How to Save Money and Travel the World

Tips to help you save money and travel more.

A lot of people keep asking me how I am traveling so much and most importantly how I have the money to do it. I would like to share with you guys some of the things that I have implemented in my life that have helped me save up for all my trips.

It really helps having a well-paying job, but even if you don’t have one and you still want to travel and see the world, you can try applying some of these tips that have helped me.

1) Don’t eat out! Eliminating eating out is a great way to save some money. Most people eat out 1-2 times per week or even more. We eat out about once a month. It usually costs about $20-$30 each time you eat out and if you do it twice per week, that adds up to 160-240 per month. This is enough for a plane ticket or even an Airbnb for almost one whole week, if you are not picky and buy cheap airbnbs. 

San Diego Adventure

2) Don’t go out Drinking! Drinking is really expensive. It usually costs about $8-$10 per drink. Most people buy on average 4-5 drinks, if not more. I am just being conservative. This brings us to a grand total of $32-$50 each time you go out. I am not even including cover charges. Even if you do that every other week, that is still up to $100 that you can save. 

Death Valley

3) Book cheap flights! I am not a very picky person when it comes to travel. My goal is to visit every country in the world. Even though I have some specific places in mind each time, I usually just book the cheapest flight I can find and save some money. I was not planning on going to the Philippines but the tickets were on sale, so I booked them. Being flexible can save you a lot of money in the long run. 

Pro Tip: I use google flights to find my flights. I input the dates that I want to travel and the airport I am closest to, then search and book whatever is on sale. If you live in San Diego, it might be cheaper to fly out of LAX and park your car for $12 each day. Also, Tijuana is great if you are trying to visit South America. Use the walking bridge to bring you right in the airport. 

 4) Book cheap accommodation! We usually use Airbnb to book our accommodations unless we find something cheaper on Expedia. Look at the reviews and make sure it is a safe and clean place to stay. Airbnb also provides a lot of flexibility. For our last 2 road trips, we booked our rooms the day of our stay and each was about $30. 

Paris Love

5) Bring a backpack instead of luggage. We each have very big backpacks that we bring everywhere and they fit more than a suitcase would. This will save you money in checking a bag. Travel light. 

6) Do not buy expensive things. We do not buy many things. Honestly, all we have in our house are the essentials. We only buy things we need, not want. Nick still has his old car from college, a 2001 red Honda Civic with a different color door because the original one broke and we didn’t want to buy another car yet. My car barely works as well, but I would rather spend the money on a trip. 

Boston in the Winter

7) Food Shopping Sales. A great way to save is to look at the sales. I only shop whatever is on sale that week and make food with the items I bought. Cut down on snacks, since they also can be costly. I spend about $50 per week on food and it is plenty to feed 2 people. However, do not buy things you will not eat just because they are on sale. 

Checking out the Red Woods

8) Stop spending money shopping. It is a very simple idea but a lot of money is spent each year on clothes we do not need. I have completely cut down on spending money on clothes, shoes, jewelry, etc. Even if I do go shopping, it will probably be Tj Maxx or somewhere cheap. I have realized that the more clothes I have, the more indecisive I become when it comes to what to wear. I eliminate the waste of money and time by not buying more clothes.

9) Credit cards. Opening the right credit card can help you immensely when traveling. It can pay for flights and accommodation. I always use my credit card for any purchase and then take advantage of the points. I mostly use Chase Sapphire Reserve. I have found this card to be the best one for travel perks, so take advantage of the $300 annual travel credit and the 50,000 bonus points when you first sign up. You have to spend 5k in 3 months to get the bonus so make sure you have those expenses. A good way to ensure you get the points is using your card to pay your rent. It also does not necessarily have to be credit cards. Every company has perks when you open a simple checking and savings account. Do not spread yourself too thin and make sure that you are no accruing debt on your cards. Be smart with your money. 

10) Travel for Work. If you work for a big corporation, or even a small company, there is always traveling that is happening, even if you do not know about it. Make friends with the right people and let them know that you are interested in traveling. Next time there is an opportunity, they will let you know. Use the destination as a base and explore the area around or take a flight somewhere close during the weekend before you head back. 

11) Invest. Investing can be a great way to make some extra money. This is risky but it has worked out for me in the past. A good return on an investment can help with the financial burdens of traveling. The stock market is very unpredictable and may hurt you so be cautious. 

Hanging out in the Philippines

12) Military Only* Take advantage of Military Discounts. For example, most credit card fees are waived and you can get into all national parks and historical sites for free. You have a great opportunity to explore the States and some of the most beautiful sites of the country for FREE. If you are renting a car and are under the age of 25, the hefty fee is waived. 

These are some simple things you can do to help you save up for your travels. I know that some of the things that we are doing may be a little extreme and not everyone would want to do the same, but even if you start small, it will add up to more money available to travel. 

I will make a part too of how to save money during your travels! Stay safe and happy traveling!

***This Post is not sponsored! These are just some of the companies that I use and love and hopefully can help you too