We are often asked how we manage to travel so frequently. The answer is we save for it. We are very focused on ways to save money for travel, it is our goal and we strive to achieve it. When we started travelling we were only on a modest wage, so saving for our trips took a lot of effort and determination to stay focused on our goal.
With the help of Frequent Flyer Points that we had accumulated through an airline loyalty program and our weekly grocery shopping, we set about looking for other ways to accomplish our dream.
- Here are 30 ways to save money for travel, I hope they will inspire you.
- 1. Balance a Budget
- 2. Keep Track of Expenses
- 3. Show Me the Money
- 4. Open a Savings Account
- 5. Shop around for credit cards
- 6. Limit coffee shop and take away coffee
- 7. Re think the boozy nights out
- 8. Get wise about where you buy alcohol
- 9. Reduce takeout meals
- 10. Limit restaurant meals
- 11. Hit the clothing sales
- 12. Buy a sewing machine
- 13. Visit the thrift shop
- 14. Make your own lunch
- 15. Cook meals in bulk
- 16. Plant a vegetable garden
- 17. Buy vegetables at the local market
- 18. Buy groceries in bulk
- 19. Buy supermarket brand products
- 20. Shop at a supermarket chain that is tied into a Frequent Flyer loyalty program
- 21. Write a shopping list and stick to it
- 22. End of season sale
- 23. Go to garage sales
- 24. Shop online
- 25. Use the library
- 26. Sell Unwanted Items
- 27. Car pool
- 28. Catch public transport
- 29. Try walking instead
- 30. Ride a bike
- Summary of 30 ways to save money for travel
Here are 30 ways to save money for travel, I hope they will inspire you.
To see how far we have travelled by following these and other easy strategies check our article about our around the world trip in business class using frequent flyer points.
1. Balance a Budget
Setting a budget is something every household needs to do and I am always surprised at how many don’t. By setting a budget you are taking control of your finances and you will see how far every dollar is going.
2. Keep Track of Expenses
OK, so you have your budget and you have calculated where your money is going, now it’s time to keep track of expenses. Delve a little deeper and work out what areas of your budget can be cut back to save money.
3. Show Me the Money
There are many ways to save money, one way is to put loose change in container or piggy bank. My favourite place was a hanging pottery bowl, after a while it got so heavy with change that it crashed to the floor and broke.
4. Open a Savings Account
Open a separate savings account that is devoted to travel, this way you will see your money grow and it won’t be mixed up with everyday savings. Contributing to a Christmas Club account takes the stress out of Christmas finances.
5. Shop around for credit cards
Shop around for credit cards that offer the lowest interest rates. Some cards come with Frequent Flyer point sign up bonuses. These bonuses will add to your Frequent Flyer point tally. Just remember to use a degree of self-control when using credit cards and pay them out as soon as the bill comes.
6. Limit coffee shop and take away coffee
Have you ever stopped to think about how much money you spend on coffee shop and take away coffee in a week? Go and work it out now, I bet you will be surprised! Now just imagine how much you would save if you cut out or cut back on take away coffee, in a year.
Don’t Panic! You can still have your coffee, just bring it from home, or like us, use a coffee drip filter that sits on your cup, just buy your favourite ground coffee and you’re ready to go.
7. Re think the boozy nights out
Limit the boozy nights out. We all know going to a pub or club is fun, but let’s face it the cost of a night out is over the top. Don’t get me wrong, I like a drink as much as the next person, just rethink the way you entertain. Instead of spending Saturday night at the club paying a fortune on drinks, do more entertaining at home.
8. Get wise about where you buy alcohol
Don’t buy alcohol from expensive corner shops, instead use bulk liquor stores. Keep an eye out for special deals and save money by buying in bulk, just remember to drink responsibly.
9. Reduce takeout meals
Reducing takeout meals is not only good for the pocket but good for the waistline. Homemade meals are healthier and quicker to prepare than you think.
10. Limit restaurant meals
Limit the restaurant meals to special occasions. Have a restaurant meal at home, decorate and set the table, cook a simple but delicious meal and dress for the occasion. This is so much fun and you save on taxi fare too.
Ask yourself if you need that latest addition to your wardrobe, if you need it fine, but don’t impulse buy.
11. Hit the clothing sales
We all do this but it needed to be added, I just love the bargains of a clothing sale.
12. Buy a sewing machine
Invest in a sewing machine and indulge your creative side. I must admit that I haven’t sewed for a few years now, but I used to make not only my children’s clothing but my own. We all dressed nicely and saved money at the same time.
13. Visit the thrift shop
Pick up a bargain and be unique. I am hooked on thrift shop clothing and have found many treasures and it always gives me a bit of a buzz when I’m complimented on an outfit that cost me $5.00.
The thrift shop came to the rescue when we took our teenage children to New Zealand. We bought all our cold weather gear from the thrift shop at a fraction of the cost of a department store. This worked well for us, living in a subtropical climate the clothes were never used again.
We found there are many ways to save money on food. From where you buy it to how you prepare it, you will be surprised how much money you can save by just changing a few daily habits.
14. Make your own lunch
You will be amazed by the amount of money you can save by making your own lunch. Boring! I hear you say? No, it doesn’t have to be.
There are so many sandwich options and if your local deli makes your favourite, find out the ingredients and experiment with your own, you will be surprised at how easy it is.
For fillings that don’t keep well such as tomato, bring a whole tomato and slice it on to the sandwich just before you eat. Ingredients such as tuna can be kept in a separate container and added to the bread at lunchtime to stop the bread going soggy.
Salads are a healthy option and with so many different variations never boring, just remember to keep the dressing in a separate container or the lettuce will be limp and soggy.
All these options can be kept fresh and cool in cold packs until lunchtime.
Home made soups are a nourishing lunch in the winter and can be kept hot in a vacuum flask or reheated in a microwave. Using up leftovers not only saves money but makes for a quick and easy lunch.
15. Cook meals in bulk
Devote a day to cooking (Yes, I know it’s a chore but remember your goal).
This is where ground beef (minced beef) is king, not only versatile but one of the cheaper cuts of beef. I buy the ground beef in bulk and split the beef into different portions to make dishes such as spaghetti bolognaise, lasagne, chili con carne, cottage pie, savoury beef and hamburgers.
I cook large pots of soup and a variety of stews, that are nourishing for lunch or dinner. To make the dishes healthier I load them with chopped vegetables and use low fat cheese and milk.
I make family size pans of each dish and divide them into single portion containers before labelling and freezing them. Then I don’t have to cook dinner for the rest of the week, just choose your favourite and reheat in the microwave.
16. Plant a vegetable garden
I’m not a gardener so if I can do this anyone can. Vegetables taste better when they are home grown and there is nothing more satisfying than watching the seeds you planted break through the earth and grow.
17. Buy vegetables at the local market
Buy vegetables at the local farmer’s market. These vegetables are usually fresher that the vegetables at the grocery store and cheaper because they are in season.
18. Buy groceries in bulk
I bulk buy the cooking ingredients I use regularly. Items such as canned tomatoes and kidney beans have a long shelf life and are handy for whipping up a quick meal when those unexpected guests drop in.
Cleaning products and toiletries are another item I buy in bulk; they are always going to be used and you have a stash on hand when you run out.
19. Buy supermarket brand products
We have done this for years; most supermarket brand products are as good as name brand products. Just try them, you can always go back to your favourite name brand products if you don’t like them.
20. Shop at a supermarket chain that is tied into a Frequent Flyer loyalty program
If available sign up for a supermarket awards program. This is where we accumulated most of our frequent flyer points that enabled us to travel. We started this loyalty program when our children were young and with a family of five the rewards points soon mounted up.
This supermarket chain also offered points for fuel, which also added to the points we gained. It was easy, just sign up for an awards card and swipe at the checkout.
21. Write a shopping list and stick to it
This is important, impulse buying adds $$$ to your budget. Sit down and plan your meals for the week, write down the ingredients needed for these meals and add any other household items that need to be purchased. Add a few treats but make sure that once you hit the supermarket you stick to your list.
There always comes the time when we need those big ticket household items. It’s easy to go to the nearest department store and get the latest gadgets, but keep in mind that there are ways to purchase the same or a similar product for less.
22. End of season sale
Buying household items at the end of season sales are a great way to save money. Buying an air conditioner at the end of summer or a heater at the end of winter does take discipline but you will find massive savings in doing so.
23. Go to garage sales
I love garage sales. The saying, one man’s trash is another man’s treasure is true. We have purchased all kinds of items, from decorative pieces to electrical appliances. Just remember to get there early to get the best bargains.
24. Shop online
Shopping online is another favourite, sites like eBay and Gumtree are idea for grabbing a bargain and for comparing prices. Being a book lover I have been a fan of Amazon for years and have watched them branch out from books to an astounding at the range of products.
25. Use the library
Every bookworm needs to join the library. I joined the library years ago and find it a great place to “chill out”. It’s not just about books, you can also check out games, music and movies.
26. Sell Unwanted Items
We all have items we no longer need, instead of throwing them away, sell them on Facebook Market place, eBay or Gumtree or have a garage sale. We did this in a big way when we packed up our house to move to Thailand.
27. Car pool
This is a great way to save money on fuel, not only do both parties save money but you have a helping hand in saving the environment.
28. Catch public transport
I know a lot of people cringe at the thought of catching public transport but if your city has an efficient public transport system, it is sometimes quicker than sitting in traffic and saves on overpriced parking fees.
29. Try walking instead
Walk to work, it’s a great way to get fit and a perfect way to ease into a hectic day. An early morning walk on the weekend, makes you feel great to be alive.
30. Ride a bike
Riding to work or for leisure helps you stay fit and best of all it’s free. With cities recognising the importance of bike tracks, bike riders have never been safer.
Summary of 30 ways to save money for travel
There are many more ways to save money for travel, such as house sitting. We have only touched on a few.
We hope this has inspired you to start saving for your travel dreams. The path takes discipline and determination but once you get started you will be surprised at how much you can save and the rewards are unforgettable.
Do you have any travel savings tips? We would love to hear about them, feel free to leave a comment.
