the financial space to both live comfortably and adventure fearlessly.
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