Tips to Saving Money for Your Next Vacation
Colosseo di Roma, Rome, Italy. Photo by Ryan Harrison (June 2017)
Save For Your Next Vacation!
Recently, I have been taking a lot of trips as you all can see from social media. Many ask me how I do it, how do I save all this money to go on trip after trip after trip? Short answer – there are 2 ways I get there. First, as a travel agent, I receive huge discounts on my own travel, just as much as my clientele. In addition, I make commission off my own trips. Yes, I basically get paid to travel. If you travel a lot and do not necessarily need an agent to do everything for you, you should consider becoming an agent yourself – just for the discounts, and to make money back on your own travels! If this sounds like you, then we need to talk!
Now I said there are 2 ways I achieve this. #1 is being a travel agent. #2 is I work very hard and very smart to save money here and there so that I can afford these trips at the end of the day. I find small ways that eventually add up in big ways. It is honestly nothing special, it is just about being consistent with it and keeping that overall goal in mind. I am here today to discuss some of those ways to save for a great vacation!
How to Save Money
Money Saving Calendars. These calendars help you put little by little aside without killing any of your paychecks. Whether it be $1+$1 each week (Week 1 = $1, Week 2 = $2 Week 3 = $3, Week 4= $6…), or a specific amount per week (I would suggest $5-10), in one year you will have saved up a few thousand just by putting money aside.
You do not need Starbucks or Dunkin’ every morning! Yes, you know who you are. Picture if you did not spend that $5 on your Iced Coffee or Caramel Mocha Latte every day? That could add up to hundreds, maybe even hit the $1000-mark if you do it religiously. Love em’ so much, try cutting back once or twice…see what I am getting to? Hint: look right above!
Eat & Drink out less. Happy hour after work everyday is nice, but so is sitting on a beach in the Caribbean with a drink in your hand, that ends up coming with the resort. Let’s face it, alcohol can add up at the bars or clubs, and even at the restaurant with the overpriced food. Sometimes, you can go for the night in, prepping food you have already bought at the grocery store and drinks you purchased at the liquor store. Do this every now and then, it is extra money saved!
Pennies, nickels & dimes. Every penny does matter! They are not as valuable, but they can add up in the long run. Any time you pay in cash (yes, people still do this!), you know you just worry about the bills and disregard the change they give you by throwing it in the cup-holder of your car, or leaving it on the table as if it’s a hand-out. Saving coins from all purchases will add up in time; I am not saying it will add up to your entire budget for the trip. But, it could alleviate some of the stress of saving that amount. Remember, every little amount counts.
Reduce nonessential subscriptions. Gym membership, Netflix, Hulu, YouTube, Spotify, SoundCloud, Amazon Prime, subscription boxes, magazine subscriptions, food delivery subscriptions, upgraded services…Probably missed a few but you get the point. That is a lot of money out of your pocket on a monthly basis. Did you ever stop and ask how many of those you actually use enough to make the fee worth paying? I doubt it is all of them. Shedding some of these subscriptions for a few months will save you some of the money that can be put towards the trip.
Work Part-time job or extra hours. Not the most glamorous recommendation – that is why it is last. But, a Full-time work week consists of at least 40 hours (some extra for commuting of course). There are 168 hours in a week. Another 40-50 is spent sleeping. You still have about 30-40% of your day available to you. Work some overtime from here to there or pick up a small side job for some extra income. You know it will all be worth it when you’ve reached your ultimate vacation destination.
Now, these are just some of the ways to save up for your next vacation. I can honestly say that I have tried the majority of these, and they actually work! It is what allows me to travel so frequently and make sure my trip’s are luxurious and extravagant. You make the effort to take a 5 or 10-dollar bill and put it in a safe or jar labeled “Vacation Savings”, instead of to Starbucks for your daily dose of caffeine. You make a small sacrifice by eating at home and inviting the boys (or girls!) over instead of going out with friends and dropping $100+ that night on bar tabs, Ubers, and late-night fast food runs. You pick up a part-time job working a shift or two and put the majority of the money away for the vacation. It is the little things that will add up, and you will be sitting well on your tropical island with a margarita in hand, or skiing through the Swiss Alps, or cruising through the Mediterranean. It will be worth the price of admission!