Walking the Cape of Good Hope
You may want to travel, but just don’t see how you can afford to do so……..you see your friends travelling (or not because they also claim travel poverty) and wonder how they manage to put any money aside for their dreams.
So how to budget for travelling? Well first of all, think about what kind of travel you want to do. I offer small group travel, and often travel in small groups. Whether you travel on your own, or in small groups, there is a lot of information and choices online. If you don’t feel comfortable doing the research, by all means use a professional, but stick to whatever budget makes you feel comfortable.
So first step- decide a budget then make the saving process a priority. Actually consider your present expenses and income, and decide what you don’t need, and how you can get more money, if needed. You must choose travel- which might mean not drinking that $10 glass of wine while out on the town a couple of times a week, cancelling your cable or Netflix and watching tv/ movies online or renting from the library, walking more instead of driving, buying that $40 purse instead of the $140 one, etc. etc.
The point is most people spend more in their discretionary budget than they need to! And if you match your travel to your budget- no point in planning on 5* travel if you are on a 2* budget for income- you will be surprised at what you can set aside- which brings me to a second point. Set up an automatic savings account which removes money from your chequeing account and puts it into a savings account right off the top……something you can’t get at easily! If the money is not in your chequeing account you cannot spend it!
Watch for sales– which means you must be as flexible as possible in terms of timing. Why feel that you must go everywhere in high season- why not consider the shoulder seasons, or even low season? Fewer crowds mean fewer lineups and usually more choices. June in England? Why? High season…….consider going in April or early May. Take your umbrella and sally forth like the natives. If your only choices are the North American summer months, consider somewhere that doesn’t attract as many people at that time of year. Find a travel professional you trust, and allow them to watch for deals in your budget once you have decided on some possibilities.
Consider using an “air miles” credit card, or at least if you travel a lot, a card without high international bank charges. At the very least, take out your maximum amount if needed in order to minimize bank charges when you get home.
Live cheaply when travelling. Eat at small local restaurants, rather than “tourist joints”, or buy snacks to eat in your room. Consider staying in small locally run hotels, or in hostels if this is something that appeals to you. There are many wonderfully located hostels with single and double rooms now and en-suite bathrooms. This does not mean putting yourself in danger……or staying with some rowdy party types- again do your research!
Remember- you are creating memories and experiences! If you do have the money, don’t be afraid to spend it on something which is unlikely to come your way again! You only live once…….
