If I'm not rich and I can travel, so can you!
Replies: 16 - Last Post: Sep 16, 2012 2:57 PM Last Post By: travelinstyle46
Aug 25, 2012 4:56 PM
If I'm not rich and I can travel, so can you!I have been traveling full-time for almost 1 year now.
I get asked how I fund my travels very often, so I decided to write down a post about how I actually saved up money to hit the road.
These are little tips for the daily life, but little things like these really go a long way when saving up money to travel!
If you have any other tips you would add, that would be great!
Aug 26, 2012 3:51 AM
Aug 26, 2012 4:10 PM
Aug 26, 2012 6:54 PM
Aug 27, 2012 2:27 AM
4It's all pretty common sense but it's true that there are many, many people out there who just don't think/realise that it doesn't take much.
A couple things I would say about your suggestions though - alternatives more than anything.
- You say, park your car and use public transport. Very good point (I actually go a step further in that I walk to work). However, I would suggest that whilst this is more often than not going to be a money saver it is worth individuals looking at their particular situation. Maybe where they live public transport is very expensive and would end up costing more than using their car. Obviously there's also the whole practicality thing. Here in London I know people who drive to work in 15 mins but would need 45mins to get to work by public transport.
-The other thing you say is sell everything including your house. Indeed many people who take off on long trips do sell their house. I'm currently looking to buy a flat and if in a few years I decide to go off for a year again I certainly don't plan to sell that flat but rather rent it out. At today's value, the kind of property I'm looking at to buy are rented out at £1200 (about US$1800) a month. (it is now a lot cheaper to buy and get a mortgage than to rent in London - the only problem is getting that mortgage of course). Even if you use an agency to manage the letting that's still a nice monthly income.
The final thing I will say, which does kind of go against everything you say, is treat yourself from time to time. 90% of the time follow the advise on your blogpost but every know and then, get a take-away pizza, buy an overpriced cup of coffee, go on a night out. Just don't do it too often. I think this makes the whole saving thing a little easier and yes it may mean a little less money saved but in the grand scheme not that much.
Oh and regarding the coffee thing. For people who don't like instant coffee, make your own coffee at home and have it before going to work. Or even bring your own stuff at work to make real coffee there if need be. It'll still be a hell of a lot cheaper than going to Starbuck's type places.
Anyway, generally good advise for all those people who just haven't thought it through.
Aug 27, 2012 3:00 AM
5Agree with the above... it's all common sense. The reason however that you found yourself creating the site is that few have common sense anymore. Which is good for you and us.
Park your car?? Just sell the damn thing and use a bike. If not a bike, then get a scooter. There is no reason to own a car in this day and age.
To say 'don't spend money on useless items' is silly. Those taken in by the YOU NEED THIS marketing skills of corporations (which has become a billion dollar industry) won't understand that they don't simply because you say they don't. And "Some people have to keep buying stuff to feel satisfied." do so because of something which happened to them as a kid. It's a phychological 101 issue.
Let me suggest that for your site to be more appealing, you should delete the "in Dubai" comments. Less than half a percent of the world has ever lived there, so how many of us can associate with that place. The examples are fine, but mentioning one place over and over is boring.
Aug 27, 2012 3:31 AM
6in Dubai is also misleading since I don't think you are a native and therefore probably earning above average wages to help fund your travels
this could be a tip ofcourse - move to a higher paying country and don't drink coffee
commonsense wins everytime but seems to be lacking in a lot of people
and also a will to travel rather than just because everyone else is doing it
Aug 27, 2012 3:41 AM
7Park your car?? Just sell the damn thing and use a bike. If not a bike, then get a scooter. There is no reason to own a car in this day and age. QFT
I'll use this opportunity to advertise the idea of motorcycles. They make you look at least 70% cooler, cost about 25% as much to run and did I mention they make you look 70% cooler?
Cheers zararock, I think I was being more self pitying than reasonable. Money is coming in at the rate I need it to for me to hit my goal next year, I'm just rather impatient!
Aug 27, 2012 8:15 PM
8@ToadofToadHall: I agree 100% that you have to treat yourself from time to time, on small things (like the coffee, eating out, etc) and some medium-big things too! There would be no point in suffering years in a row for only later travel and enjoy all at one. There has to be a balance and priorities, but without making yourself miserable!
@travelinghobo: Thanks for your comments. I mention Dubai as the place I was living at, once the article is based on my experience saving up to travel. In any case, all the tips can be applied no matter where in the world you live!
Aug 30, 2012 11:38 AM
9My Cheap Travel Trip Tips :
Learn to love a 6 bed hostel room...!
Learn to love Buses and Trains...avoid Planes and Airports (which I so much prefer!)
Learn to eat cheap but safe...if you can peel it yourself ...its probably OK to eat it...I make entire meals out of bananas and oranges...and a big bottle of water.
Avoid buying tourist stuff... Just take thousands of photos...
Learn to say "NO" to touts...its hard to be rude but necessary at times.
Aug 31, 2012 5:34 AM
10Dorm room, eat like local as long is safe, no buying of fancy stuff.. no expensive sight-seeing tour, cash only for food, n transportation... tats how i survive wit us20/day...
In fact I'm having a job tat i can work as long as I'm having internet access ... paid max USD 650/month...
Planning a long-term backpack for a year or more, simply from my ongoing income paid monthly to sustain my travel financially.... n having to spend 40 hours/week to work...
USD 650 for a month, is tis feasible? Planning to travel from Malaysia , to south-Asia, then middle east, northern Africa and all the way to south America...
Is easy to say, go for the lowest price for everything... but wit USD650 max a month?
Aug 31, 2012 7:31 AM
11Regarding common sense, it is an interesting term. The fact is that if common sense were indeed 'common' (that is, we all had it) then the term 'common sense' would have no need to exist. So in fact the term 'common sense' refers to something that is not common. Got that?
Zararock, your suggestions for saving to travel are fine and worthwhile for someone to read if they need to save to travel for however long. But, what do you plan to do after your year of travel?
What I mean is, that it is entirely possible to take your savings plan to the next level and figure out how to save enough to travel forever!!! When I was 35 I decided I did not want to work till I was 65, retire and drop dead in 2 years (ask an actuary how common this is). In other words, follow the usual road.
So instead I came up with a plan to retire in 10 years and in fact achieved the goal in 7 years. That was 23 years ago and I have been free to travel (and had the money to do so) for all that time. Why stop at saving for 1 trip???
Of course not everyone can do it but many more can than think they can. How to do it is simple to understand but not necessarily easy to do. Spend less than you earn, invest the difference wisely.
One of the main problems most people have (and is alluded to in your ideas for saving) is learning the difference between a need and a want.
Sep 4, 2012 12:55 AM
12I love this post. I´ve read it and there are things having on mind to spend this money in travels. I always backpack. Although I try to travel a bit more comfortable than many backpackers, but this is due to health issues.
Now, asking for an advice, what about when money is not a big issue, but it is time. Right now I am facing an opportunity to travel to Nepal for a short vacation. But the airplane ticket is 700 USD (so far the cheapest). But I have only one week to travel, this including the flying time. And then I think 700 USD for only one week.
Sep 4, 2012 1:47 AM
13Actually I think many of the points about how to spend your money are relevant to all aspects of life and go beyond being relevant to those wishing to travel.
Sorry for being a bit "soap box'y" but the continual need for the latest smartphone/tablet/laptop/TV/walkman/etc. means vast waste ensuring the world's limited resources are used far faster than necessary. Collecting stuff that is a year old, works perfectly but cannot be used because it is not "the latest" is also a great way to make sure that your finances stay in a far worse situation that would be the case were you to live in a less superficial manner. I have been through a phase (when getting a decent salary) of wanting/getting the latest toys and once I realised what a futile activity it was I changed and quickly paid off my mortgage, rapidly saved and then retired early to spend my life on more lasting things.
Sep 4, 2012 8:31 AM
14Good for you deimosp. Discovering how to use the system to you advantage instead of just being used by the system is something not many do.
We live in a consumer society. In order to continue to grow the only choice is to consume more. If everyone started comsuming less (which is what you are advocating) the system would have to collapse. What would come after that collapse is anyone's guess.
So from a selfish point of view, I am happy that I personally have beat the system and retired in my 40s but do not want everyone to do the same. If they did, you and I would probably end up in serious trouble.
Long may the worker bees work is what I say. I just don't choose to be one of them.
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