I often get asked how I managed to save up enough money to travel for an entire year. Today, I’m finally sharing my ultimate how-to guide for saving money to travel. With my personal experiences and best tips & tricks, you can start creating your very own travel fund. So, if making a big trip is something that’s been on your bucket list forever, these 5 steps are gonna be all you need!

I knew I wanted to make a big world trip long before I hopped onto that first plane to Dubai in November 2018. I also realized it was gonna take a while for me to save up thousands and thousands of dollars, especially since I was still in university full-time. So, I started slowly changing my lifestyle in order to be able to save up enough. Looking back, it was the following 5 steps that made all of the difference.

This guide is based fully on the ways I saved up enough money to travel for a year. They worked incredibly well for me, and I know they can do the same for you! So, without further ado, let’s jump into my ultimate guide for saving money to travel!

1. Create a savings plan

The first thing you need to figure out for yourself is how much money you’re gonna need. Think about the trip you want to make. How long do you want to travel for? Which countries do you want to go to? Are those countries expensive to visit? What are the main expenses you’re going to have?

This part of the process is really important, because you’re gonna have vastly different spending patterns in different countries. For example, I spent much more money in 3 weeks in Hawaii than I did in 2 months in South-East Asia. It’s hard to know exactly how much you’ll need, of course. But it’s very helpful and motivating to get a rough idea.

You can create your savings plan any way you like. Make a spreadsheet on your computer, write it down in a notebook or do something completely different. The most important thing is to find a way that works for you.

Tips on creating a savings plan:

Though Hawaii was super expensive, I was so glad I saved up enough to visit this incredible destination!

2. Cut back on your expenses

Now that your savings plan is made, the first thing to look at are your current expenses. It is perhaps the most vital part of my guide for saving money to travel, because it’s such an easy way to find extra money to set aside each week or month.

Personally, I’d say I’ve done alright in terms of saving for most of my life. I’ve never been a girl that blows an entire paycheck on clothes within a week of getting paid. However, I definitely do like shopping and am 100% guilty of buying stuff I don’t need (way too often). I realized that saving up enough money for a big world trip was gonna require a bit of a lifestyle change. So, that’s exactly what I’ve done.

I’m not gonna tell you that it was fun to be mindful of my spending habits and cut back for a longer period of time. However, know that it’s worth it. Simply think about all the things you could do during your travels with the money you’re saving now. Want to buy a $40 top? You could also take one or two amazing day trips in South-East Asia for that same amount!

Tips for significantly reducing your expenses:

guide for saving money to travel
Ultimate Maui highlight

3. Try to increase your earnings

There’s no way around it: if you want to save up money, you’re gonna have to earn some. This means you’ll need to have some sort of job. It may be a job you love, or it may not be. In any way, you’ll have to bring in some dollars to put into your travel fund. If you don’t have a job yet, go out and find one that allows you to work plenty of hours. If you’re already employed or have some sort of income, see if there are ways you can increase your earnings.

Remember that it’s likely gonna take some hard work and long hours. After all, it takes effort and time for everyone wanting to do this. (Okay, unless you’re super-rich to begin with, but let’s assume you’re not if you’re reading this.) I’ve worked my butt off for two years balancing getting my bachelor’s degree and working a demanding job on the side. Looking back, I probably tried doing way too much, but not doing so just wasn’t an option for me. I knew what I was gonna use the money for and I made it happen.

Tips to earn some extra money:

guide for saving money to travel
Earning extra money to save up for your travels may be hard, but it’s so worth it!

4. Put your money in a savings account

This step is short ‘n sweet: put any money you’re saving into a separate savings account. That way, you won’t access it as easily as you normally might. This prevents you from splurging your saved money on unnecessary things in a moment of weakness. 😉 Oh, and even better if you have a high-interest savings account. Every little bit helps!

5. Stay motivated

The final step in my guide for saving money to travel is to stay motivated. I know from experience that there will be times when saving is gonna be hard. Saving up a lot of money is not something you accomplish overnight, unfortunately, So, there’ll likely be periods when you just don’t feel like putting as much money aside. Or you’ll have months with a lot of expenses or less income, and you’re ready to throw in the towel.

For those cases, it’s crucial to keep yourself motivated. Think of things that will increase your motivation in bad times and implement them in your life. Again, there really is no right or wrong way of doing this. It’s all about finding something that works for you.

Ideas to keep yourself motivated:

Highlights Curacao

Start now!

Let’s face it: as helpful as these tips have been to me, this guide to saving money for your very own travel fund will only work for you if you take action. Don’t wait for next Monday, the start of a new month or New Year’s. Believe me – I’m a sucker for starting new habits and resolutions on days that seem perfect to do so. However, realize that the moment is never gonna be perfect and you’ll always encounter new obstacles. Commit yourself to start today and get to work on your savings plan.

And there you have it, my ultimate how-to guide for saving money to travel. These 5 steps have helped me massively to save up for my world trip and will do the same for you. Do you have any tips that work well for you? Let me know in the comments!

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