The Broke Girl's Guide to Seeing The World
Wanderlust (n. wan·der·lust)
- a strong desire to travel
Are you always itching to explore a new country? Maybe you want to play on the beaches of Thailand or see the Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro for yourself. Wherever it is that we want to go, money always seems to hold us back from our wanderlust dreams. Don't be discouraged! There are many ways to save on travel and ensure that you do all the traveling your heart desires.
Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Avoid Peak Season
If possible, plan your vacations for months that are considered to be "off season". Places will be less crowded,flights cheaper and temperatures cooler. For example, avoid traveling to Rome during the peak months of July and August and try March or October instead.
Ditch The Hotels
Don't let expensive hotel stays stop you from traveling. With several travel hostels and cheap apartment rentals you can see the world for less. Websites like airbnb and villas.com find you cheap apartments and home rentals almost anywhere in the world for way less than you'll spend on a hotel room.
Phra Nang Beach in Thailand. Photo: Guillén Pérez
Save,Save,Save
Make yourself set a portion of your paycheck aside for travel. Calculate your goal amount and when you'll need it by. Then pick the amount you will need to save from each paycheck and stick to it no matter what! There are many money saving apps that can do this calculation for you. Opening up a savings account specifically for travel is a great way to keep you disciplined. If you save $25 every week, by the end of the year you'll have enough money to travel to just about anywhere.
Cut Out Expenses
I know how much you love your frappuccinos but cutting out your daily Starbucks drink can save you an average of $150 a month, thats $1,800 a year! Brew your own cup of coffee and you'll be able to travel faster than you know it. Write down how much you spend each month, categorize the expenses into necessities and non-essentials and see what you can live without.
The Vatican. Photo: Giorgio Galeotti
Skip The Popular Route
Destinations that attract a lot of tourists will always be pricey. Skip Paris and try Prague or Berlin instead. There are many European cities that may not have the same hype as Paris but are just as beautiful and historic.
We’ll be sharing more tips next month. Stay tuned!
Tell us, how do you save money to travel?
