Essential Advice For Funding A Traveling Adventure
Traveling can be an eye-opening, life-affirming and highly valuable experience, so it is no surprise that so many people catch the “travel bug” after just one adventure! While it can be a fantastic experience, travel can also be incredibly expensive, particularly if you do not plan on earning during your trip. It can be a deterrent and stop people from exploring new places, and this is a shame because it can be life-changing.
With this in mind, here are a few financial and practical tips for those planning a big adventure, which should help you to get the most out of your trip:
Financial Advice:
Create A Budget For Saving
It is easy to say you will start saving for your trip only to keep on spending money as you usually would! Therefore, it can be helpful to draw up a budget where you save a certain percentage of your income each month which will go towards your trip. If you find the temptation to dip into this pot too much, you could set up a separate savings account and transfer the money in here to stop you from spending it.
Reduce Your Spending
You will be able to afford the trip much faster if you reduce your monthly spending. Of course, this is easier said than done, but there are many excellent ways to do this which could help you to save vast amounts of money in the long run. A few good examples including switching energy providers, stopping unnecessary bills, switching to non-brand products and walking instead of driving.
Supplement Your Income
Most people will focus on how they can save money to fund their trip, but one great alternative is to supplement your income. You could do this either by getting a second job or by looking into online work which you can do at a time and place to suit you. It is a highly effective way to raise the funds that you need for your adventure and could provide you with important skills so that you can earn as you travel (more on this to come).
Sell Possessions
The majority of people will have items around the home which they no longer use or need. Instead of collecting dust, think about selling these at a garage sale or online to raise funds for your trip. It is easier than ever to sell items in today’s internet-driven world, and you will be surprised at how much you can raise and what you can sell online.
Take Out A Loan
The quickest and easiest way to get your hands on money is to take out a loan. Even if you have a bad credit history, you should be able to secure a personal loan, and there are no limits on how you use the money. You can find about more about this topic here which will help you to determine whether or not this is the right move for you.
Earn While You Travel
One of the smartest ways to finance your trip is to earn money as you travel because this means that you are not continually dipping into your savings, plus it could help you to prolong your trip. You could look to secure some form of work at places that you travel to, such as bar work, and this can be a great way to meet new people and experience somewhere different. Alternately, you could work online which is a good option because you can do this while on the move, no matter where you are.
Rent Out Room
Finally, you could rent out your room/home during the time that you are away so that your rent will be covered during your trip, which will save you a considerable amount. Paying for rent when you are traveling and not using the space can feel like a waste of money, so this is an excellent solution which will give you a big financial boost!
Practical Advice:
Carefully Plan Your Trip
You will need to carefully plan your trip for it to be a success and this can also be an excellent way to make it more affordable. Research ahead to find the most affordable places to visit, stay and eat and always keep your eyes peeled for deals or cheaper alternatives. It is a good idea to have an itinerary, but do not shy away from veering away from this as you may find that you want to stay longer in certain places, visit somewhere different, and so on.
Go Off The Beaten Path
Following on from this, it can be much cheaper (and more exciting) to go off the beaten path with your traveling adventure. As opposed to booking onto guided tours and going to the expensive tourist traps, try to find your own way and where the locals go for a cheaper and more authentic experience.
Transportation
Transportation is, of course, the key to any traveling experience but it can also be one of the major expenses. There are often cheaper alternatives which can also be more enjoyable and give you a better experience, so look into options like the bus or train when booking transportation.
Hostels
It is tempting to stay in hotels or rent apartments during the trip, but the cost of this will quickly add up. Hostels are a much cheaper alternative and a fun way to make friends during your trip. Not only this, but most hostels will have a kitchen so that you can prepare your own food which will be much cheaper than always eating out or buying food from convenience stores.
Money can be a huge concern when it comes to traveling, but this should not stop you from planning the trip of a lifetime! There are always a few steps that you can take which will help you to find the money that you need for your adventure and to ensure that you can travel happily and with confidence. Try one, a few or all of the above and soon you will have all of the money that you need for your trip.