How to Save Money for Travelling Without Being Cheap
Are you tired of posts on how to save money always end up advising you to not get that cappuccino at Starbucks or stop eating out with your friends? I get it, not all of us is willing constantly focus on cutting back on every minor expense, especially if that also affects our social life. Here are 7 simple but more important things to focus on in order to secure that holiday abroad (without saying no to your friends when they ask you to meet up over coffee).
1. Be Flexible. If you have a list of destinations that you want to go to instead of a single one, you will save tons of money by finding the best deals at the time. If you can be flexible about taking off and coming home, you will have to spend even less.
2. Automate your savings. Arrange so that you pay a fixed amount every month to a specific account for your travel budget. The withdrawal should be done as soon as your salary gets transferred to your bank account. Now you are free to enjoy treats without feeling guilty about every small expense!
3. Change your credit card. A lot of credit cards offer points that can be redeemed for air fares. Take a few minutes and check out what kind of deals you can get. This little time well spent will continue to save you money for years ahead without you having to cut down on anything.
4. Travel with friends. This will usually help you save money on transport, accommodation, and by simply being able to share stuff.
5. Use couch surfing. Yes there is this thing where you can stay at someones house for free. Why not use it if you are on a tight budget? By doing this, you may also find yourself getting new friends and perhaps some inside information about the destination that you wouldn't otherwise know about.
6. Stop smoking. Ok, it's like beating a dead horse, and I'm not going to preach to you on this one. However, this is the one "treat" that you should actually skip. As you know.
7. Have you considered the neighbour country? A lot of the times you may have a certain country in mind. But maybe the neighbour country can offer a similar experience the initial dream destination for a fraction of the price. Think Greece instead of Italy, Sweden instead of Norway, and Vietnam instead of Thailand and you may be able to manage with a smaller budget.
