How to Save Money for a Backpacking Trip
Photo from Flickr by Thomas Hawk
Recently I was asked “How do you afford to go travelling all the time?” Simple… I don’t afford it, I just don’t spend my money on things that aren’t travel. Planning a backpacking trip for a lot of people never gets further than the first financial hurdle; it often seems like a pipe dream that will cost a fortune or require you to either be a superstar English teacher, offer translation services, or learn to be a blogger first. NOT true! Saving for a backpacking trip can be as easy as not eating out too often or thinking twice about buying that new jacket. I’ve always been an awful saver, my whole life I’ve pretty much spent more than I’ve earned every single week… but that’s never stopped me backpacking.
How to Save for a Backpacking Trip in 10 Simple Steps
1. Leave your money in the bank. Cash burns a hole in anyone’s pocket and notes soon become spare change… and spare change soon becomes chocolate bars. Open a savings account and have your wages, allowance or gambling winnings paid into it. Transfer over only what you need. With most banks this can take 2-3 days, removing the temptation of impulse buys.
2. Learn photography or a hobby. It will take up your spare time and stop you over-planning and wasting money on stupid things you don’t need, like water purification tablets.
3. Smoke less, drink less, eat out less, stay focused and keep your eyes on the prize.
4. Work overtime if you can. If you’re earning, you’re not spending.
5. Walk or cycle everywhere. It will get you fit and save money on transport.
6. Write down every penny you spend and every penny you save. Doing this helps you to stop and think about your cashflow.
7. Set a tight weekly budget and stick to it. It’s great practice for when you finally get on the road.
8. Pick three luxuries you can’t live without and forget the rest. Get back to basics.
9. Make a rough plan of where you want to go and for how long. Break the plan down into sections and save for each chunk of time. Doing this will help to keep you motivated as each time you get a step closer to that backpacking dream.
10. The biggest motivator to save for a backpacking trip is buying the ticket, be it plane, bus or train. When you have a deadline you’ll be amazed at how good you can be at saving the cash you need.
|
Share the Love
|
Tips, Advice & Jobs
|
No related posts.
Great tips Aaron. I started walking to work when I was saving for my first big trip. Not only did it save me money but it got me used to walking long distances once I started travelling.
Impulse buys is a big one as well. It’s amazing how all the little purchases add up. I good pre-trip exercise is to start going through all your possessions and get rid of all of the stuff you don’t need. How much of that stuff was an impulse buy? If you can sell it then even better.
You couldn’t be more right James, selling off stuff that you probably never needed in the first place will get your head in the right place, the extra money will help to motivate you and the lack of “stuff” will put you in good standing for the simple life.
For me it’s buying that ticket – once that’s bought I’m a saving MACHINE!
Great tips! Although I’d be wary of #2…my photography hobby has cost me a whole lot of money as I keep wanting new equipment and classes
I know tell me about it.. All I wan’t is prime lenses now! Although it did keep me out of trouble and spending money for a good few months… Perhaps instead of photography – reading!?
great tips!
I’ll start it now
Great stuff… Glad to be of service!
Number 6 is so important. I did it for a week and realized that I could cut back on a lot of unnecessary expenses.
I swear by number 6, out of all of them that’s the one that I see the most results from!
[...] How being boring can help you go backpacking Aaron | BeforeYOUBackpack.com has written 18 articles. Aaron is a happy go lucky backpacker, blogger and wannabe hippy. He spends his time in front of a computer or dreaming about climbing a mountain. He also heads up things at HappytimeBlog.co.uk [...]
[...] much less glamorous than people expect… I’m just tight. As I’ve mentioned before, I have some pretty good tactics (as far as saving goes) already worked out and I team that with a passionate lust to haggle. My [...]
[...] Norfolk, UK. He recommends that any student interesting in traveling should read his article “How to save money for a backpacking trip.” Other recommended posts: “How to keep your backpack safe” and “Backup [...]
I think it is important to have a plan set up. Budget how much you will need for the trip and set up a weekly amount that you can save. For me knowing what I need to save and how long it will take me to get there on my current habits will reduce what I spend weekly so I can get to my goals quicker
[...] land Ian’s episodes of Globe Trekker where what got me through the long and arduous process of saving for a backpacking trip, I stayed in and watched the TV so I wouldn’t be spending any cash. You can follow Ian as he [...]
Those were good tips. I actually already started the one about writing down what you spend! My only problem is I’m a teenager planning on backpacking after high school. I can’t get a job because of school and I don’t know how much I’ll make working over the summer! >.<
You could try internet marketing! There’s a number of guys under 20 years of age that are making good money online. It could also help you stay independant after you graduate from high school and you’ll have plenty of time for traveling!
[...] quickly became obvious that she couldn’t afford to be travelling. I was on a budget too, but had saved some spending money, whereas she had virtually none. It prevented us from doing really basic things, like eating from [...]
[...] on the knowledge – Share the wealth. Leave a comment or use the contact form!Further reading:How being boring can help you go backpackingA girls guide to South East AsiaLearn how to take better holiday photos //LinkWithinCodeStart var [...]
[...] use the contact form!Further reading:Using travel blogs to plan a tripGlobe Trekking with Ian WrightHow being boring can help you go backpacking //LinkWithinCodeStart var linkwithin_site_id = 304326; var linkwithin_div_class = [...]
[...] & Travel Stress-free 11. How To Get From Your Desk To All The Places You Want To Travel 12. How being boring can help you go backpacking 13. The Clock is Ticking. How to Save Time and Money Booking Your Travel 14. Pre-departure [...]
[...] Saving in 10 simple steps [...]