How I Save to Travel: Easy Money-Saving Tips

People always ask me this: How do you afford to travel so much? I don’t know how to save to travel – what’s you secret?

Travel can seem like an unattainable goal for many. Expensive and out of reach.

I used to think that too. I would spend all my money on clothes, shoes, and nights out so I didn’t have much left for travel. It was something that I yearned to do but I didn’t know how to reign in my spending to save money for travel.

When I moved to the UK in 2005 and actually started traveling I very quickly fell head over heels in love with my new travel-heavy lifestyle. Now that I knew first-hand how amazing it felt to travel, it gave me the push I needed to start seriously saving money for travel.

Over the years I have become better at it and have learned a few tricks to save even more money to travel. A lot of these budget tips are also tips to help you become an eco traveller. Saving money and the environment!

So here they are you lucky people, my tried and true tips on how to save to travel.

I fully understand that not everyone has the privilege to travel, and not everyone has frivolous expenses that they can cut because they are just trying to survive.

This post is for people who spend a lot of money on non-essential purchases and includes tips on how to cut down on these purchases so that more of their expendable income can be spent on travel instead.

How To Save Money For Travel

Food and Beverages

Drink Water

I tend not to buy expensive drinks when I am eating out – why pay $4 for a Coke when I can get water for free. If I am really craving that Coke I will buy it after my meal at a convenience store at half the price.

Don’t Buy Water

I also don’t buy bottled water. I live in a country where the water is safe to drink so I fill up my water bottle and keep it in the fridge.

The obsession with bottled water has created dire environmental impacts and a lot of bottled water is just tap water with the chemicals taken out anyway (or so I have read).

I would rather just get it straight from the source. Helping the environment and my wallet. An environmentally conscious way to save money for travel.

If you are concerned about the chemicals added to tap water, invest in a water filter pitcher – they are relatively inexpensive, and I love my Brita water filter pitcher.

I also love my LARQ self-cleaning and purifying water bottle at home and when I’m traveling. It is insulated to keep your water cold, it cleans itself, and it kills 99% of bacteria.

Cut Down on the Expensive Coffee

Although I love my vanilla lattes and flat whites, I restrict myself to only having 1 – 2 per week – if that. This way it is a treat and I really enjoy it when I do have one. I drink coffee using my Aeropress the rest of the time, and I cut expenses when I am already on the road by taking it with me on trips too.

Cut Down on Drinking

I don’t drink too much these days and when I do go out for drinks, I stick to the cheaper options such as beer, cider, house wine, or single-shot spirits. I also take advantage of happy hours.

As much as I would love to go crazy on the cocktails, I really don’t want to be drinking my money away, I would much rather be saving money for travel.

Use Vouchers for Dinners out

I buy a lot of deals off Groupon and Living Social, mainly for dinners and lunches out at drastically reduced prices. This is a fun way to try new restaurants you maybe wouldn’t have otherwise too.

Socialize at Home

Sometimes, instead of going out for dinner, we have friends over for dinner instead. If the weather is nice we have a BBQ with people bringing their own meat and booze. It makes for a cheap and fun night and is a great way to save money for travel.

Take a Lunch to Work

When I was working in an office, I took my lunch to work almost every day. Leftovers, canned soup, homemade salads – they may not be the most exciting lunches but they saved me at least $40-$50 per week and that money adds up quickly.

Catch Ups Over Coffee

Coffee or brunch dates with friends are a lot better on the wallet than drinks and dinner and you won’t be hungover the next day! Cafes are generally a lot quieter than bars so you can actually hear what your friend is saying too – win-win!

Eat More Vegetarian Meals

Meat can be expensive so I eat vegetarian meals about half the time. This definitely saves me money on my food shop.

You don’t need to eat meat every day for a well-balanced and healthy diet – in fact, a lot of research has found that you shouldn’t be eating meat that frequently.

Choose a More Affordable Supermarket

Depending on where you live, there are usually a few options in regard to supermarkets, and choosing the most affordable option will very quickly save you a ton of money.

In the US, shop at Aldi if there is one near you and compare prices at other supermarkets to see what is the most affordable option for your needs.

Choose Food Deals

I always look out for deals when I’m supermarket shopping and buy expensive meat such as chicken breasts when they are cheaper because they are nearing their expiry date. Buying in bulk and freezing is a great way to take advantage of these deals.

Retail

Buy Second-hand

I buy a lot of my stuff second-hand these days. I buy books at charity shops and second-hand bookshops as well as swapping with friends.

I shop for clothes at charity shops, markets, and online at websites like Poshmark and Facebook Marketplace.

I even furnished my last apartment with second-hand furniture from an online marketplace. Use Craigslist in the US and Canada, Gumtree in Australia and the UK, and Trade Me in New Zealand.

Buy During Sales

When I do buy my clothes and shoes new, I definitely take advantage of sales. You can also sign up to become members of your favorite stores as there are usually members-only bargains to be had.

Free Activities

Living in Colorado, my favorite activities are mostly free – hiking in the mountains, exploring mountain towns and cities, and hanging out with family and friends.

The Janet Jackson song is right: The best things in life are free.

Cheap Nights at the Movies

I love going to the movies but I would never pay full price. Instead, I go on cheap nights. Being a member of the cinema can also reduce costs or you can earn points towards a free movie ticket.

Buy Refurbished and Seconds Items

My current laptop was reduced massively because it is slightly used although it has been completely refurbished and has a one-year guarantee. My phone is an older model purchased new so it was also a fraction of the price of a newer model.

I recommend Back Market for refurbished laptops and phones.

Dye My Own Hair

I don’t dye my hair anymore, but when I did, I dyed my hair dark which was easy to do myself. You can buy a good quality hair dye and redo it every month. Easy and cheap.

Have an Easy to Maintain Hairstyle

I have a hairstyle that is easy to maintain. I have only got simple layers so I am able to go to an inexpensive barber to get my hair trimmed rather than an expensive stylist.

It isn’t rocket science so the $20 haircut from Supercuts will do just fine and saves me the $40+ I could be spending.

Travel

Sign up for Alerts from Airlines

To keep on top of airline sales I have signed up to get alerts for sales. You can also sign up for websites like Scott’s Cheap Flights and Secret Flying which publish incredible deals and error fares.

I also use the Hopper app and Google Flights to watch prices on flights I am looking at and I get alerts when the price has changed.

Book Flights at the Optimum Time

I have read a lot about the best times to book flights. Apparently, the best day to book is Tuesday or Wednesday and the optimum time period to book is 6-8 weeks before your trip unless your trip is over a holiday period.

These tips have served me well so far and I have nabbed some amazing deals.

Camping

We camp a lot, and Colorado has some great free-camping spots as well as tons of affordable campgrounds. It doesn’t have to cost much to get the supplies you need either, especially if you wait for the sales.

Target and Walmart both have a good range of camping items at affordable prices and check Facebook Marketplace for second-hand items too.

Finance

Air Miles Credit Cards

When I lived in Sydney, I had an air miles credit card and I managed to rack up quite a few points as well as the 50,000 I was entitled to after spending $1500 in the first three months.

My goal was to pay for a return flight from Sydney to Hawaii purely on air miles which I did, as well as miles paying for two short-haul (but expensive) flights within Alaska.

I also got free travel insurance for any trip up to 6 months long and the annual fee was waived for my first year.

If you are interested in learning more about the world of miles and points, check out Frugal Flyer.

I really need to build up my credit here in the U.S. so I qualify for all the great options here because travel hacking is massive in the U.S.

For my Kiwi readers looking for an airpoints card, then this is a good site to compare all rewards credit cards.

High-Interest Savings Account

It is definitely worth opening a high-interest savings account and the more money you have in there, the more it is worth it.

If you are comfortable, you could also look into investing some of your savings in the stock market or in cryptocurrency – I have investments in both.

Create a Budget

This is possibly the most important tip to saving money – keeping track of it in a budget. I have been budgeting my money since I was about 12 years old. I still write everything in my notebook that I carry everywhere – outgoing expenses, earnings, and savings per week.

I have also had Excel spreadsheets in the past which I am thinking about starting up again. If it’s all written down I find it so much easier to reach my savings goals.

Use Cash Instead of Cards

Another key way to control your spending is to only get out the money you are allowing yourself to spend and leave the cards at home.

When I am not traveling, I allow myself a set amount of spending money per week – this includes coffees, dinners and drinks out, and entertainment. I get it out in cash on Sunday and that way I easily track how much I have spent.

Do a Tax Return

This is definitely worth doing in Australia and in other countries with a tax-free threshold too like the UK and New Zealand, especially if you haven’t worked the full year. 

Make Extra Money

Sell Stuff Online

I haven’t done a lot of this lately but I have sold books, DVDs, concert tickets, old backpacks, and furniture online before, mainly on eBay and Gumtree in Australia. I have also sold old clothes and even my wedding dress on Poshmark in the US.

It is a fantastic way to get rid of stuff that you don’t use anymore as well as make some extra cash for your travel fund.

Get a Second Job

If you have the time to spare, you could look into getting a second job. I have worked second jobs as an event waitress and bartender, indoor paintball receptionist, babysitter, and copywriter among other things alongside a 40-hour-a-week office job.

Participate in Market Research Focus Groups

This is an easy and flexible way to make extra cash. You are generally asked your opinion, either in a group setting or one on one, on various topics. It could be about your thoughts on a new ad campaign, a new product or a revamped website.

Sometimes you could even be taste-testing products. Focus Groups are such a great way to make some extra cash, as long as you are chosen that is. In the US you usually get between $80 – $150 for 1-2 hours.

Also, there are a lot that are in the evening so you can still participate even if you have a 9-5 job.

Rent Out Your Spare Room on Airbnb

I rented out my spare room when I was living in Sydney and loved it – I even became a Super Host! We hosted travelers from Australia and from around the world, as well as making some extra cash, allowing us to save money for travel. 

When I have a home again I definitely want to be an Airbnb Host once more.

Transport

Buy a Weekly or Monthly Pass

Whenever I move, I always work out the most cost-effective way for me to get around on public transport. Whether it is single trips, weekly or monthly passes, whatever the cheapest ticket is, I will get it.

Walk to Work

You can save a lot of money on transport when you walk to or from work a few times a week. 

In London, I used to save money on my weekly transport pass by only catching the train to Zone 2, rather than the expensive Zone 1. I would then walk the 20 minutes along the river to my workplace located in Zone 1. This saved me over £50 a month which definitely added up.

Exercise

Walk Everywhere

As mentioned above, I walk a lot. This is enough for me to stay fit and healthy. I would much rather be outside enjoying nature than stuck inside a stuffy gym. Wouldn’t you?

Cheap Exercise Classes

In the past, I have nabbed a number of great deals on Groupon and Living Social for hot yoga passes and short-term gym memberships at a fraction of the regular cost. There were also some great introductory trial offers for yoga studios and gyms that I took advantage of too.

If you don’t mind moving around a bit, this is a great way to save money on exercise classes, and ultimately, save money for travel.

So those are all my tips and tricks on how to save to travel!

These methods have worked well for me and have definitely helped me a lot to save money for travel over the years. Some of these methods might strike you as being too extreme or maybe not extreme enough.

Everyone is different and you have to find ways to save money for travel that are right for you, figuring out what sacrifices you can make without taking the joy out of your everyday life.

Too many people scrimp and save, sacrificing joy for future travel which is all they can think about. No wonder they can’t wait to leave.

I think that the most important thing you can do is allow yourself to have a life while you are saving money for travel. Life is to be lived and enjoyed, all of the time, not just when you are traveling.

Don’t cut out all of the things that give you joy now to save money for travel – to serve your future happiness. Just cut down on your spending while still treating yourself to the things that make you happy now.

Because you can never know what is going to happen in the future.

Do you think that any of these tips on how to save money for travel can help you save? Do you have any other tips that you would like to share?

If you enjoyed this post, check out some of my other travel tips:

• 21 Best Tips To Help You Become an Eco-Traveller
• Top Budget Travel Tips For Saving Money While Traveling
• How to Become a Housesitter: 10 Best Housesitting Tips
• Ultimate Lightweight Annapurna Circuit Packing List
• 10 Best Carry-on Packing Hacks for Stylish Travel
• How to Live an Amazing Life When You’re Not Traveling
• How I Save to Travel: Easy Money-Saving Tips
• The Essential Slow Travel Guide For 2023

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