Comments on: 4 Ways to Save Money Now So You Can Travel Later

By: Tom

Tom — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 16:54:26 +0000

Little tip. Canned soup is cheap but most of it isn’t healthy. There’s a lot of em that are rammed with sugar and MSG.

By: Christian Haugen

Christian Haugen — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 12:45:39 +0000

That’s the spirit Liz

By: Liz

Liz — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 03:59:10 +0000

Yea, this summer before college, I’m going to work everyday, all day, and at night to relax, I’ll just read. I’ll hang out with my friends at church and whenever I don’t get enough hours. Whatever money doesn’t go to rent and groceries will go to saving for travel.

Today I started a “ban” list of extra snacks I’m no longer allowing myself to buy (cookies, chips, drinks), and I’ll just have to settle for eating the canned soup at home. I’ll save money and be healthier all at the same time!

By: Christian Haugen

Christian Haugen — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 02:50:12 +0000

The more money you have when you go travelling the more experiences you can afford. A lot of people do although seem to think that travelling is expensive, it’s really not! If you’re not used to 5 star hotels and pampering travelling can be done in cheap and still comfortable enough ways. I spent 4 months working around the clock to save up money for my trip, and it’s so worth it…

By: Luke

Luke — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 05:04:58 +0000

substituting movies for guidebooks* is what i meant

By: Luke

Luke — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 05:04:27 +0000

Agree with most, but not necessarily with substituting guidebooks for movies. Maybe it’s just because I’m a film major, but I find many films (especially ones that take place in exotic locales) can be much more informative, pleasurable, and motivating than a guidebook. And the impact movies have on you (especially “road” movies) can last a lot longer than the amount of time a guidebook keeps your interest, especially since, in my opinion, the best guidebooks can be found for free, online, written by people like you. Thanks for the article!

By: Craig

Craig — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 00:35:55 +0000

People who are living the ratrace have to spend large amounts of cash to “make” themselves happy. Plasma screens and sports cars are just distractions to allow people to forget how boring the other 99% of their life is. When you’re living on the road, experiencing new and amazing things you don’t need to spend money on fake happiness – you already have it. Happiness doesn’t come from your circumstances, it comes from taking action. No matter what circumstances your actions lead you to, if you stop and get complacent they count for nothing.

By: Derek @ Live Uncomfortably

Derek @ Live Uncomfortably — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 16:51:41 +0000

The best strategy I’ve found is something a lot of financial experts talk about: pay yourself first.

Have have a set percentage of your paycheck go directly into a high yield savings account.

That way you wont be tempted to spend it.

By: Byteful Traveller

Byteful Traveller — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 09:07:18 +0000

I find that the prospect of travel seems to expose the limiting beliefs at work in a person very quickly, whether they be financial blockages, acceptance blockages, or something else.

You are so right. A small sacrifice of something now, something that has a price, will be repaid by gaining unique experiences during travel that expose you to the truth and beauty of this world, and that is priceless.

By: Madeline

Madeline — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 21:54:42 +0000

So true!!

Since you asked, I do have a few more tips:

It seems I always spend money on clothing, shoes, and bags just before I leave for a trip (I don’t have the right day pack, wicking clothing or whatever). So I’ve started keeping lists and asking for those items for my birthday and Christmas. I am going to India this November and I already have several items I’m going to be asking for from REI for my birthday!

Another thing: when calculating the cost of a trip, people often forget that there are savings from not being at home. My Dad calculated that with the money he doesn’t spend just on groceries and heating bills at home in Edmonton Canada, he can easily travel in South America. That doesn’t include the flight. And of course he can only turn the heat down, not off, but over all, it actually cost him less to be down there.

Another tip: we buy EVERYthing on credit cards for which we get airline points.