BootsnAll Travel Community

I like the ideas on this thread.

I have become so incredibly "economical", in part so that I can save and in part so that I can just live on the money I make in a job that is conducive to my travel-centered lifestyle.

Eating out is a huge expense. I have learned to shope wisely and buy more or less exactly what I need...and then eat it as leftovers! Seriously, getting used to using those leftovers (not just saving them) took time.

I don't take cabs, I don't buy 4$ salad dressing, I save handy little plastic containers so I don't buy ziplock ones 100x a year, and unfortunately new clothes are pretty rare. All that said, I do find a cell phone and laptop necessary for my life so I do have those things.

Not having a car has also helped - obviously no payments or insurance or parking, but then I'm also "forced" to use public transport.It also makes me think twice about buying extra stuff I will have to carry home and then move with me when I move.

I'm pretty lucky that I have a good job that allows me to put away quite a bit of money. Of course I can only do this because I choose to live with a roommate, and I don't have a car. I take public transport when I have to, but if I can I walk. The subway is only $2, but every little bit helps. Plus, all the long walks home will get me in shape for crazy days of sight seeing.

I also have a second job, I work for a place called RGIS. They will really work around your schedule and have offices all over the country, so you might want to look into them.

For day to day savings I give myself an allowance each week. If I don't spend it the leftovers go in my splurge pile, if that pile goes over $100 it goes right in the bank. It's impossible to not buy yourself something on occation. This way it comes out of money already allocated for fun. I also catch sales on food, or try to stick to the dollar store. Bringing lunch is a must. When I do go out I try to only meet for drinks and eat at home.

There are a few webpages that help me to earn more money as well. Pandaresearch.com is one of them. Some of the offers cost money but many do not. The money may add up slowly, but it adds up. I also belong to memolink.com (please let them know that I refered you if you go there, e-mail and I will give you my handle for it.) When you buy things or complete offers thru that site you get points, the points equal cash. For example, I used drugstore.com for a lot of things, if you buy bulk there is no shipping and its a bit cheaper than the stores, when I do this thru memolink I get cashback. A few people have also sold things on e-bay. I don't plan on leaveing for a few years but I cleaned out my closet and have made well over $200 on clothes that I haven't worn for years.

Saving is hard, but everytime I want something expensive all I think is what could this buy me in (insert place you want to go). Then the choice is always easy.

The hormones injected to harvest eggs are horrible for you! I hope no one would jeapordize their health for some money. Plus, I wouldn't feel comfortable with a little half-me running around I didn't know about.

The egg donation procedure is a lot more complicated than just inserting a needle and plucking out a few stray eggs. Daily hormone injections of several different hormones to make you produce 15 times as many eggs as normal...daily blood tests and frequent doctor visits... Then, when it comes time to do the egg collection, it's under general anesthesia- it's a major deal and a major (detrimental) change to your body. Not a good way to make a quick buck or 10,000.

When you feel like shopping (or when you just plain need clothes), go to second hand stores.

You can find all kinds of good stuff. It'll eat up your time so you're not spending money elsewhere, and it's dirt cheap.

The best part: when its time to pack up and leave, you won't feel bad about taking your entire wardrobe, throwing it in a garbage bag, and dumping it outside the salvation army.

I was always a sucker for spending everything I had in my bank account every month. Now I transfer some money from my 'spending' account to my 'saving' account as soon as I get paid. Even just a little - it's amazing how quickly it adds up, and you can't spend it if it's not in your spending account.

Not sure about accounts in the US, but make sure you have a good interest, easy access account.

I also review my account a couple of times a month and, if I'm doing okay, add another £10 or so to the pot. It's only £10 that I would have taken out of the cash machine and spent on junk during a lunchtime (if I hadn't brought my own lunch and gone for a walk instead) anyway.

£10 might not sound much, but it will go a lot further for me in SE Asia than in Glasgow.

Oh, and - quit your social life and just spend all your spare time on these boards...

KG

quote:

quit your social life

That helped me no end! I moved away from my friends (and slightly crazed ex) six months ago and back to my parents in Cornwall, where I know about two people outside my family. Was lucky enough to get a reasonably paid job, didn't spend much money - hey presto, travel fund. It's actually been a pretty fun six months as well - I've been really lucky.

mewcat - what the hell kinda well paid job do you have that allows you to be on the boards all day and night like me??

KG

Well, I'm leaving in a week so I'm, uh, winding down a little... I'm working as a paralegal - it's not THAT well paid but living at home means I get to save most of it.

Wait tables. Or bartend part-time. That's what I've always done.

You can get a second job in the evening in a tipping service industry job and save up (mostly tax free- wait I didn't say that) tips pretty fast. They are usually fun, fast paced jobs in a fun atmosphere. Plus you usually get free meals. Waiting tables can be stressful, but it isn't brain surgery. Even if you don't have experience I think anyone who is outgoing with good interpersonal skills (hello fellow travelers!) can get jobs like these pretty easily.

You work your day job, go to a restaurant or bar from 5 pm to 10 pm, don't spend any money, eat for free, have a good time, and walk home with a pocketful of cash. A no lose scenario for saving travelers.

quote:

Originally posted by scoots:
Wait tables. Or bartend part-time. That's what I've always done.

I found that bar work was great when I wanted to cut down on my socialising too. I was still in the pub meeting people, but I was getting paid for it.

Wherever you usually hang out and spend money - bar, cafe, bookstore, etc - find out if they have any part time jobs and kill two birds with one stone.

KG

i sold my house....sorry, not very helpful i guess

quote:

Originally posted by Ian Bavill:
i sold my house....sorry, not very helpful i guess

Me too - ahh the freedom.

KG

I agree with clockwise. You don't have to save to travel, you can travel and save. I've been living in Japan teaching English for a year and a half. I've saved more while experiencing Japan than I would have back in the states hanging out in bars with all my high school buddies. Check out the big box schools like NOVA and AEON(you can quit and get a better job when you get here if you don't like it), sell your car, and get on a plane. That's what I did. It takes some faith but it's a hell of a leap and it's worth it. Japan's a great jumping spot for the rest of Asia and the teaching experience will help you prolong future travel. I'm leaving for three months in Thailand and China in 10 days. I saved for it by traveling.

quote:

Originally posted by Tracy Ann:
Surfing Dan and others have mentioned this before: Cut out ALL unnecessary expenses. Cell phone, eating out, buying lunch out, drinking etc.

I agree totally. Our plan of action has been; No cellphone, no long distance (we have a calling card that lasts for months), no cable, frequent library visits for entertainment, dinner at home, lunches brought to work, coffee from home, turn the heat off in the house, only one car for the two of us, stratigic housing choices, no "unnecessary" purchases.

Oh also, keep track of all purchases. It's easy to spend money here and there if you aren't accountable. We put all of our purchases on a visa that gets airmiles - then we pay if off every month. I have an excel spreadsheet for our budget that forecasts about a year and a half in advance, and I carry around a sheet of paper and write down all purchases. Then we have a "goal" for each week of keeping the dollars spent under X amount.

We've been saving for our RTW trip for about 5 years, while paying for tuition for CJ (out of pocket, no scholarships or any help of any sort), and have managed to swing both even though neither of us have particularly well paying jobs.

It's not that hard - I'm amazed that more people don't save more money. I think I would feel like a shop-crazed spendoholic to spend as much as we've saved.

Here are a few suggestions:

I set up a "Travel" account where I put extra money--from birthdays, from when I don't go out for a night, from when I do a temp job--that I am NOT allowed to take money out of. It builds up rather quickly.

I also have thought about the egg donation thing and am supposed to go to meet with the doctor next week; I never want to have kids so I think it would be nice to donate my good genes to someone else.

Another option is sex work. Or pornos. I'm not about to do a porno, but phone sex, stripping, something legal could be quite a lucrative money maker.

Before I traveled, I was a corporate slave. Now I'm barely eking a living, so I'm not saving up (although I have my "Travel" bank account that I am NOT touching!), but working for the man can be quite lucrative.

Sell stuff on Ebay, Craigslist, Amazon.com, etc.

Bear in mind as well that where, and how, you travel makes a huge difference. You need a much bigger budget for Europe than you do for South East Asia or the Andean countries, for example.
Also, travelling slowly and close to the ground is a lot cheaper than flying a lot and moving fast from place to place.
Stopping to do vlunteer work with food and accomodation provided is also a good way of making it cheaper.

I know this doesnt really answer the question, but there are so many good tips here already - and this is just from a slightly different angle.

quote:

You work your day job, go to a restaurant or bar from 5 pm to 10 pm, don't spend any money, eat for free, have a good time, and walk home with a pocketful of cash. A no lose scenario for saving travelers.

this is what i've been doing for the past month, working 2 jobs.

i haven't had a car in a year and a half, which helped me to pay off my credit cards. now that those are taken care of i can finally save. i am putting away half of the money i make now, so i should be able to hop a plane to SE asia by august, hopefully!

for fun i like to read. it is inexpensive and there are always great books to pick up!

I have two jobs and work like hell to save money.

So far it hasn't worked cause I've had unexpected expenses but I expect it to work over the next few months cause I'm working really hard.

It also helps not to go travelling in the immediate future or go travelling to nearby places that won't cost you too much (for me it's places like Amsterdam and Paris).

Thank you guys for all the advise. I really do apreciate it. I am really going to have to rearange some things in order to have money to save. I wish it was as easy as bagging lunch=P But I barely pay for food as it is 'cause I work at an Inn where I am provided breakfast and lunches. There's more but I won't get into it. Maybe volunteering, teaching English, perhaps these are things I need to concentrate on.

Well anyhow you've given me some ideas. Thank you.