Money Hacks To Save For Travel

Travel is expensive, and it takes time.  Many people say to me: "I wish we could travel, but we just don't have the money."  Or   "I wish I could travel, but I only get one week for vacation each year-it's not worth going overseas."  My answer to that is: "Then you don't really want to travel."   The conversation usually ends there.

Occasionally the conversation continues "But I really do want to travel, how do you manage it?" Here are a few of my hacks for fitting travel into your life.  This first post is about saving up money for a trip, and soon I will have a post on saving money while travelling.

Why save for a trip when you can pay by credit card and worry about it later?  Well, if you end up broke a few months after your trip you will blame the travel not yourself because that's what we do as humans.  I recommend saving up for at least your plane tickets, accommodations and some spending money before you depart.  My mother used to say: "If there is a will, then there is a way" and it's true. I was raised by German immigrants who escaped the iron curtain after WWII, so discipline is in my D.N.A, and mental discipline is what it takes to save for a trip.  So before I even start to budget for a trip I go into what my family and I call "austerity measures"  where we cut out all the things deemed unnecessary.

Hours Of Entertainment!

Tip #1  ENTERTAINMENT is the first item to be cut. You can wait for a few months for that new movie that just came out in theatres to appear on Netflix.  I actually haven't had cable TV for over 13 years now. Between Netflix and YouTube, there is more to watch in one lifetime than humanly possible.  I also use the public library for books (and e-books), magazines and movies.  The library also helps save money on costly guidebooks when you are doing research on your travel destinations.  Look, I'm not suggesting playing with a button on a string for entertainment, but there are so many ways we can cut back in this department.  There is always work to be done in our homes and sometimes my chores mix into my entertainment.  Like when I have a food canning session or ironing mountains of clothes; I set up the laptop and binge-watch the latest Netflix series. I can have fun while doing monotonous work.

Spaghetti Is Always Cheap & Fun!

Tip #2 FOOD.  Many people go out to eat as entertainment.  We don't go out to eat in restaurants unless it is someone's birthday.  I pack our family lunches from home (gasp!-I know, like the peasantry). I cook simple nutritious meals at home that don't involve a lot of expensive ingredients and we don't eat much meat.  If you are a gardener, grow your own veggies and preserve them by canning or freezing.  Eat with the seasons-I would roll over and die first before I buy a pint of strawberries in January for $10!  We make our own beer and wine, which saves on our entertaining.  Look, I would rather be having a meal on a piazza in Italy or a pub in Ireland than at the East Side Mario's at the strip mall-just keep reminding yourself of that.

In France, This Is Called "Window Licking"

Tip #3  DO NOT GO TO THE MALL!  Don't do it; just don't.  The only time I go into a mall is when I have to do my Christmas shopping or when I need my shoes repaired (my cobbler is in the mall and yes, I pay to repair a pair of expensive shoes rather than toss them and buy a new pair).  Malls are designed to make you want to spend your vacation dollars by buying that latest "Made In China" gadget, or crappy "Made In Bangladesh" fast fashion item or even gulp down an overpriced coffee. If you knew the real price of some of these things you would choke on your $5 latte (that cost 75¢ to make).
OK, I know we do need clothes and some stuff like pots and pans.  I avoid department stores where you have to walk by what I call the "Glamour Gauntlet" (the cosmetic department, jewellery, fashion)  to get downstairs to the basement where the pots and pans are kept.  Seriously, it's like running the gauntlet of lux and the temptation is too strong for me!  Here's another alternative, go to Kijiji or Craigslist and I love going to the thrift store. I find designer brands that are practically brand new!  Cashmere sweaters, velvet dresses, designer jeans, leather boots, jewellery, purses-I could go on and on.  It doesn't hurt that I know how to sew to make a few repairs or alterations on the clothes, but really I don't bother buying things I need to alter anymore unless the item is really special.  For all other things like intimates, I just shop online to avoid the mall.  I have a note on my phone with all my family's measurements & shoe sizes so if there is an online sale somewhere I can pick up what we need.  It's good for the environment too; reduce, RE-USE, recycle, baby!

Tip #4  EARN MORE CASH!  This applies to everyone. I don't care if you have three letters behind your name; if you can't afford your travel dreams, then you need more cash in your travel fund.  Our family of three lives off of one income and my business income of sewing belly dance costuming pays for our travel.  In the past, I have also taken on part-time retail jobs, babysitting jobs, custodial jobs, cleaning jobs and now our farm income trickles into our travel fund as well.   I am not above hard work of any kind to get me out travelling in this world.  This quote by Jerry Rice sums it up so well for me: "Today I will do what others won't, so tomorrow I can do what others can't".   On a trip abroad I have often thought, WOW I am sitting on this lovely square having a glass of wine all because someone else was too lazy to scrub their toilet or wash their windows.  CHEERS!




Tip #5 EMERGENCIES! It happens once in a while, that we need to dump a bunch of cash down on not so fun stuff.  Car repairs, hot water tank, etc.  Well, I have several bank accounts with purposes for each.  One is called:  "Travel Fund", the other is "Working Account" and one is called "Boring S**t".  Boring S**t is the emergency fund where I would use the money to buy a sump pump because the basement flooded (true story).  I keep a set amount of money in there that makes me feel secure in case of a household emergency.  This is a different fund than say if one gets sick or injured and we have no income for 6 months, then that would be the "Holy F**k!" account.  Toronto Dominion Bank I apologize for my profane account names, but I'm sure you're ok with it, knowing how much money in service fees you make off me.

Now here's one thing that was life-altering for me: DYI  YouTube videos.  Washing machine repairs, sump pump instalments, how to build a chicken run-whatever.  You can save hundreds of dollars a year from going into the "Boring S**t" account and instead, put the money into your "Travel Fund" account.  I try to do things myself rather than hire someone to do the work for me.  I also don't own fancy things.  For example, our furniture is mostly Ikea, or used, or even used Ikea.  Until 18 months ago I drove a 20-year-old Volvo station wagon.  Yes, I put repairs into her, but we do not spend 30+ thousand every few years to get a new car.  Do you know how many trips you could go on for that kind of cash!?!  If you live in a city, take public transit, ride a bike or walk; you will save hundreds of dollars!

I Would Rather Be ↑

I almost make a sport of saving:  I just saved $50 by colouring my own hair!    I just saved $40 by doing my own oil change on the car!  As long as that cash you save ends up in the Travel Fund; you're golden!
This last tip sums it up.  Ask yourself this: do you know how many ______ you can get for ______?  For example: Do you know how many espressos you can get in Florence for your Grande Chai Tea Latte at the mall?  Do you know many pints of Guinness you could buy in an Irish Pub for your two-four of Bud Light at the Liquor Barn?  EVERY DOLLAR COUNTS.  This thinking process is what helps to motivate me to stick with my goals.

See you on the piazza! 

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This post first appeared in 2017 as: How do we afford to travel? Part 1: Saving