Well this is the worst part, right?
Saving money to travel always takes longer than we want, but even if you can travel on a tight budget you always need some money and for that (unless you have rich parents or win the lottery) you need to take time to save.
Right now I'm saving for some travels and I can assure you it ain't easy! The expectations, the wait, and having to watch your money savings grow so slow kinda makes you desperate and if you don't watch out, it will drive you crazy!
Since I'm still at University, and my schedule is horrible cause I have classes pretty much all day long, it gets hard to find a job, specially in Portugal where apparently no one can get a job now with all the crisis and crazy government laws in the country. But in about 2 weeks I'll finish classes and I'm already looking for summer jobs (as many as I can find) to win some money and be able to save it. So where is my money coming from? How do I increase my travel savings?
Currently I have two or three things I do:
So basically what you have to do is put your mind on your goal. If your goal is to travel and you need money for it, the best and only way is to stop wasting money on things that aren't necessary. I'm not saying you should stop leaving the house in order to not spend money, but you can avoid spending so much! Instead of going out to a club and pay 10€, go to free bars and drink a beer with friends! Instead of always buying lunch at university, school, or work, take your lunch. Instead of always having season clothes (is it REALLY necessary??) just look for old cute ones in your closet! Don't drive around so much - gas is expensive and you spend more on it than you realize!
I know it's hard, believe me...I KNOW! But what if you think about what this small things can bring you in the future? What if you taking lunch from home, not going out that much, not having new season clothes and not driving your car that much, eventually get you to visit Europe by the end of the year? Or go a little bit far and travel to Asia? Doesn't that sound good? To me sounds great and worth it, so I'll keep on doing it until I have enough to go where I want to.
Saving money to travel always takes longer than we want, but even if you can travel on a tight budget you always need some money and for that (unless you have rich parents or win the lottery) you need to take time to save.
Right now I'm saving for some travels and I can assure you it ain't easy! The expectations, the wait, and having to watch your money savings grow so slow kinda makes you desperate and if you don't watch out, it will drive you crazy!
Since I'm still at University, and my schedule is horrible cause I have classes pretty much all day long, it gets hard to find a job, specially in Portugal where apparently no one can get a job now with all the crisis and crazy government laws in the country. But in about 2 weeks I'll finish classes and I'm already looking for summer jobs (as many as I can find) to win some money and be able to save it. So where is my money coming from? How do I increase my travel savings?
Currently I have two or three things I do:
- I have an agreement with my mother and she gives me 1€ everyday - seems stupid, but step by step you go far!
- I got my priorities straight - The money from my allowance isn't much, so I need to get as much from it as I can, so I don't spend it in unnecessary things: I always take lunch from home to Univerisity (saving around 4€ each day of the week) and I don't spend money on afternoon snacks - I used to spend ALL my money on this...ridiculous! Basically: cut on the expenses you don't need!
- Every extra money I earn I put it directly into my travel savings, no questions asked!
So basically what you have to do is put your mind on your goal. If your goal is to travel and you need money for it, the best and only way is to stop wasting money on things that aren't necessary. I'm not saying you should stop leaving the house in order to not spend money, but you can avoid spending so much! Instead of going out to a club and pay 10€, go to free bars and drink a beer with friends! Instead of always buying lunch at university, school, or work, take your lunch. Instead of always having season clothes (is it REALLY necessary??) just look for old cute ones in your closet! Don't drive around so much - gas is expensive and you spend more on it than you realize!
I know it's hard, believe me...I KNOW! But what if you think about what this small things can bring you in the future? What if you taking lunch from home, not going out that much, not having new season clothes and not driving your car that much, eventually get you to visit Europe by the end of the year? Or go a little bit far and travel to Asia? Doesn't that sound good? To me sounds great and worth it, so I'll keep on doing it until I have enough to go where I want to.