What an enormous power a simple piece
of thin paper can have on us humans … money. Some of us have a lot of paper, others have enough to life a good life we would call
'normal', more than just a few have barely
nothing.
But when you are traveling, oh when you're traveling it turns
out to be a completely different story.
Even though it does
obviously depend on which place in our big world you have chosen as
your next place to be, I have barely met any (long time) traveler who
did not have to waste some thoughts on their wallet and the
relationship between them and what fills it.
I spent a lot of time contemplating
about mine, listening to people who have never even had the chance of
spending just as half as much money as I do per week, listening to others who could spend it all within one week if they want to but first of all - listening to myself when standing in front of mirrors
like that. I still allow myself to spend some notes on clothing, still buy those $5 coffee
rather than making my own using some weird powder and boiling water,
still pay $8 for a beer. By now, I have figured out how to keep track of my expenses and to avoid ending up completely broke (even though it was quite an experience).
I collected these 10 helpful tricks
that will help you to keep your coins together !
Book your flights
smartRemember my detailed description of how much I
hated waking up at crazy times in the early morning just to catch
the plane to Adelaide ?
Well, as you can probably guess – I
didn't choose that time at my favorite one to travel. Always try to
be flexible with your days and times, try to fly on Tuesday or
Wednesday and really early in the morning to catch a break in fares.
My all time favorite to compare fares and to find the ideal
flight for me is
Skyscanner
as it gives you not only the possibility to find the cheapest months
to fly, but also to choose the most affordable place to depart and
arrive in the country of your choice.
Use cashHere in
Australia, you just tap the credit card on the eftpos machine to fix
up your bill, which makes it pretty easy to loose track of your
expenses. Try to take cash – only cash – to be aware of how much
you are spending and to keep your bank account filled. You will be
surprised how much that helps !
Set a daily budget and stick
to itThis
can be quite hard at the beginning, as I know most of us have those
little voice whispering in our ear that we are on holiday, that we
should enjoy our life and don't give a damn. If you want to stay on
the road though, without ending up broke, it is quite important to
keep a better eye on you're daily expenses. As I've already said –
leave your credit card alone, take the cash you need to spend your
day and go without the tempting, expensive treats. You will figure
out how much you really need each day pretty quickly, if you go over
this budget - cut it back the next day, if you manage to spend less
you might be able to afford some shopping later. It is a great way
to learn how to deal with money and to travel longer !Stay away from shops and
summer salesI
used to waist quite a lot of money on clothes, accessories and other
fashion items that where tempting me out of the stores window here
and there, which is surely the reason for why I ended up broke a few
times. Even though it was always an interesting experience to pass
the week without any money left – I had to stop buying. After
reorganizing my whole wardrobe I finally realized how many clothes I
have owed without even wearing them once. I decided to donate a few
of them and to keep only my favorites, which did additionally make
my backpack way lighter and so much more comfortable to carry
around. From then on I stayed away from the big shopping emporiums,
which are expensive in almost every aspect anyway, and just treat
myself from time to time with some new pieces I do really like a
lot. This helped me so much not only to become more aware of my
needs, but also to get more creative with those clothes I own and to
develop my own unique style!Never leave without some
snacks and drinks in your bagRemember these practical
lunch boxes you had in school ? They are coming back ! And even if
it's just a bottle of water and an apple in your bag you will be
saving money on snacks. Especially in bigger cities, it is pretty
easy to spend your savings on those delicious little threats
seducing you out of the bakeries window, and trust me – they will
start to ad up in one point. I collected many good memories stopping
somewhere to eat my pre-packed lunch or dinner, meeting awesome
people, having good conversations and saving some coins at the end
of the day.
Take the public
transportIsn't
it ridiculously easy to just wait for a minute on the side of the
road and catch the next cap ? It might be comfortable and relaxed –
until it comes to the payment. The easiest way is rarely the
smartest one. Try to make use of the public transport as often as
possible, which is surprisingly good in almost every bigger city.
You will not only treat your wallet, but also get a better idea of
the locals lifestyle and might end up in the most beautiful places
when accidentally taking the wrong bus or train. (If you are
under time pressure or just want to be comfortable from time to time
catch an Ueber
Taxi, which works out a bit cheaper than a regular cap)Don't stay in HotelsInstead
of spending tons of cash for a hotel room each night, try
housesitting,
couchsurfing,
volunteering or to work for accommodation. You'll be surprised about
the possibilities most places offer you to protect your money and
also to make memorable experiences most people don't !
Don't hesitate to talk to
localsMy
golden travel rule, which you can apply in many many situations of
your journey – talk to locals and don't be shy to ask them
questions about their home ! You will be surprised about the
information you get and maybe even make some new friends ! A good
ice-breaker is always to ask for directions or simple advice (How do
I get to street x?”). Travel off-peakI
remember being absolutely amazed by how affordable Thailand was when
I visited this beautiful country for the first time during the
monsoon-season. When I came back a few years later, visiting the
same places at the same time as most tourists and travelers, I was
shocked by the increased prices. Do a little research to not to end
up spending too much money for accommodation, food and co, just
because you are in the wrong place at the wrong time. Especially
South East Asia is even more enjoyable during the low-season, as
less tourist lead the countries to be way more authentic and you to
experience it in a way most other wont.Treat yourselfDon't
forget to be generous to yourself from time to time. It is great to
live on a budget, save money and make unique experiences, but life
is a book we are writing ourselves, so who said it is not allowed to
break the rules from time to time ?
Pick one day at the end or
the beginning of each month, take your favorite dress out and treat
yourself however you like it the best.
