BootsnAll Travel Community

I've been saving every single cent for the trip.

However, i've realized that one of the real costs of travel is simply just saving the money. Is it just me or does anyone else feel like they're not so happy in their "saving" life? It's not like i spent a lot of money before but now I have to think about everything I do. Do I really want to go out w/ my friends for dinner? Do I really need a new pair of shoes for work or can i just make do? It's also that since saving i've become a bit of a ba-hum-bug. Everything seems so much more expenisve. $2 for a cup of coffee! eeks! Anyway, does anyone else feel this way?

I can't tell if I'll be a complete scrooge when i finally get on the road or i'll blow the whole budget in a few months just because i'll be sick of saving.

Littlemustard, you are not alone! You know, I made it a point when saving for my trip a few years ago to always save but never sacrifice. At least not what was most important to me. I never wanted to sacrifice my NOW for my THEN. Or WHEN. I gave up some things that didnt matter to me so much, but I would never give up my Sunday night with my girls or my one night out to dinner by myself, for example. During my savings this time, I've adjusted my nights out by falling in love with cooking, so I do save money, but I wont give up my wine or my one weekend out. I think its abou8t finding balance between what really does matter to you and your life in the moment now and what is just habit or indulgence. I think its really, REALLY important, though, to not sacrifice everything you love today for what you want tomorrow...the only reality is today, anyway, right?!

I know that when I am saving for a trip I go into zombie mode. For me it's like existing in those months rather than living. But I kinda go all out to save. I move into my mom's house on a farm 30 miles from the neareast anything. Yet this way I may only be saving for a few months rather than year long. Also then I have my stuff all put away and no housing concerns once I go on the road. But it's a big sacrifice for me. Plus it's just super depressing. Two dolars here and there doens't seem to work for me so I have to go all out.

The first time I did it I felt like the dam had bursted once I started traveling because I had every excuse to spend money...that and my first stop was London, which acts as a black hole for the pocketbook.


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I don't find that saving money is that much of sacrifice. And I think it's an important skill to learn, because even when you're not saving for travel, you need to be able to save or you'll spend your whole life just scraping by.

Saving really is an exercise in figuring out what's important. Dinner with friends...important. But you could consider inviting your friends over instead. You can feed the lot for the cost of one restaurant meal, and then hopefully they'll reciprocate and you'll save money in the long run. $2 coffee...can be replaced with homemade coffee for a fraction of the cost.

I dunno. I guess I'm always in savings mode on some level, whether it's for a trip or something else. And I think that's healthy.

this may be helpful or may not, but I live by the old "pay yourself first" rule. The basic idea is when you get a paycheck you take out savings first and then live on the rest.

Every month I put money in three places: Roth IRA, general savings(most likely a future downpayment on a house - but also basically an "oh shit" fund), and lastly travel.

Every account has a set amount that goes in every month - and then I spend money the rest of the month and just make sure I have money in my account.

It works for me, but everyone is different, so it may not for you.

I have never actually "saved" like that at all. I tend to live on the frugal side, but I just live - I don't count pennies or not buy something in order to save money. I guess I'm lucky that I don't have extravagant wants.

I think I agree with you - just 'existing' in order to travel doesn't seem worth it to me. My grandfather had a job he hated and he wanted to quit so badly, but he kept thinking, "If I work one more year, we will be more comfortable when we retire." Eventually he retired and they started living the life of their dreams - northern Minnesota in the cabin during the summers, Florida in the winters. The second fall, as they were driving to Florida, Grandpa had a major stroke in Georgia and died.

I've always felt badly - he struggled and struggled and was miserable for so many years so that he could enjoy retirement. And then he died before he could enjoy it at all.

ugh yeah i took it a little far when planning for my trip and I think I would do it all different now anyway. killing yourself now i think depends on how long you are saving. If only for a little bit then kill yourself saving, but long-term can take a toll

Recently i have been enjoying a bit more of life. And although i don't have extravagent desires just doing the fun stuff starts to add up. I guess it really comes in when something happens that you have to pay for, like car expenses, etc. Then it's like you have no savings for the month at all. Life has been a lot more enjoyable doing more things but when i think that nothing has really been added to the savings pot it's a bummer.

I'm kinda over thinking about it. I was just wondering if other people had felt that way.

Hi Little Mustard,
Really saving should be a part of life, even if you are not saving for anything in particular. This as been our carry on since we married 38 yrs ago. Everyone is different with spending, some people money burns a whole in their pocket and they never save a pound, others are tight and don't or hardly spend anything, you have to find middle ground that suits you because you still need to enjoy life between the trips/new bathroom. Requirements change over time from when you're in your twenties to seventies. Just try and put something on one side each month enjoy life and does it really matter if it takes a bit longer to reach your goal. Lifes for living never forget that and don't loose the moment because it's gone forever.
Jean

Just my two cents. I guess I agree with most of what's been said and has given me something to think about as well in return.

In particular, I guess I do something similar to what RobinMarie said (who I guess is in Boston as well ...
i.e. having multiple little funds (long-term/retirement, travel/house/etc., fixed expenses for the month and some splurge money)
And the challenge to make this work.

I guess at times it gets a little tough with "unexpected" things but on the other hand helps keep priorities straight.

For me it's the opposite. I realized recently that I wasn't happy in my "spending" life. First it was a house, which needed to be filled with stuff. The house needed work, so I needed tools and a truck. The truck needed work so I need more tools. Now I have ALMOST enough tools to do more stuff, which means I need more tools. Those big closets mean more room for clothes, more space to store stuff that I don't actualy need.

It just all seemed so pointless, so I'm getting rid of all of it. Except for maybe the house, which I might rent out depending on what the market is like this Summer.

I like living simply and frugally. It gives me freedom I just don't have right now. Every type of life involves tradeoffs and hassles - it's all about picking the ones that bother you the least. If spending time with your friends is important, find a way to make it happen. Subtract the money elsewhere or pick less expensive outings. Figure out what you actually liked about spending the money and find some other way to get that feeling.

When we first started saving last Spring, we were saving every penny we could, never going out with friends, rarely eating out, and just generally not doing anything. The not buying anything was not too difficult, but the not going out with our friends was getting really annoying, and we just weren't happy. We decided that it was more important to still be happy while we were saving, even if that meant delaying our trip for a few months. I think it's really just personal preference. We just weren't happy not being able to go out for some drinks every so often or going out to dinner occasionally. Just my $.02.

Hi Little Mustard. Sometimes saving all the time can get a little much. These days I tend to include a little money in my budget for that odd cup of coffee brought out or dinner with friends or an occasional night out.

Just not every day or even every weekend.

On another topic I notice you have your own website, while I haven't had a chance to explore it yet do you mind if I put a link up on my own site?

Brooke & Nancy SV - same as above?

Thanks for all the good responses on here. To clarify it's not really about the "stuff" for me. I actually love not buying stuff in some strange way. It is more like the above poster was saying about a cup of coffee here, a beer there, etc. i pretty much cut out everything for a long time and it did pay off in the bank account but it did take a toll on my happiness. Lately i've started doing some things for myself that i haven't done in a long, long time and it does make a big difference in your outlook.

CMW1 - sure go ahead and add me- that was be so great! I will be sure to add you as well

I can get obsessive about saving money, it can get ridiculous. I find it helps to budget in my fun money. Whatever amount you decide on, that's your money to do whatever you want with... buy clothes, go to the movies, go out for drinks...anything you want. It really helps me not to get OCD about every single penny when I have a budgeted amount for "fun money."

I agree with Erin's earlier post...don't ever sacrifice now for then. Live your life to the fullest. If leaving two months earlier means you'll have to live the months up the point miserably, then is it really worth it? Patience can be under-rated.

For me frugality has been about trade offs and not necessarily sacrifice. Even on my meager income, life often becomes cushy and drab and way too "safe." If I choose to walk or bike or even bus somewhere the possibility for adventure increases ten fold. There's a much greater chance for serendipitous encounters. The smells, sounds and sights of a place are suddenly available to me as they wouldn't be in a metal box. And, if for frugality's sake, I choose to make my meals from scratch I'm more in touch with my creative side and the meals become more satisfying than if I opened up a box of something and poured it into a pot of water. And similarly as I had to adjust to frugality I find that its very empowering not having to conform to typically wasteful habits and I've gained a bit of confidence coming up with new ways of doing things myself. I'm even beginning to think that the less frugal lifestyle is actually the more alienating one.

You know: Walks in the park instead of drives to the mall. Conversation with friends instead of must see tv. Picnics instead of dinners in noisy, frenetic restaurants. Garage sales and flea markets instead of surfing the internet for deals.

My life actually is getting better with my increasing frugality.

Yes, i have adjusted my mentality about it and it has helped a lot. Lately i'm on the gas/mileage kick. today i coasted for 15.2 miles on my 23 mile commute. I was pretty psyched! Now i think i can get a tank of gas to last me almost a month. That'll save probabl $80-100/mth! yeah

I'm suppose to go on a big trip in September and my original plan was to begin saving like made this past january, giving me a good 3/4's fo a year of savings. however, that plan went drastically down the tubes as I've since purchased a brand new laptop, gone to Vegas, and a ton of other toys!

The lap top was actually necessary, but the trip to vegas, and all my other stuff was completely stupid. So, I'm "now" beginning to "save like mad". But quite honestly, I find my biggest obstacle to saving is my general carelessnes and lack of planning when it comes to money. For instance, I seldom look at price labels in the grocery stores. I might not try on clothes before buying them, and when I find they dont' fit, I'm really lazy about returning them. Of course, eating out a lot or going out with friends plays a big part in it to.

Anyway, I've only got a few months to actually save now, and except for the spattering of birthdays coming up, my expenses should be low.

Start frequenting Kunya's bar in San Leandro. Cheap drinks, and often karaoke!