Ever since I was a little girl, I’ve always had an interest in traveling. Fast forward a few years, I’ve had the opportunity to travel to Florida, Chicago, Amsterdam, London, and Paris. With college breaking your bank, it can be hard to even consider traveling anywhere. However, your dream trips should be more than just a dream… you should make them a reality. Once you adjust your spending habits a bit, you’d be surprised to see how easy it actually is to save up your money.
1—Create a realistic budget and stick with it. A part of growing up is learning to prioritize and cut certain things out of your life. If you’re a foodie, there’s no need to completely stop eating out. It is, however, a good idea to reduce how many times you order takeout to save extra cash almost instantly. Grab your planner and start calculating how much airfare, lodging, and meals would cost and plan your budget accordingly.
2—Make money from home. They say one man’s trash is another man’s treasure. Whether if you’re living on or off campus, cleaning out your closet is a must before any semester. As the seasons change, it’s likely that your style has changed, too. Instead of just throwing away that jean jacket you haven’t worn in over a year, why not sell it online? Apps like Depop and Mercari are perfect for getting rid of all your things from technology to clothes and accessories.
3—Shop smart. As I mentioned earlier, you don’t have to give up everything you love doing just to be able to travel. If you’ve been eyeing a pair of shoes that are a little more than you’d like to spend on them, wait until they go on sale or try to see if the store offers student discounts. Fashion repeats itself, so why not check out your local thrift store? You’re bound to find a bunch of trendy and unique items there for a fraction of the price. Now that’s what I call balling on a budget.
How do you plan on saving up for your next trip? Let us know in the comments below!