Add to your travel fund with these money-saving tips
Planning a trip but low on cash? Here are some ways to add to your travel fund.
1. Pay yourself first
Set up a savings account and automatically deduct money from every paycheck. Select the highest amount that you won’t miss, whether that’s $20, $50 or even $100.
2. Cut way back
Another way to save some money is cut back on other regular expenses. And setting up a clear budget to see where your money is going is a good first step. Set up an account on a budgeting site like Mint. From travel to dining out to entertainment, the site splits your spending into different categories so you can see how much is going where. For instance, if you’re spending $4 a day on coffee at work, realize that is $80 a month you could be spending on travel.
3. See a penny? Pick it up
Paying with cash will help you to more closely monitor your money, and at the end of the day you can empty all your loose change into a jar. Collect the change for a few months and you might be surprised by how much you’re able to save.
4. Sell your stuff
In addition to eBay and Craigslist, the app Letgo is a marketplace where you can buy or sell nearly any item you’ve got gathering dust in the back of your closet. Have old electronics you want to get rid of? Want to pass on a gently-used stroller to a new family? Post it on LetGo, and put the money you earn toward your next trip. (Here are more ways to earn extra cash from home.)
5. Find a side hustle
Task Rabbit is a great resource to find odd jobs in your neighborhood. Sign up and earn cash by helping someone move, cleaning and organizing their apartment, or running their errands. It’s not the most glamorous work, but it can help you finance a glamorous vacation.
What are your tips to save money for travel? Email us at [email protected].