annaseabolt

At least once a week, I am asked by friends/family/coworkers, “How do you afford to travel so much?” I constantly tell them that every decision I make is with the intent of traveling in mind. Here I will share tips of saving money, finding cheap flights, accommodations, etc.

First, I should tell you I prefer traveling solo. That alone, helps with the cost of many of the financial challenges. If I decide to travel with someone else, I tell him/her beforehand that I travel small. I don’t stay at Hilton Hotels or eat at five star restaurants (everyday).

Right now, I am currently writing this post in Nairobi, Kenya. I’ve been here two weeks and I am awaiting my ride to the airport to head back to the United States.

Money Saving

• One of the easiest ways I save money is through cash. I can thank my dad for this one. When we use cash, we keep all our coins and $1 bills. He even saves his $5 bills but I’m not quite there yet. At the end of every day we put our coins and bills in a piggy bank and wait until it’s full. The money adds up quick. Once the bank is full, I find it relaxing to roll my coins. Yes, I know they unroll them to count the money, but it also frees up some room in my bank and makes things easier when I go to count the money. The bills, I paperclip together. Thankfully, my dad doesn’t live too far from me and when I get $100 ones, he has no problem switching me for a $100 bill. He just takes his money to the bank. My nearest bank is two hours away.
• Create a “Travel” account in your bank. Most banks today have online banking or even an app. When I get money for Christmas or my birthday, a portion of it goes straight into that account. Same with my paychecks. I always put a portion of it into that account. Here’s the kicker. My travel account is strictly a savings account. So if I wanted to pay a credit card bill from there, I can’t. I would have to transfer the money to my checking account first and then pay from there. With that I can save money and I usually use those funds for the trip itself (not airfare). The travel account generally pays for food, accommodations, souvenirs, etc.
• Make meals at home/bring lunch to work. This is a common tip I see. But even I tend to find it difficult when my choices are ramen or going out to lunch with friends. An average lunch including a drink, would generally be around $15. I’m specifically thinking of a soup and sandwich type lunch. Multiply that by 3x a week (the temptation is real for me when I’m at work) and that gives me an extra $45 a week. And multiply the $45 by 4 weeks in the month and that’s an extra $180. Sometimes when I’m short on cash, I’ll add that +/-$180 into my account at the beginning of the month so I know I won’t go out to eat.
• Sell things you don’t need. I truly believe that Poshmark.com (not sponsored) has saved me in more ways than one. I love fashion. With that, I also go through a lot of what I call “fashion phases”. I have a lot of clothing and things laying around the house that I no longer use. What needs to be donated, I will donate. However, many of my clothes still have a lot of life in them or have only been worn a few times before I decide it’s time they need a new home. Selling on Poshmark has been great for me. I also try to buy my clothed on Poshmark since it’s much cheaper, good for the environment, and I don’t have to deal with the hassle of going to the stores. After I’ve received my payment, it goes straight into my Travel account.
• Venmo/Cashapp: This one is a more personal thing I do, but I have some friends that like the idea. If/when I am with friends and we pay on one check, they’ll Venmo me their portion. Again, I let those funds add up, and transfer it to my travel account. So in this sense, I usually don’t go out to lunch, bars, or activities unless I can pay for more than my own just in case this needs to happen.

Travel on a Budget

• Get a credit card with travel benefits. Research all the credit cards you are thinking about getting and see which ones benefit you best. Many credit card companies will award a bonus of X amount of points for simply signing up. But research the one that best fits your travel needs. For example, my dad and I both have cards that give us airline miles. However, I chose a card that allows for more international travel, where he prefers domestic. I, personally, put all my subscriptions on the card and continuously pay that every month so I am constantly accruing points/miles.
• Travel during off seasons. This is one of the greatest tips I can give to anyone wanting to travel to a new place, domestic or international. Tickets to these locations can be up to 50% cheaper. For example, going to NYC at Christmas/New Years is going to be much more expensive than going to NYC in August or September. Research the location you are searching for, and the off season. Another idea (which is how I ended up in Kenya), is to research based on the time of year you want to go. I needed a trip after the new year and I figured if I waited about a month, holiday travelers would have been back to their daily lives. I found during this time it was an off season for Kenya and it’s been absolutely wonderful.
• The most tedious part of your trip will be your flights. Everyone always asks me if I’m excited for my trip and I always have to clarify that “I’m excited to be there, but I’m not excited for the unlimited hours in planes, airports, immigration/customs, etc.” When I research tickets, I always put my computer on “incognito” mode or open a private browser. Airline companies will know you’re researching and can raise their prices if you don’t open a private browser. Most airline companies (and even booking through a credit card) will show the cheaper and more expensive days to travel. I almost always find that traveling on a Monday-Wednesday tends to be the most cost effective. In addition, less people fly on those days and I often have an empty seat next to me on the plane. It’s a win/win situation.
• Accommodations are one of the more expensive aspects in traveling. Here’s my secret. Many times, I already know someone in the country where I’m staying. So if I’m not saving money by staying with them, they can point me in a good direction of affordable housing. However, I didn’t know anyone in Kenya before I arrived so I had to do a vast amount of research on hotels and hostels. I have to admit, I have stayed in hostels for years. I usually end up looking on websites like Hostelworld.com. Many of these accommodations have ways to personalize your stay to your budget. For example, some of the more budget friendly options allow for you to share a room with about 4-8 other travelers. This is usually the option I choose. This way, I can meet people from all over the world. However, if you prefer a private room, most hostels have that option, too, which will still likely be cheaper than a hotel.
• Another way travel on a budget is to be picky about restaurants and food. For example, when I go to a big city, you’ll be hard pressed to find me at a Hard Rock restaurant. To me, the food is average at best and pretty overpriced since they cater to mainly tourists. When I go to restaurants in a new place, I try to search out places off the beaten path. If I’m going to NYC, I am not going to choose a restaurant on Times Square. I tend to find a small, family owned restaurant that serves the local food. More often than not, they are so thrilled to have new guests and they are more than willing to help find something that fits to my taste.
• I try to pack light. Most accommodations have some sort of laundry facility. That detail should be disclosed when you’re researching places to stay. When I pack, I try to pack versatile, neutral, clothes that can be mixed and matched. As much as I love fashion, traveling for me is about learning a new culture. I tend to dress a little more neutral as to not draw too much attention to me as a tourist. If I haven’t worn an item within the last six months, I will most likely not wear it on vacation, so it stays at home. I bring a pair of sneakers and a pair of slides (as shower shoes). Depending on the weather depends if I pack a pair of sandals or booties. Packing cubes have also been a lifesaver for me. They help me keep everything organized so I can pack tops, jeans/shorts, underwear, etc. all separately and know I haven’t forgotten anything.

I’m sure I have forgotten a few tips so if you have any, I am sitting here with open ears on more ways to save and travel on a budget. Please leave a comment or some advice if you’ve got any. Thank you so much for taking the time to read and spend some of your day with me.

xoxo AS