8 Ways to Save Money So That You Can Travel More

Over the years a lot of people have asked me how in God’s name I am able to afford to travel so much. A lot has to do with finding good deals on flights and staying with friends in many destinations, but the majority of the saving portion comes from making small financial decisions that add up to a big reward. Don’t get me wrong, I love going out for dinner and drinks with friends, but it’s important that it’s in moderation. I truly do consider every purchase I make, big or small, because I know that my financial choices have a direct effect on my travel budget. The main thing to consider here is priorities. My priority is getting out there and seeing the world, so I cut back in other areas in order to do so. Here are 8 things you can do to start saving money to travel more:

1. Skip the nail salon.

I understand the draw with not only the experience of getting your nails done, but also the after effect of a perfectly polished mani. I agree that it can truly make you feel happy and put-together, but I bet you don’t realize how much money you actually spend per year at the nail salon. Even if you get one pedicure ($30) and two gel manicures ($40) per month, you’re looking at $70 a month, $840 per year. That’s almost the cost of a round-trip flight to Europe. For the ladies I know who go weekly, you’re looking more at the $1,000 a year range!

2. Stop buying a coffee every weekday morning.

I know that most people need a little caffeine in the system to jump-start their day, and stopping by Dunkin’ or the local coffee shop is most convenient, but it’s costing you more than you realize. Let’s say you stop for a small $2 coffee Monday through Friday. That’s $40 a month, or $520 a year. And if you get the fancy latte for $3, that’s $780 per year! It may be worth it to give yourself an extra 20 minutes in the morning in order to make your own coffee. (Or you can train yourself to go without caffeine –it’s really great not having to rely on anything to wake you up in the morning!)

3. Give up bottled water.

There are certain situations where you need to buy a bottle of water because you forgot your reusable, or you’re traveling through regions like Southeast Asia where it’s not safe to drink the tap water. I get it. But for the most part, bottled water has the exact same qualities and properties as tap water and is a waste of money and plastic. Start using a reusable water bottle that you can carry around with you on errands, at the office, fill up at the airport etc. You’ll save some serious $$ and will also help cut down the use of plastic bottles.

4. Bring don’t buy your lunch, and try to limit going out to dinner to once a week.

Sometimes cooking is not an option. We’re only human, and we’re going to order the Chicken Tikka Masala for lunch on occasion and go out to enjoy a social night out of dinner and drinks with friends. The key here is that it must be in moderation. I have worked with some people who order lunch every single day. Unless you’re going to Subway or McDonalds, the average decent lunch in Boston will run you about $8-$10. Let’s say you order lunch three times a week and go out to dinner and drinks twice each week, which will cost you anywhere from $30 to $50. Let’s chalk it up to $40 per night out to dinner with friends. 8×3=24, 40×2=80, putting you at $104 for only 5 meals! That’s $5,408 a year for only 5 meals per week!!!! I usually plan out my meals for the week and buy everything in one trip at the grocery store in order to cut back on food costs. Even if you spend $100 on food for the week at the grocery store, that’s an average of $4.76 per meal each day. If you bring that food cost down to $70 a week by being smarter about what can get you more meals for less, that brings you to an average of $3.33 per meal each day – giving you some wiggle room to go out to dinner and buy lunch out once that week.

5. Keep the shopping to a minimum.

Having worked at a Fashion company for the past three years that predominantly employs females, has really opened my eyes to how much money the average female aged 23-35 spends on clothes, accessories and home goods. Even if you’re a bargain shopper and buy two $20 items a week, that’s $160 a month, $2,080 a year! I barely spend money on clothes because I love to thrift and consignment shop, and I also take advantage of any situation where a friend is cleaning out her closet (special shout-out to Stephanie Shriber and Courtney Morris for providing me with half of my wardrobe). If fashion is your jam and you’re willing to spend the money, that’s fine – it’s your prerogative. It’s just a good place to cut back if you’re trying to travel more!

6. Stop taking so many Ubers & taxis.

I despise nothing more than spending/wasting money on Ubers and taxis. It’s definitely necessary sometimes, but in a place like Boston, it’s almost entirely unnecessary when the public transportation can pretty much bring you to any place in the city that you want to go. For about $80 a month, you get unlimited rides on all trains and busses excluding express busses and commuter rails. Although sometimes frustrating and a little time consuming, it’s worth the savings in the long run. If you take a $10 Uber to and from work or to and from a bar or restaurant just four times a week, you’re looking at $160 a month on just FOUR rides, which is double the cost of unlimited public transportation.

7. Start using a credit card that offers travel points, immediately.

I can’t stress enough how vital this has been to my travel budget. I have earned over $1,000 worth of flights in the past few years from opening a credit card with travel benefits. I put every single purchase that I can on my Amex and then pay it off in full every single month, never carrying a balance. This way, you get max points for max travel benefits. You’re going to be spending the same amount of money regardless if it’s cash or debit, so why not get rewarded for it in free flights?

8. Get a second job if you can.

It’s not an option for everyone. You may have a dog, or husband/wife, or a sick parent to tend to where spending your extra time making money is just not an option. Heck, you simply may just not want to. But this has been the single most instrumental piece to saving money in order to travel over the years. For the past three years out of college (and much before) I have waitressed two to three nights a week after my 9am-5pm office job. Not only are you making money from working extra, you’re also not out spending money. If you’re working in a restaurant that offers free or discounted meals, then you’re also saving money on buying groceries for those few nights of the week.

These 8 tips for saving money may not seem reasonable or possible for you right now. The main thing you have to ask yourself is “what are my priorities?” By following these 8 tips, I’ve been able to save thousands and use that money towards countless trips. If I can do it, so can you!