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.

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.

You can also put your $$ into a higher yield savings account. I have earned quite a bit of interest in my ING Orange Account (www.ingdirect.com). More than I earn at BofA, for sure.

I second the ING Orange Account. Great rate without a minimum balance. I nicknamed my account "Orange you Lucky"!!!

Teach English in Japan!!!!!
I was dead broke...I mean broke and bankrupt after losing a business. I had lived overseas before and I was ready for a big change in my life and a way to make some money quickly. Getting a job teaching English was easy and it was all arranged for me from the U.S. prior to leaving. There was basically no risk. The reward was fantastic--not only financially. I had a great apartment ready for me when I arrived, I worked in a great school with lots of nice people, I was able to travel around the country with other teachers and students, and I was able to save a lot of money that funded my travel after my contract was over.
As long as you have a college degree, are responsible and have a good personality, you can get a job teaching English. Then once in Japan, you have to explore and do cheap things to have fun because it's easy to drink, smoke and party your salary away.

quote:

Then once in Japan, you have to explore and do cheap things to have fun because it's easy to drink, smoke and party your salary away.

Amen, if you go to Japan to travel/save, make sure you factor in the "go crazy at the bar every night" stage. I didn't get around to saving until the last eight months of my year and a half stay. If you don't drink and teach in Japan, you'll have money coming out your ears.

quote:

Originally posted by Adventuress: As long as you have a college degree, are responsible and have a good personality, you can get a job teaching English. Then once in Japan, you have to explore and do cheap things to have fun because it's easy to drink, smoke and party your salary away.

Personality- check.
Responsible- check.
College... um...

Anyway, I've got other plans, but working in Japan would be nice. When I was seventeen (I'm nineteen now) I took my first trip abroad there, forty days and forty nights (was supposed to last longer but I ran into some unexpected epiphanies). Have you heard of a way to teach English there without a college degree? I got my GED (I dropped out of high school when I turned sixteen) and I have impeccable English (I just don't always display it online when it's nearly 3AM) and no, I'm not going back to school (unless there is a few-month course I can take to get me a job)... any ideas? If not, no worries.