5 Easy Ways to Save Money for Your Dream Trip in 2018
#wanderlusting? Let's turn "it must be nice" into "that was freaking amazing!"
I ain't gonna beat around the bush – saving money can be hard work.
But it doesn't have to! You just need to get the hang of it, and it'll become second nature.
For me, it's a lot like trying to lose weight (bleh, I know). It takes conscious effort, and there's no magic "easy" button. You've got to put in effort every day – by either adding exercise or resisting to eat that doughnut at work. It takes dedication over time to see significant results.
But when you DO put in the work, it is SO worth it!.
Saving money is no different. The end result is sooooo worth the effort! Especially when you are saving towards something fun – like your dream vacation!
Here's 6 money-saving tips to fund your next vacation:
1. Set a saving goal
When you have a tangible goal, you know what you're working towards. Are you new to saving? A big goal (like an overseas trip) might seem unattainable. Not to worry – start small! Pick a weekend trip somewhere, or a local event you want to go to. Then save to make that one thing happen. Once you have success with that, try for something a little bigger. Small victories help to get you into the saving habit!
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2. Keep your saving goal "top of mind"
Being serious about saving is kinda like being on a diet – you have to keep it in the front of your mind to be successful.
Really simple tricks can work. Keep a sticky note on your bathroom mirror to keep your saving goal visible everyday. A photo of your destination, or a phrase works great!
Another method (that works great for me) is when I'm faced with spending choices, I ask myself "do I really need this? Or could this be a meal/ souvenir/train ticket/ something really amazing on my vacation?"
More often than not, I say "no" to spending in favor of my vacation.
This is especially hard when you want to buy cute new outfits or accessories to wear on vacation. Do yourself a favor: STOP YOURSELF. Trust me girl, you don't need another cute sundress. You need that money for lunch in Venice! Or better yet, to buy a cute sundress that's so much cooler – because you bought it in Venice.
3. Make saving automatic
Small savings can build up over time. Certain apps can "round up" your debit card transactions to the nearest dollar, and put that "extra change" into a savings or investment account. Every little bit helps!
Try the Qapital App. It has options for you to create all sorts of savings goals, and "rules" on how and when to deposit money. Want it to transfer $5 to your savings account every time you hit 10k steps? You got it!
Other savings apps to try: Acorns, Chime, or Digit
Don't trust an app? No problem. Most banks' online tools allow you to set up automatic transfers from checking to savings. Try getting in the habit of depositing a set amount each time you get paid. Your savings will begin to grow before you know it.
4. Lifestyle choices
Take a good look at all your recurring expenses and ask yourself, do I really need this? Do I even use this? Can I live without this? Or could I live with cheaper version? Here's some examples of what I mean:
Takeout & Coffee
Blah blah blah, that old boomer gripe about millennials "stop buying coffee and you can buy a house," bullshit. We all know it's not quite THAT easy. But the pandemic has made us all a bit more prone to calling in takeout rather than cook another meal at home.
The reality is, takeout is expensive. It's WAY cheaper to make food (and coffee) yourself at home. Next time you're feeling lazy and reach for your phone to order DoorDash remind yourself – I want to go on vacation! And make yourself something at home instead.
And you CAN save money on coffee at home. Better yet, if you've got a fancy Keurig machine, stop buying those freaking expensive k-cups! Get yourself a more sustainable Reuseable K-Cup and save a ton.
Streaming Services
Time to do an evaluation….how many streaming services do you have? Do you really need them all? Could you save some money and cut one or two?
And if you still have old-school cable, what the hell are you doing? Cut the cord! You don't need 1000 channels of crap when you probably only watch 4. Save the money!
Bottom line – could you watch a little less TV if it meant you could go on your dream vacation instead? Probably.
Other subscriptions:
These days there's a subscription service for EVERYTHING. It's super easy to forget you're auto-paying for a subscription service you no longer use. Or forget to cancel after that free trial period ended. A great way to save some cash is to do an audit of all your automatic subscription payments. Scour your bank statements if you can't remember. Then cut out anything you don't actively use, or could live without. Be honest with yourself (and ruthless.)
Do you really use that gym membership? Or that fitness app? Do you actually need that razor or tampon subscription? Trim the fat. And SAVE for your vacation!
5. Sell some stuff
We've all spent a ton of time in our houses over the last two years. Chances are, you noticed a few things around your house you don't need or want anymore. Sell it!
Clothes, shoes, old phones, furniture, home decor, books, you name it. There's a way to get a little cash if you're willing to put in the work.
Here's some great ideas:
- For clothes: Try thredUP or Poshmark, or go for the classic eBay. P.S. My sister has made some serious cash scouring thrift stores and re-selling on eBay. (Check out her shop here.)
- For furniture & home decor: Try Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist
- For your old phone: Try Gazelle, Decluttr, or Buyback Boss
- And if your crafty, try selling your art on Etsy!
Navigating postings, shipping and meeting people to sell your stuff is a pain in the bum. But could add up to some serious cash if you put in the time.
6. Get serious about saving
Lastly, saving isn't easy. It takes some determination to stick with it.
But if you want to make that dream vacation a reality, you've got to get serious about it.
Remember these saving tips:
- Keep it in the forefront of your mind, keep it VISIBLE daily.
- Say "no" to activities that will sway you from your goal
- Tell your friends and family what you are saving for. Sharing your goals helps to keep you responsible for them, AND it helps them understand why you say no to money-sucking activities.
- Weigh every purchase against your vacation opportunity.
- Make some small sacrifices (like eating out less, watching less TV) to get it done.
Going on your dream trip IS NOT impossible. Just get busy saving! I believe in you.
So….where are you going next?
Work. Save. Travel. Repeat.
Source: https://peeptravels.com/saving-tips-dream-vacation/
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