7 super tips for saving money for travel

How do I do it? Well here are my top tips for saving money for travel

We’re only just over 2 months in to 2015 and I’m already planning and saving for my next big adventure. So while tightening the purse strings is on my mind at the moment, I thought I would share my top tips for saving money to fund your travels.

1. Set up a separate bank account

Once I have been paid and have allocated my set amount of money for mortgage, bills and such like, I move a portion of my wage to a bank account I can’t access by debit card then just try to forget it’s there. I’m rubbish at remembering numbers anyway, so this usually works for me. Do this each month and it soon adds up!

2. Avoid temptation

I used to be subscribed to all sorts of shopping emails, mainly clothing, and I would find that they would draw me in with something stunning in their email and then once I had decided to purchase said top/skirt/pair of shoes, I would inevitably end up browsing the rest of the site and then buying more than I intended! I have now unsubscribed from all of these emails and have removed that temptation.

3. Saying “no” sometimes is ok

I don’t go out every weekend, infact my clubbing days are well and truly behind me – been there, done that. I know some people like to drink their wages away at the pub, which is all well and good if that’s what you want to do. But if your friends are out partying every Friday and Saturday night, it is ok to sometimes say “not this time, I’m trying to save money”. There will always be another occasion. And if they call you boring, then just think of them while they’re spending yet another Saturday night in the same old pub while you’re off having an adventure of a lifetime.

4. Look at cheaper alternatives

I’m not just talking about boring important stuff like car insurance and gas prices, I mean situations like the other day when a friend of mine happened to drop into conversation how much the shoes she was wearing cost. I realised that for what she paid for her shoes, I could have bought 20 pairs of mine! Sure, hers are bound to be better quality than mine but is it worth it at that price?

5. Cut down on luxuries

I’m not talking about the odd splurge but do you really need a monthly manicure or that £50+ a month Sky package? You’re not going to care about having the perfect nails or what’s on the tv when you’re snorkelling in the Indian Ocean or watching the sun set over Uluru.

6. Brains before belly

Don’t go grocery shopping on an empty stomach – you’ll buy more than intended. Take a packed lunch to work – a much cheaper alternative to buying lunch out every day. Eat fewer takeaways – this may sound obvious but homecooked versions of your favourite pizzas and curries can be much cheaper and healthier alternatives.

7. Have a movie night

If you think about it, trips to the cinema are expensive, especially if you buy all the overpriced snacks the cinemas sell too. As a frequent cinema-goer I know this all too well. So, why not buy your popcorn from the supermarket (at a fraction of the cinema price) and have a dvd night? Dvds are cheaper than a cinema ticket these days anyway and you can always swap and share movies with friends. Perhaps you can keep yourself inspired and motivated by watching movies to ignite your wanderlust!

If all else fails – look at the bigger picture. Forgoing that weekly Costa Coffee for a holiday of a lifetime in Costa Rica will be totally worth it when you get there!

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2 Comments

  1. I just had a huge revelation. Unsubscribe from all those shopping emails? Why didn’t I think of that before! I’m not a huge shopper, but I tend to be impulsive when it comes to online shopping.

    All these tips are great 🙂 Thanks for sharing!

    1. It definitely worked for me! Thanks for your comment 🙂

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