The Travel Chica

Live Simple. Consume Less. Experience More.

How I Saved Money To Travel

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A lot of people ask how I was able to afford to quit my job and travel for over one year.

There are two main factors that have allowed me to live one of my dreams:  saving money and reducing my travel budget.

Saving Money

As a child, my parents instilled the importance of saving money and taught me how to manage my money well.  Low debt, limiting expenses, and finding discounts and deals has allowed me to save money to meet my travel goals.

Low or Zero Debt

I have always been very cautious about taking on debt.  Credit card debt with high interest payments is the worst kind and something I have always avoided.  I have had large loans for cars and a home, however, I made sure the monthly payments were affordable and allowed me to still save money.

When I do take on debt, I make it a priority to pay it off early.  In addition to eliminating debt quicker, you usually pay less interest.

Limit Expenses

Limiting expenses, especially recurring expenses, is an easy way to save money.

First, look at your monthly bills, including cable, internet, phone, electric, gas, and water.  Do you really need 400+ channels?  Is there a better deal for your phone service?  Are there things you can do to reduce your gas bill?

Second, consider if you have other recurring expenses that are not necessary?  For example, do you read all of those magazines you subscribe to?  What about that storage unit you pay for every month?

Seek Out Deals and Discounts

For items that you do need or want to purchase, take advantage of the internet to seek out deals and discounts and save with Online Coupon Codes.  There is so much competition for your business that you should rarely pay full price for anything.

One of my favorite websites for purchasing nearly anything is Amazon.  I have used it to purchase electronics and accessories, travel supplies, books, and gifts.  Amazon already offers great deals, and getting coupons for Amazon is also possible.

For your basic grocery shopping, consider signing up for a loyalty card for discounted items, as well as points that add up to discounts on future purchases.

Reduce Travel Expenses

I specifically chose a part of the world with a cheaper cost of living because my priority was traveling for a long period of time.  I also decided that I was going to do the “budget backpacker” travel style.

However, a travel budget is unique for everyone, even for those traveling in the same location.  It is all about your travel style.  Be honest with yourself about the quality of accommodations and transportation you need in order to be comfortable and enjoy.  Don’t try to be a “budget backpacker” if sleeping in a hostel and taking long bus rides will make you miserable.

There are many ways to reduce your travel spend without eliminating your comfort.

First, check websites for discounts and deals on your trip.  For example, view Promo Codes for Southwest Airlines Vacations. Set up alerts on airfare prices in order to be notified when a flight is on sale.  Look for discounts and deals for Bookit, which offers flights, hotels, car rental, cruises, and even vacation packages.

Second, don’t be afraid to ask about discounts.  Many tourism companies, including hotels, have discounts that they do not advertise.

Third, travel in the low season.  For many destinations, you will find that prices are 25-50% less and you still can have good weather if you travel the month before or the month after low season.

As you can see, there are a lot of small steps you can take to help you save money for your next trip and to save money on that trip.  These small steps really do add up.

Comments

  1. You are so right that all the small things do add up. Taking small steps makes a huge difference and allows you so much freedom.

    Just discovered your blog and love it. An amazing journey and such beautiful photos
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  4. It is very important to save money for the future use. Once you save money, you could definitely have something to get from your pocket during hard times. For you could save money in traveling, you must do all the tips above. The tips could really help a lot to achieve your goal which is to travel a lot.
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  5. These are some great tips. Avoiding getting into debt or paying it off is really important. I also practice reducing expenses, I really did spend money on stuff I didn’t need in the past, and it ended up taking space I didn’t want it to take up. I’m all for pampering myself, yet these days, I am way more focused on experiences rather than material objects. The fact that coupons are available online sure does make it easier to use them, so I’ll be looking into that more.
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