10 Ways to Save Money for Your Trip Abroad

By Alicia Geigel on October 10, 2018

A major lifetime goal for many, including myself, is to travel the world. Ever since I was younger, I envisioned myself traveling to many renown places in the world, soaking in the landscapes and landmarks of each destination while making lifelong memories in the process. I have been very fortunate in my life to have traveled internationally twice, once with my parents and the other on a school trip. Traveling to multiple countries during my teenage years gave me such a sense of perspective and appreciation for different lifestyles and cultural traditions. The exposure to alternative ways of living gives you such a sense of freshness and freedom that in my opinion, is truly unmatched by anything else.

The unfortunate reality for many is that traveling costs way too much money. Often times people do not get the opportunity to travel for multiple reasons, whether it be work-related limitations or financial reasons. The truth is, most people just don’t have the money to expend a few thousands of dollars here and there to travel to their dream destination. It is truly a privilege to be able to do so, but that doesn’t mean that it is impossible to travel and live your dreams once (or twice) in a blue moon. There are plenty of ways to save money leading up to a big trip abroad, ones that can be easily overlooked if you don’t consciously think about the things you’re spending money on! Are you in desperate need to satisfy your desire to travel? Unsure of how to make it happen? Needing help in the money saving and management department? Check out these 10 simple ways to save money for your big trip abroad!

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  1. Make a Travel Fund: The first step in saving money for your trip abroad is to create a travel fund. Set aside a jar or even create a separate bank account to add all sorts of extra money and savings into. Over the next few weeks and months, you’ll notice how much money you’ve added. Additionally, you can make a budget and track your spendings/savings in a notebook!
  2. Spend Less on Eating Out: Many people like to eat out for a number of reasons, perhaps for convenience or maybe to have fun with friends. When going out is a frequent occurrence, you don’t really notice how much money you burn through on endless apps and $2 happy hours. Consider cutting back on going out on weekends or meeting your friend for drinks after work, you’ll notice that you’ll have more money to spend on traveling.
  3. Reduce Your Starbucks Intake: How easy is it to go out and grab a coffee every morning? Almost too easy. Some of us rely on coffee to get us through the day, while others drink coffee just because it tastes good. Regardless of why you love coffee, a few dollars a day for weeks at a time can add up without you even realizing it! Reduce your coffee intake to once or twice a week to see your savings pile up!
  4. Park the Car: Cutting back on transportation costs like Uber or Lyft can help add a few extra dollars to your wallet. Though it’s not possible for some of us to avoid driving into work or taking the train, just by walking or biking to some of your favorite places will save you tons in the long run!

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  5. Consider Ditching Cable: Plenty of us love the perks of having cable but despise having to hand over the hundreds of dollars to pay for it every month. Instead of paying for cable each month, think about getting another service like Netflix ($12/month) or Hulu (as low as $7.99) to cut on spending and save for travels!
  6. Sell What You Don’t Use: We all have clothes, old books or movies, or furniture that we want to get rid of but never actually get around to doing it cause, well, we lack initiative. Have a yard sale and downsize some of your unwanted belongings to add money to your pocket!
  7. Save Your Change: Loose change is a wonderful gift when you’re trying to save money. Check for loose change in your pockets, the bottom of your purse or backpack, underneath the cushions of your couch, in your car- everywhere! You’ll be surprised how much you can find!
  8. Pick Up an Odd Job: Try babysitting, cutting grass, or a similar temporary job to get some fast cash!
  9. Scout for Coupon Codes and Discounts: Shop smart with apps like RetailMeNot, Krazy Koupon Lady, and Groupon to save big bucks on the products you love!
  10. Research Travel Deals: Frequently check travel sites for deals on hotels, travel transportation and more!
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Though saving money for a big trip abroad can seem like an unattainable goal, there are plenty of small steps you can take to save a penny (or more) here and there! All it takes is some research and patience, and in no time, you will be living the dream of traveling all while saving money in the process. As always, good luck and safe travels!

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