My Peace Love Life
  • Blog
  • About
  • Advertise
  • My Wedding!
  • Travel
  • Before I Die
  • Contact
  • Change the World
  • Shop!
  • Model
  • My Lovely Fans!

My #1 Secret to Saving Money for Travel

5/9/2016

16 Comments

 
My #1 Secret to Saving Money for Travel!
​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!
​
My #1 Secret to Saving Money for Travel!
In Australia. 2006
My #1 Secret to saving money for travel is.....
Figure out the exact amount of money you need.
​
My #1 Tip for Saving Money to Travel
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...


My #1 Secret to Saving Money for Travel!
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!!!
​
My #1 Secret to Saving Money for Travel!
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!!!)

​
My #1 Secret to Saving Money for Travel!
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. 
​
My #1 Secret to Saving Money for Travel!
​
My #1 Secret to Saving Money for Travel!
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!
​
My #1 Secret to Saving Money for Travel!
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!
(Psst! If planning a vacation seems scary or too complicated for you, message me about World Ventures, the travel club that me and my husband joined. They have thousands of super affordable "Dream Trips", all around the world, and all you have to do is pay one lump sum for the already planned hotels, activities, and sometimes even food!)

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!


Picture

​Peace Love and Vacationing
Jess <3


16 Comments
Kim Seghers link
5/11/2016 09:29:00 pm

Hi China! I love your blog and all your pictures. I just wanted to visit your lovely site.

Reply
China Barbie link
5/12/2016 05:07:43 pm

Thank you so much Kim! Love hearing this, it just brightened my day! :D

Reply
Psychic Nest link
5/13/2016 12:06:15 pm

Hi China,

Those are some great tips! Volunteering programs can be beneficial as well, vacation plus helping for a cause is awesome! Great photos and thank you for sharing your experience!

Zaria

Reply
China Barbie link
5/16/2016 02:49:30 pm

Hello Zaria, thank you so much for stopping by! Yes, I have done quite a few volunteer programs in the past, and they are always quite rewarding.
Thanks for the lovely comment! Hope to hear from you again :)

Reply
Espresso Ever After link
5/23/2016 01:45:58 pm

I love these tips! Saving money, while traveling is so helpful!

Reply
China Barbie link
5/23/2016 07:42:57 pm

Reply
Kate link
5/23/2016 02:05:58 pm

Such a great tip! This is the kind of thing that, once you said it, it makes perfect sense, but it isn't necessarily what everyone thinks about when it comes to actually doing it. Pinned!
(Came from Blogging Boost, by the way.)

Reply
China Barbieww link
5/23/2016 07:39:15 pm

I love how you put that Kate, that's perfect! Thanks so much for stopping in and pinning this! :)

Reply
Liberty link
5/23/2016 03:03:20 pm

Great post, if travel is a priority then it is definitely easy to save each month! I enjoyed reading this :) Tweeted!

Reply
China Barbie link
5/23/2016 06:09:47 pm

Thanks so much Liberty! Very glad you enjoyed it! :)

Reply
Haley link
5/23/2016 04:06:10 pm

Love love love this!!!

Reply
China Barbie link
5/23/2016 06:03:28 pm

Yay! So glad Haley! Thanks for stopping by! :D

Reply
Ashley link
7/14/2016 12:30:02 pm

What a great tip. It's so simple, yet most people probably never look at travel this way!

Reply
China Barbie link
8/1/2016 11:34:57 am

Exactly Ashley! That's what I was trying to do, give people a different way to look at it! Thanks so much for stopping by! :)

Reply
Gee link
7/30/2016 11:43:12 pm

Love your tips and your posts. Couldnt agree more, it's absolutely possible!

Reply
China Barbie link
8/1/2016 11:33:11 am

Gee, thank you so much! :D And I am so glad you agree <3

Reply



Leave a Reply.

      
    ​
    Picture

    I'm China Barbie!

    I'm a crazy world changing, diy-ing, globe-trotting, retro loving, old fashioned housewife!
    Love yourself, love others, and have fun. Let this blog help you do all of those!
    Find China Barbie on facebook.

    About Me
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
      
     
    Picture
    25 Science-Backed Health Benefits of Traveling
      
      
    ​​
    ​
    Picture
    Sponsor a Child in Jesus Name with Compassion
    Follow

    ---Popular Posts---

    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Chinese Beauty Secrets
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture

    Categories

    All
    Beauty
    Blogging
    Changing The World
    Christmas
    Diy
    Fashion
    Goals
    Guest Bloggers
    Halloween
    Happiness
    Health
    Inspiration
    Money
    Music
    My Favorite Posts
    My Life
    Parties
    Recipes
    Sponsored Posts
    Support Small Businesses
    Wedding
    World Traveler

    Archives

    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012


    Blogs I Love!
    -Well Being Secrets
    -Like a Local
     Travel
    -Salt Sand and Smoothies
    ​-The Wanderer's Chronicles
    -Bohemian Belladonnas
    -Confessions of a Scorpio
    -The Wanderlust Bug
    -Pamela Kurt
    -Stevie on the Move
    -Travlinmad
    -Green Issues
    ​-Travel Alphas
    ​-The Haunted Housewife

    -Not Now Mom's Busy
    -The Cooking Actress
    -Desire to Done
    -Blessing Manifesting
    -QuintesentialWelbeing
    -Eco Happy Life
    -Space for You
    -The Sacred Middle
    -The Get to Saving Blog
    -Triumph Freerunning
    ​

    Picture
Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
✕