I have been to 15 countries and counting.
I am no expert by any means, but I think, that I have figured out the magic formula to saving money for any vacation, to anywhere in the world! Without going broke, without having to make $100,000 a year, and without having to save for your entire life just for one vacation!
This one magnificent secret of mine will prove to you, once and for all, that in order to travel the world, you do not need to have a great paying job, be famous, or inherit a butt load of money. It will show you that even if you are working for minimum wage, have never traveled before, and have no rich uncles dying any time soon, you can still go on your dream vacation!!! How exciting is that?!! I'm excited! And you should be too!
Read below to find out my #1 secret to saving money to travel, and start planning your dream trip today!
I am no expert by any means, but I think, that I have figured out the magic formula to saving money for any vacation, to anywhere in the world! Without going broke, without having to make $100,000 a year, and without having to save for your entire life just for one vacation!
This one magnificent secret of mine will prove to you, once and for all, that in order to travel the world, you do not need to have a great paying job, be famous, or inherit a butt load of money. It will show you that even if you are working for minimum wage, have never traveled before, and have no rich uncles dying any time soon, you can still go on your dream vacation!!! How exciting is that?!! I'm excited! And you should be too!
Read below to find out my #1 secret to saving money to travel, and start planning your dream trip today!
In Australia. 2006
My #1 Secret to saving money for travel is.....
Figure out the exact amount of money you need.
In Vanuatu. 2006
Ok stay with me! Let me explain!
The reason most people don't go on fabulous vacations and adventurous trips, is because they get it in their heads that travel is a luxury they just simply can't afford. This is however, not the case, and when you figure out the exact amount of money you will need for your vacation, you will be able to visit anywhere in the world!
Just do as I say below, and it will all become clear!
How to figure out the exact amount of money you need for your dream vacation;
-Find a notebook. This is now your travel notebook! Write down where you want to go, how long you want to stay there, and what activities you would like to do while there.
-Now get online.
Search prices of airline tickets first, as this is usually the biggest expense. Write down the average price (not the most expensive, and not the cheapest, just the price you see popping up the most). Try plenty of different websites.
-Find out if you need a visa to visit the specific country. If you do, write down the price for that.
-Write down the price of hotels. If you're feeling adventurous and want to save money, use hostelworld. Write down the price of the hotels, and multiply that by the amount of nights you are staying there.
-Write down the price of food (multiplied by the number of times you will be eating), bus fares, taxis, and all of the tourist activities you want to do. This is way easier than you think. Literally type into google; Food prices in Germany, Eiffel Tower ticket price, taxi fares in Costa Rica, etc.
***Note, if you are going to an all-inclusive resort, then you won't need to write down all these things. Just the flight, any activities that cost extra, and the cost of the resort***
-Once you have all this written down (be sure to aim a little high for everything. If you have some leftover, you can simply put that towards your next trip. There is nothing worse than having to cut a trip short because you figured too low for expenses!), add it up!
This is the magic number. Most likely, it is much lower than you would have expected! See! Traveling isn't too expensive for you!
On the next clean piece of paper in your travel notebook, write this number down. Underline it. Circle it!
Next you...
The reason most people don't go on fabulous vacations and adventurous trips, is because they get it in their heads that travel is a luxury they just simply can't afford. This is however, not the case, and when you figure out the exact amount of money you will need for your vacation, you will be able to visit anywhere in the world!
Just do as I say below, and it will all become clear!
How to figure out the exact amount of money you need for your dream vacation;
-Find a notebook. This is now your travel notebook! Write down where you want to go, how long you want to stay there, and what activities you would like to do while there.
-Now get online.
Search prices of airline tickets first, as this is usually the biggest expense. Write down the average price (not the most expensive, and not the cheapest, just the price you see popping up the most). Try plenty of different websites.
-Find out if you need a visa to visit the specific country. If you do, write down the price for that.
-Write down the price of hotels. If you're feeling adventurous and want to save money, use hostelworld. Write down the price of the hotels, and multiply that by the amount of nights you are staying there.
-Write down the price of food (multiplied by the number of times you will be eating), bus fares, taxis, and all of the tourist activities you want to do. This is way easier than you think. Literally type into google; Food prices in Germany, Eiffel Tower ticket price, taxi fares in Costa Rica, etc.
***Note, if you are going to an all-inclusive resort, then you won't need to write down all these things. Just the flight, any activities that cost extra, and the cost of the resort***
-Once you have all this written down (be sure to aim a little high for everything. If you have some leftover, you can simply put that towards your next trip. There is nothing worse than having to cut a trip short because you figured too low for expenses!), add it up!
This is the magic number. Most likely, it is much lower than you would have expected! See! Traveling isn't too expensive for you!
On the next clean piece of paper in your travel notebook, write this number down. Underline it. Circle it!
Next you...
In Thailand. 2008.
Figure out exactly when you would like to take this trip. 16 months from now? 10 months from now?
Take your magic number, and divide it by the number of months you have decided on.
And that number my friend, that little tiny number you see before you, is all the money you need to put aside every month, to go on your dream vacation.
Most likely (unless you choose a very expensive country, and only give yourself a couple months to save), that number is smaller than your rent! Smaller than the price of going out drinking every weekend, smaller than a $5 Starbucks a day coffee! Wow!!!
Take your magic number, and divide it by the number of months you have decided on.
And that number my friend, that little tiny number you see before you, is all the money you need to put aside every month, to go on your dream vacation.
Most likely (unless you choose a very expensive country, and only give yourself a couple months to save), that number is smaller than your rent! Smaller than the price of going out drinking every weekend, smaller than a $5 Starbucks a day coffee! Wow!!!
In China. 2009
Here is an example for you! I want to take a week-long trip to China. In total I need; $1,390 (an average of $800 for the flight, $120 at most [China is dirt cheap, plus I like to stay at hostels] for hotel and food, $270 for my visa, and $200 for activities).
I want to leave for my trip in ten months.
1,390 divided by 10= 139
So the grand total I need to set aside every month, is only $139!
Only $139! Less than $35 a week, less than $5 a day, set aside for less than a year, and I would be able to go on a week-long vacation to China, a vacation that most people could never dream of!
(Can you tell I'm getting excited!!!)
I want to leave for my trip in ten months.
1,390 divided by 10= 139
So the grand total I need to set aside every month, is only $139!
Only $139! Less than $35 a week, less than $5 a day, set aside for less than a year, and I would be able to go on a week-long vacation to China, a vacation that most people could never dream of!
(Can you tell I'm getting excited!!!)
In Costa Rica 2001
So every month, in a separate savings account (bonus, you will be making interest on your money!), a piggy bank, or in an envelope hidden in your underwear drawer, set aside the amount of money that you need.
Now any country, any experience, any trip, is attainable.
Now any country, any experience, any trip, is attainable.
In Fiji 2006
Ok so, what if you've read this, figured out your magic monthly number, and are saying, "I can't save that amount of money a month!"
Here is what I have to say to that;
-You're lying. Ok, maybe not. But! I do find it very difficult to believe that an adult person, with a job, can not save an extra $100 a month!
-Read my complete Money Management Series. You should be able to save at least $100 a month with most of my money saving tips.
-Give yourself longer to save. If you need $1,500, but can't save $150 for 10 months, instead, save only $100 for 15 months! Still doable!
-If after all of this, you still can't manage to scrounge up an extra $100 or so a month, then you don't want it bad enough. You would rather spend your money on cigarettes/alcohol/shoes/clothes/going out to eat/starbucks etc.etc etc. And that's ok. If travel isn't your priority, then you will not be able to save up money for it, and you don't have to. If your daily Starbucks is more important to you than travel, then continue buying your Starbucks. But, if travel is a priority, then I know that you will be able to find a way to save that money!
Here is what I have to say to that;
-You're lying. Ok, maybe not. But! I do find it very difficult to believe that an adult person, with a job, can not save an extra $100 a month!
-Read my complete Money Management Series. You should be able to save at least $100 a month with most of my money saving tips.
-Give yourself longer to save. If you need $1,500, but can't save $150 for 10 months, instead, save only $100 for 15 months! Still doable!
-If after all of this, you still can't manage to scrounge up an extra $100 or so a month, then you don't want it bad enough. You would rather spend your money on cigarettes/alcohol/shoes/clothes/going out to eat/starbucks etc.etc etc. And that's ok. If travel isn't your priority, then you will not be able to save up money for it, and you don't have to. If your daily Starbucks is more important to you than travel, then continue buying your Starbucks. But, if travel is a priority, then I know that you will be able to find a way to save that money!
In The Bahamas 2005
This year me and the husband have already had a mini vacation at Kalahari Resorts, we just booked a week long vacation for our one year anniversary, to an all inclusive resort in the Dominican Republic (!!!), and we have a couple other trips in the works! We are so excited about it! And we are able to do all of this, using the secret that I just shared with you!
I am just so excited for you! I hope this post has inspired and excited you! Let me know below in the comments what your dream vacation is, and what your magic number is for it!
I would absolutely love to hear all your magic numbers, and your plans for your destination!
I am just so excited for you! I hope this post has inspired and excited you! Let me know below in the comments what your dream vacation is, and what your magic number is for it!
I would absolutely love to hear all your magic numbers, and your plans for your destination!
Peace Love and Vacationing
Jess <3
