After being away for about 16 months straight I finally made the decision to return home. It was a hard choice because there’s still so much more travelling I want to do, and so many more places I want to visit but, as always, there’s this little matter of money or rather, the lack of money. So in order to make my next trip insanely spectacular, I figured the best thing to do would be to come home, get a job and start saving like crazy.
But how? Saving money for travel can be pretty tough sometimes, especially if you’re used to living a certain way (or you live in an expensive city like London) or are particularly impatient and want to travel NOW like me. It’s definitely possible though – everyone who has ever gone travelling has done it, and you can too. I’m by no means an expert, but have managed to keep myself afloat whilst travelling for the last 3 years, so here are some of my best money saving tips to get you started and on your way to travelling the world.
1. Make saving your biggest priority.
You’ve decided that travelling is what you want to do, so it’s up to you to make that happen, and saving money is your first big step towards making your dream a reality. But in order to do that, it’s got to be your main priority…every time you go to do anything that involves spending unnecessary money (e.g. going to the movies or buying that coat you really want), just stop and think about how much more you are going to get from that money when you finally go on your trip.Yes, it’s going to be a bit boring sometimes, and yes, you’re going to need to work more and play less, but it’ll be worth it in the end when you’re sat on the sand somewhere, drinking a cocktail and staying in your own little beachfront hut for about £5 per night.
2. Stop eating & drinking out.
This one is a huge money saving tip right here! Have you ever added up how much you spend each month of meals and nights out? Well I promise you it’s a lot! Cook and pre-drink at home and you’ll save so much without even really thinking about it.
3. Find a job you actually enjoy (even if it’s just a little bit).
This one doesn’t necessarily help you save any more than in any other job, but it will help you from wanting to curl up in a ball and cry at that boring 9-5 desk job. Having a job you actually like will make your days go faster and you’ll feel like you’re actually doing something productive and helpful while you wait for your big adventure!
4. Travel to a country where you can get a visa to work, such as Australia, New Zealand or America.
If you’re chomping at the bit and raring to get out into the world, then why not get a working visa for a country like Australia (12 months, with an option to extend for another year), New Zealand (24 month visa), Canada (12 months) or even America where you could work at a summer camp* or even just find your own job and work anywhere in the country for a while. These visas will allow you to find work anywhere in the country at almost any job (there are a few restrictions on certain visas), so you can save and travel at the same time.
5. Work for free in return for food and accommodation.
I did this for 3 months on a farm in Australia and it was awesome! At first I was a little reluctant because I wanted to be earning money, but I soon realised that living and eating for free is basically the same as earning, because your biggest expenditures are usually rent and food anyway, so while you don’t have an income, you also don’t really have any outgoings either. Also, the job you find could be the best thing you’ve ever done too…bonus!
So that’s it, my money saving tips to get you going on your way to some epic adventures. Just keep your eyes on the prize and you’ll find that saving isn’t really that hard after all. If you’re interested to see how much you might realistically need to save for your travels, check out my Monthly Spending Summaries for an accurate account of how much I spent while travelling this past year in Australia and the USA.
*If you’re interested in working at summer camp, get in touch with 3 Adventures, an awesome company who will help you out with finding a job and getting your visa. And, yes, I do a bit of work for them as a recruiter, so mention my name and you’ll be helping me out too!
Roo Around The World 