HOW I AFFORD TO TRAVEL
Before we get into the good stuff, I think it’s important to acknowledge my privilege. I have safety nets that minimize my risk, parents that helped pay for me to go to college so I could get a good job, connections that make getting a job easier, and of course, as a straight white woman, I don’t face the same discrimination in the workplace.
Many bloggers will say that anyone can afford to travel if they just pull themselves up by the bootstraps. Not only is that wrong and doesn’t acknowledge their own privilege, but it’s dangerous because it can lead people into debt or make them feel like they’re doing something wrong if it doesn’t work for them. So while these tips and tricks may not be enough for everyone, it CAN put travel within reach for many.
One of the most common questions I get is how I can afford to travel. Well, it’s less of a question and more of an accusation. You see, most people assume that if someone is taking big international trips, it means that they either have a disgustingly high salary or daddy’s money. But when I first started traveling, I made an average salary of 40k, had no financial help, and was just two years out of school with zero credit. This is by no means unfortunate, but I was able to do more as the average American than many thought possible.
While my path to affording travel wasn’t easy, I’ve been able to experience mind-blowing adventures in South America, Africa, Europe, and more by making travel my priority. I saved my money and put in the extra effort, and now I’m here, helping you to do the same.
Below, you’ll find some ideas on how you can afford to travel. Each of these is something I’ve personally done. No uplifting your entire life to teach English in a small village. No signing up for 10,000 credit cards. Just practical ways to save some green for your next trip.
1. Save your money.
It sounds obvious, but this is the first (and hardest) step to being able to afford to travel. You need to make travel your priority, and that can mean saying no to drinks with friends, dealing with your rundown car for another year, or living with roommates.
Saving can be difficult at times, but it helps to reframe your thinking. I like to think of it like that new mountain bike could be a flight to Cape Town, or that Doordash order could be an extravagant feast in Ecuador.
Another way to save your money for travel is by looking into the services you already use and seeing if there are cheaper alternatives. For example, I was on a pricey Verizon phone plan, but then I switched to a Visible phone plan. I still have the Verizon network and unlimited data, but now I’m only paying $30/mo. I also activated the Drive Safe & Save discount with my StateFarm insurance for monthly savings and canceled any services I wasn’t regularly using. This can take a little more research, but in the long run, you’ll be consistently saving money without even thinking about it.
2. Invest in your career.
This is the time to put your all into your career. Take online courses to learn new skills in your field, be proactive, work your butt off so that when it comes time, you can negotiate a bigger raise or ask for a promotion. In other words, more money for more travel.
These changes will also ensure that you always have a stable income to come back to whether your boss offers to rehire you when you return from a long trip or you’re more easily set up for another job. What you do for your career today can be your safety net for tomorrow.
3. Start a side hustle.
Dog walking, freelance work, cleaning out garages - you name it, I’ve done it in the name of travel. If you’re not making much at your 9-5, it’s time to break into the 5-9. Or, if you work remotely, some side hustles like house sitting can even be done during business hours.
There are a million and one options for side hustles from making Amazon deliveries to babysitting to home repair, so I won’t list all of them. Instead, I’ll let you in on the most efficient sources I’ve used:
Upwork - This is a site for freelancers of all kinds. Find work in writing, designing, IT, customer service, and more with little to no experience. You can choose small or large projects depending on your schedule, and you set the price. The hardest part is getting your first couple jobs, but once you build credibility, the opportunities will start rolling in.
Fiverr - This is also a freelance site, but each gig is traditionally charged in increments of $5. You won’t make millions here, but the great thing about Fiverr is it’s only limited by your imagination. I offered a service in which I critiqued men’s tinder profiles for $5, and I was never without a customer. Pretty soon, I started charging $10 and then $15 and limiting the scope of what I offered to save time.
Rover - Make money while playing with adorable doggos? Win-win. With Rover, you can provide dog walking or dog sitting services that easily fit in your schedule. I ended up walking one dog everyday during my lunch break and brought in about $500/mo. All you have to do is fill out some information online and take an in-person test proving that you know how to use the different styles of harnesses.
YouGov Surveys - I tried SO MANY survey sites. Most were scams or beyond complicated to sign up. YouGov was the first one I found that actually worked. Just sign up and they’ll email you surveys to complete. Fill out as many as you like, and once you reach a certain amount of points, they’ll send you a gift card of your choice. I usually chose a gift card that would save me money on something I was already doing, like grocery shopping.
4. Sell, sell, sell.
It’s time to join the minimalist movement and sell all the junk you don’t need. Old clothes? That painting you never put up? The birthday gift you’ll never use? Sell it on Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace. Remember, people will buy anything. I sold an old TI calculator for $45.
5. Get a travel credit card.
I never really liked the idea of credit cards, but then I realized the magic of travel credit cards, and I never looked back. But you don’t need to do all that credit card hacking and have 10 different travel cards. Be safe. I only have the Chase Sapphire Preferred card, but I put EVERYTHING on it, and I’ve been able to book one round trip international flight a year for free with my points.
If you have bad or no credit, start building it now with a starter credit card. I started with the Wells Fargo Cash Wise Visa Platinum Card to earn cash rewards (more money for travel) until I qualified for the travel card.
6. Choose your destination carefully.
Don’t be afraid to pick your destination based on your budget. Places like South America and Southeast Asia have much smaller day-to-day expenses than Iceland or Switzerland. Or, destinations closer to your home country will have cheaper flights than if you traveled across the globe.
7. Plan your own adventures.
If I could give you just one piece of advice to make travel more affordable, it would be this. The vast majority of tour operators are ridiculously overpriced, charging upwards of $2000 to essentially drop you off in a couple cities and have you explore on your own. But still, tons of people use these tour companies because they don’t think they’re capable of planning a trip themselves. You are!
Figure out where you want to go, write a rough itinerary, research how to get to each destination, and start booking. This alone will save you thousands. From there, you can book free walking tours in each city and last minute tours for special deals. I booked a Galapagos cruise two days before I intended to go, and I spent a fourth of what it usually costs.
Or, let me do it! Planning a trip yourself can be overwhelming, especially if you’ve never done it before. That’s why I offer affordable travel planning (key word: affordable) so you can experience the custom adventures you want for way less than a multi-day tour.
8. Stay in hostels.
Ahhh I will never stop hyping up hostels. Hostels are a much more affordable accommodation option with many dorm beds as low as $8/night. In fact, the most expensive one I’ve booked was still less than a hotel at $62/night in downtown Amsterdam. Plus, they’re a great way to meet fellow travelers.
As a 31-year-old, I know this isn’t always an appealing option, but the good news is, you don’t have to stay in the dorm if you don’t want to. Every hostel has private rooms that are usually a much higher quality. I’ve even stayed in some private hostel rooms that were nicer than any hotel.
If you’re looking to book a hostel, I recommend HostelWorld.
9. Eat in.
Making your own meals while you’re away is a great way to make travel more affordable. It also gives you a chance to wander the local food markets and explore local flavors. And if you’re anything like me, it helps keep off the ‘vacation 15.’
A lot goes into international travel, and it can be difficult to keep it all straight. If you’d like a custom travel itinerary, easy booking, and all the documents you need in one place for an affordable rate, contact me to join the Kelley Goes Rogue travel program.