It is no secret that travel is expensive.  Taking a trip is a luxury that many people can’t afford because they don’t take the necessary steps in order to prioritize saving money towards travel.  However, instead of telling yourself you simply can’t afford it, try saying “It isn’t a priority” and watch how your attitude will shift.

The truth is that you can afford what you decide you can afford.  If you make saving for a trip a goal and priority of yours, then everything will start to shift its focus in that direction.  Here are some tips for saving for a trip.

Budget

Try to put some effort into making sure that your expenses are balanced. Creating a budget for yourself so that you know exactly where your money is going each month is a great way to take the reigns of your finances and stay on track.

A budget doesn’t have to be 100% adhered to.  Sometimes it can simply be a loose guideline to help remind yourself that you shouldn’t go over an estimate number in a certain area of your life.

Put Aside 10% Of Each Paycheck

One of the simplest ways to save effectively and quickly is to agree with yourself to put aside 10% of your paycheck each time you are paid.  This way you can make sure that even though it isn’t a set number, you will at least be putting away something each time.

10% may not seem like a lot, but over time it can start to accumulate to a nice chunk of cash.

Sell What You Don’t Need

If you have a closet full of old ski’s, shoes you will never wear, or anything else that you are pretty sure are just gathering dust forever, consider having a garage sale or putting things online to sell.

This not only frees up your house of clutter but can be a couple extra hundred dollars in your pocket up to thousands depending on what you are selling. As soon as you make this extra cash put it into your trip savings immediately so that you aren’t tempted to spend it.

Get a Side Job

Sometimes the best way to save is to get a little side job which goes entirely towards savings. Try to look for something that is a few hours a week and won’t disrupt your normal routine too much.  Ideas could be anything from babysitting, to product testing.

Sign Up For Travel Deal Alerts

Often travel websites will offer alerts about travel deals and updates.  This is a great way to stay on top of cheap tickets which could save you hundreds otherwise had you bought it at a normal price.