Are you dreaming of that next big trip, but are convinced that you will never be able to afford the kind of travel you’re craving? I felt the same way, but then I began to really think about ways in which I could save money and started planning for my time abroad. Here are a few of my suggestions:
Get into cooking!
Although cooking isn’t really a fun task for some people and others just don’t have the time, I have come to enjoy it quite a lot.
It’s a great way to be more in control of what you’re putting into your body and it can save you quite a lot of money that you would otherwise be spending by eating out or ordering in!
Personally, my cooking knowledge used to be very narrow, until little by little, thanks to YouTube and especially practice, I started to improve significantly. I can now enjoy its benefits which luckily, include a heavier wallet.
If you wish, you can do weekly meal planning so you’ll know exactly what foods you’ll need. Making a weekly plan also ensures that you’ll only need to go to the supermarket once a week.
Share your apartment
One of the greater expenses we have is the rent of our house or apartment.
The good news is, you can always get someone to help lighten the burden and also keep you company, like a friend, family member or acquaintance that’s looking for a place to live.
If you have an extra room in your home, renting it can be a great solution and can save you up to 50% of your living expenses.
Airbnb has proven to be a lifesaver for many people when it comes to bringing in extra income.
Bye, bye landline!
Do you still have a landline?
Thanks to cellphones, this is an item or service that is slowly becoming obsolete.
Getting rid of it is unlikely to affect you in any major way, other than the fact that you’ll make that monthly bill disappear!
You also may be able to avoid those annoying robocalls. Need I say more?
Eradicate impulsive purchases (yes you!)
We all do it. We say we’re going to the mall with our friends for ice cream and come back with everything but.
We’ve spent hours on Amazon or eBay (because we were bored) and somehow ended up with a full cart and an account balance of $3.50. I’ve found lists very helpful when it comes to keeping my shopping in check, this way I know exactly what I need and I avoid walking around aimlessly, tossing things into my cart.
As far as online shopping, the same rules apply but honestly, I simply avoid any commercial site like the plague when I’m trying to save some cash.
Cut daily expenses
Your daily coffee, cigarette, soda, candy, snack or any other thing you buy during your day-to-day activities can add up to more than you’ve bargained for.
These small daily purchases can be deceiving but luckily most of them can be avoided by simply managing your time and using your handy dandy willpower.
Try getting up a few minutes earlier than usual to make some coffee at home instead of heading to Starbucks every morning. Seize the opportunity to quit any daily habits like smoking instead, bring snacks from home to school or work.
You will be surprised to see how much of your hard-earned money stays in your wallet. You will simply be making an exchange for things you could do without.
Do you have any other good tips for saving some cash for traveling? Share them with us in the comments below.
