Tips to Make Your Travel Dreams Come True

You don’t make a million, a hundred grand or even fifty grand in income. 

You’re not a trust fund baby and live paycheck to paycheck. 

How do you go from traveling the world in your head to traveling the world for real?

You fancy yourself an avid traveler with a bad case of wanderlust in your heart, but your current reality makes it lucky for you to carve an hour out for errands during a work day much less a weekend to drive to the beach.

What’s on your travel bucket list? Where do you need to go in your lifetime? 

Let those conventional vacations take a hike while you take traveling the world from a dream to reality.

Replace “Someday” With Now

“Someday” you’ll travel the world. 

Someday those student loans will be paid, your boss won’t be breathing down your neck, and you’ll have more time. Right now is not an option.

That. Is. Not. True. 

But, if you keep thinking that way, your travel dream will remain exactly that - just a dream. 

Replace someday with now, and begin taking steps toward turning your dream into a reality. 

The only way is forward.

Cut Out Excess Spending + Save More

Cut out excess spending to save more money and pay back existing debt. 

Make sure your bills are paid on time or as up-to-date as possible. 

Your first step is to stay afloat, so potential travel debt doesn’t add to any financial burdens.

What extras can you do without? 

Is your weakness coffee? Make your coffee in a French press and skip Starbucks. 

Get a savings app like Qapital or Digit which will round up or charge yourself an extra buck for specific guilty pleasure purchases and apply this to savings. 

These apps may come with fees, but they allow you to check your spending and save when you give into guilty pleasures.

Cut Out Unnecessary Bills + Pay Less

Ditch cell phone or internet contracts that charge exorbitant late fees and contract cancellation fees. 

Go prepaid instead and have a set amount to draft automatically from your account. Automatic payments will ensure on time payments for your necessary bills. 

Some competitors will offer to pay the contract cancellation fee if you move services, but ask questions to learn the terms of the new provider before you make decisions.

Cut cable, and watch your favorite television shows online by getting the HBO app, Sling TV, Hulu, Roku, Netflix or another alternative service.

Do you really need a landline and a cell phone? Pick one. 

When traveling overseas, get a SIM card for the country you’re visiting instead of incurring higher fees with your existing service. 

Another option is to use apps like WhatsApp for texting and video on your current plan without the overseas fees.

Would you save more by having your groceries delivered or do better by meal planning and buying ingredients every week yourself?

Do an audit of all of your expenses - you very well may have more unnecessary bills than you thought!

Develop Traveler Sleuthing Skills

Think of yourself as a detective who needs to develop traveler sleuthing skills. 

Deals appear and go in the night, and there are golden rules to learn to get around without spending too much.

Research your destination, and think like a local. 

Do you really need a fancy room? 

What if you couchsurf in San Francisco instead, or book a bed and breakfast in the off-season (with free, homemade breakfast provided)? 

Do you have a valuable skill that you can barter?

Cashing in travel points or credit card rewards is helpful. 

Getting started is easy: you earn sign up bonuses by making a single purchase, but others set a time limit or set cash amount to qualify.

Using a prepaid card for your discretionary travel purchases can also be helpful to stay on budget. 

Don't forget to check out free concerts on the street, tours and festivals to attend!

When booking your transportation and lodging, use rate saver sites such as Google Flights or Which Budget to get the best rates by searching with flexible dates and using budget airlines.

Know Your Reasons

Decide that travel is intrinsic to your happiness and make that priority. Forget why you shouldn’t go and honor the reasons why you should travel. 

What are your reasons for traveling the world?

Your answers may not be what you expect. 

Travel will open you up and teach you lessons about the world and yourself. 

You might discover a passion for helping others or may decide to change careers or move to a new country. 

You’ll see the bigger picture, and it’ll make you question everything. 

Know your reasons for needing to travel right now and honor them.

Circumstances hold you back from your travel dream, but simple changes will conquer these obstacles. 

Cut back on what’s unnecessary to make this necessary dream come true. 

Spend your money on experience instead of Starbucks. 

With a little travel sleuthing and determination, anything is possible. 

Now is the time.