To be able to afford to travel, there are primarily two parameters to turn on: income and expenses.
We can not help you with the income so much, but the expenses are something we have practiced to minimize for years.
First and foremost, we travel very budget -friendly , but we also cut back on unnecessary purchases and costs in everyday life.
Do you also want to save more up for travel?
Here are 15 ideas for spending less money so you can put more aside for your next vacation.
Does it tingle in you to get more out of traveling?
It does it in us.
Continually.
Therefore, for the past many years, we have prioritized spending the majority of our savings on getting out and experiencing the world.
We do not fly in business class or stay in five star hotels. In return, we get completely unforgettable experiences every single time.
And it has not ruined us.
You do not have to be rich to travel!
If we can do it, so can you.
But how do you save up and get going?
The most effective way is by cutting back on spending.
Therefore, we now invite you to take a close look at your consumption.
A few bucks here and there can make a big difference.
Can you prioritize differently so you can soon set off on your dream journey?
First we give you three general (but essential) tips to save more, and afterwards you get 15 concrete ideas to spend less money in everyday life.
Save on expenses in Denmark and afford to visit the island paradise of San Blas.
Become financially responsible
Our first piece of advice should certainly not sound judgmental, but this is the basis of the rest of our guide; that one takes responsibility for one’s own finances.
In relation to how many years we go to school in Denmark, we learn incredibly little about managing our personal finances. But luckily it’s never too late.
If you want to save up for travel, it’s a good idea to get rid of some of the bad financial habits that we can all have.
We do not claim that it is easy, and changing habits requires patience and willpower.
How high will you prioritize getting out to travel? There is no one else who will make it happen for you.
Keep track of your expenses
When you have time (for example right now?) Find a piece of paper and a pencil. We need to do an exercise that gives you a better overview of your monthly consumption.
First, write down all your fixed expenses; rent, loan, car, television package, cell phone, fitness membership, insurance and the like.
Then write down your more flexible expenses; food shopping, cinema trips, concerts, sports matches, new clothes, two go-coffees, cigarettes, restaurant visits and so on.
If you do not know what you are spending money on, take a look at your online banking or write down your daily expenses for the next two weeks.
Put it all together and you will most likely get a large amount that you did not know about beforehand. Small amounts tend to run up.
Maybe you’ve heard of the exercise before, but have you actually written down your expenses this way before? It is an effective way to identify how much money you are spending each month.
If you are 100% satisfied with what you are spending money on, then congratulations. Then everything is in the most beautiful order.
If not, read on and get some tangible ideas for where you might be able to cut back.
Sunset in Granada. Nicaragua is one of the cheapest countries we have traveled in.
Reduce unnecessary expenses
If you want to take the exercise a step further, you can draw a vertical line on the paper, where you write “needs” on the left and “desires” on the right.
Then place all your expenses in one or the other column.
Be as honest as possible. Do you really need that two go coffee every morning? Are you going to drink all those beers Friday night? Is it very important to have clothes from the latest collection?
Afterwards, look at your right column of lusts. These are all the things you can cut from and immediately save money on.
It’s not as easy as you might think. Social pressure, marketing and unwillingness are just some of the challenges one can face.
But with one habit change at a time, it can be done.
We believe in you!
Here you get 15 specific saving tips.
1. Drop smoking
The cigarettes consume both you and your wallet. Think about how much a package costs and multiply it by your annual consumption.
So it’s not quite cheap.
If you do not want to stop for health reasons, then do it for your trip!
Get rid of the smokers and get more money for foreign adventures.
2. Stop drinking
In Denmark it may sound completely controversial, but alcohol is expensive, and here too many people have a lot of money to save.
Whether it is wine for the food at home or city trips with friends, you can not least cut down on the amount and frequency.
Cook yourself
If you can not already figure out how to cook, then now is a really good time to learn it.
It is quite possible to make your own delicious meals at home from healthy, cheap ingredients – preferably organic, because it is silly to save small change at the expense of the planet and the animals (whoa, there seemed to be some ideology there).
Eat less out at expensive restaurants and make your own packed lunch so you can save money on the daily lunch.
4. No spontaneous snacking
Buying a snack here and there does not seem bad when it costs so little, but over a long period of time it can easily turn into a lot of money.
Avoid buying chocolate bars, chewing gum and other small snacks during the day by eating more for breakfast and lunch or by having (healthy) snacks from home.
Stay again with snacks in Denmark and eat your way through Mexico instead .
5. Save on addictive drinks
Do you love your morning coffee to go?
It’s another small, daily expense that can run up. A buy-coffee for 30-40 kroner on all weekdays becomes 600-800 kroner a month. Think about how much money it is in a year. Instead, bring a thermo cup from home.
Do you often buy soda or bottled water on the go? Invest in a good water bottle that you can always take with you and refill with water. In Denmark we have excellent drinking water in the tap – completely free.
6. Stop shopping (so much)
To be completely honest, we have shown everyone the clothes we need. In fact, most of us have more than enough.
You do not have to promise that you will never buy anything new, but pay attention to your buying impulses.
Do you need another blouse for your wardrobe? And is it very important to have the latest iPhone?
Avoid being tempted by staying away from stores and saying no thanks to advertisements .
7. Look for recycling
If you really need a piece of clothing, a piece of furniture, a new book or something completely different, first see if you can borrow it or get it used.
Books can be borrowed completely free of charge at the library, and there are many good offers at Den Blå Avis, in second-hand shops or at local flea markets.
It also gives points on the environmental account!
8. Transport yourself in another way
Cars are insanely expensive; Insurance, repairs and gasoline can become a big monthly item.
If you have a car, it may be worth considering getting rid of it in favor of the bus, subway or train.
If you are already taking public transportation, you might even be able to hop on the bike and get a free round of exercise.
If you only need a car a few times a month, you can take a closer look at a car-sharing scheme, such as the LetsGo or Hertz car-sharing.
9. Turn down expensive entertainment
Large sums can also be burned off on tickets to concerts, sports matches, theater or movies in the cinema.
Can you do without some of the more expensive experiences to save more up for your next trip?
Avoid the expensive experiences and instead get advice for animal experiences!
10. Check the mobile bill
Take a look at your spending for the last few months and use the opportunity to consider whether you are using the data / talk time / international telephony that you are paying for.
Maybe there is a smaller (and cheaper) monthly package, or another provider that can offer the same at a lower price.
11. Get rid of subscriptions
We almost all subscribe to something, but is it really necessary?
Maybe you can do without subscribing to housing and fashion magazines that still make you want to buy new, or maybe it’s time to cancel Viasat, HBO, Netflix or the big TV package.
You can also consider sharing a subscription with a friend or family member. For example, both Spotify and Netflix have family solutions that are cheaper per person.
12. Drop the fitness membership
Training is important, and we certainly do not believe that it should be under-prioritized, but if you have an expensive membership, you can replace it with a cheaper or free alternative.
Some workplaces have an agreement where you can get a discount on fitness memberships, or you can take advantage of New Year’s birthday-summer-holiday-like offers.
13. Save on heat
Take a look at your annual heating bill. Did you know that you spend so much money on heat?
Hundreds (if not thousands) of kroner a year can be saved here. It may require a pair of good socks, sweaters and blankets, but turning off the radiators and taking shorter or colder baths can really make a difference in an entire year.
14. Turn off the power
Make your electricity bill cheaper by turning off the lights in rooms you are not in.
Remember to turn off the switches – it’s stupid to spend money on standby power for, for example, TVs, electric kettles and mobile chargers.
It may also be that some of your bulbs can be replaced with energy-saving or LED bulbs?
15. Reduce your annual housing expenses
We’ve saved this heavy post for now, because it’s starting to get a little boring.
If you have a bank loan, it may be an idea to ask your bank if they have a better offer for you.
You can also contact some of the competitors to ask if their bank can make it cheaper than your current scheme.
Also check the market for insurance that applies to contents, liability, accidents, travel and the like. Get a few quotes to get the best price that suits your specific situation.
Bonus idea
If you need to save up even faster, you can start selling some of your belongings.
Go through drawers and cabinets for electronics, books, clothes, vases, designer goods, sports equipment and anything else you no longer use.
Create ads on Den Blå Avis or get a stall at a flea market. Your ragle can be worth gold to others and even give you a few extra coins in your pocket.
