Love travelling? Of course you do! The vast majority of us love nothing more than packing a bag and setting off on an adventure. Perhaps it’s because it reminds us of the nomadic lives that our ancestors used to live, or maybe it’s just because it’s fun. Either way, we’re all a lot happier when we have a flight to look forward to.
Alas, while we may love travelling, our bank accounts do not. Financial issues are usually the number one reason for staying at home, and that sucks. Happily, it’s a problem that can be overcome with a little tweaking and creative thinking. We’ve run through some handy tips that’ll lessen the financial burden of travelling below.
Think Long-Term
Want to travel the world tomorrow? Best of luck to you — you’ll need it. Want to travel somewhere exotic in twelve months’ time? That’s a lot more achievable. Even though travelling is more accessible than ever before, it’s still mostly a luxury, and you’ll need time to raise money for those flights, hotels, and excursions. If you saved £25 a week for one year, you’d have £1,300, which is a decently sized travel fund to get started.
Uncover Untapped Income
There’s nothing more depressing than wanting to travel, looking at your bank balance, and realising that it’s simply not an achievable aspiration given the current state of your finances. However, while you can’t magic cash into your bank account, you can uncover untapped money that you can then put towards your travel fund.
For example, what about renting out a room in your home, exploring whether you’re eligible for personal injury or PCP claims, or even asking your boss for a raise? Any one of these things could be worth thousands of pounds, at which point you’ll have the option of taking not just one travel adventure, but several.
Look at Cheaper Destinations
Want to spend a week living it up in a five-star New York hotel? Then you’ll have to be prepared to spend a huge chunk of cash. Visiting cheaper destinations is a smart way to increase the amount of time you spend away from home. And happily, cheaper doesn’t mean ‘worse’; in some cases, those off-the-beaten-path destinations aren’t only more affordable, but they’re also more exciting. There’s much to love about the thought of exploring Kazakhstan or Mongolia, for instance.
Look for Remote Work
Most people have two obstacles that stand in their way of travelling the world: money, and their work. Finding remote work removes both of these issues. It’s much easier to afford travel expenses when you can work while you’re there. It can take a little bit of time and effort to transition to a digital nomad life, but the payoff can be huge. When you live and work on the road, the whole world is open to you. Plus, this can actually be a cheaper way to live, since you won’t have to spend all the usual costs of home (rent, car, etc.).
