Amen, Amen, Amen. It's amazing how much money I can convince myself to NOT spend at home when I think "I could be spending this in Rome--or on getting to Rome." I'm an executive assistant and my husband works as a manager for a grocery store. When my first passport expired, I began having nightmares. I was in quite a depression winter before last when my husband interrupted my crying over my European slides (from 1985) with, "Why don't we plan a trip to Europe for next summer?" My first response was, "Great, who's going to pay for it?" Well, we're leaving in 5.5 weeks--and it will be paid for before we go. We've saved for 15 months. Every birthday, anniversary & Christmas gift from both sets of parents has gone into the trip fund, as did my bonus--and my husband's Xmas gift cert from work to the local outdoor store went to new socks, etc, for the trip. It is entirely a matter of priorities--just like everything else in life. I know a schoolteacher who goes to Europe every summer and has for 20 years. My house is an icky color, my lawn needs a lot of work, and one bathroom has been stripped to the wallboard for almost 2 years--all because we bought a bargain former rental in a neighborhood most of my coworkers wouldn't even drive thru. We don't have cable, only get the weekend local paper, rent occasional movies, eat at home or at low-cost places. I learned, though it took too long (it was about the time I decided to quit the stock brokerage business), that I don't really care what toys everyone else has, what kind of car they drive, what kind of clothes they wear--I'm me, and one of the things I need to do is travel. The trips I've taken in the recent past have been tag-alongs on business excursions or driving trips to visit friends or relatives. Plus we took only scattered days off last year to save the vacation days for this year. The "trip jar" someone mentioned reminds me of the piggy bank my parents used to send me to college--because that was one of their priorities. Dad emptied his pocket change into it every night for 18 years. And as a general rule, I find living on cash to be the most peaceful-of-mind state, not to mention cheaper. As far as this particular trip, I figured out first thing how much I thought we needed to save, then divided that by the number of pay periods between then and our goal departure date. Then on payday I set aside that much into a "kitty" (hide it in my checking acct like Mom taught me), just like writing the offering check to church, or having the 401k $ deducted from the paycheck--it's the old 'pay yourself first' trick. Granted it would be much harder to do this--or own a house--if I were still a divorced single mom. The earlier comment about discretionary income is so true. I say budgets are like gases--they expand to fit the money available the way gases expand to fill the space available. Sorry to drone on.

Count us in as part of the "far from wealthy" group! Like many others on this forum we live downsized lives in order to travel. Here's how: <BR> <BR>1. We stay home! No movie theaters, restaurants or bars. We rent videos, play boardgames, read library books, surf the net, have friends over. We get our exercise by hiking, cycling, anything that is FREE. <BR> <BR>2. We drive old cars. Mine is ten years old and my husband's is five years old. We own both vehicles free and clear. <BR> <BR>3. We clip coupons, buy the sale items at the grocery store and brown bag it every day unless a business lunch is required. No Starbucks, frozen yogurt, etc. <BR> <BR>4. We've paid off all loans and credit cards. Took two years of double and triple payments but was well worth it. The money that we used to use for monthly payments now goes into the travel fund. <BR> <BR>5. We don't buy new clothes. The old ones will do. We're no fashion plates but we're presentable. We try to take the old shoes to the repair shop instead of buying new ones. <BR> <BR>6. I let my hair grow long! Saves on haircuts. I don't get manicures because I can't type with long nails anyway. No expensive cosmetics either. <BR> <BR>7. We put every financial windfall (bonus checks, tax refunds, etc.) into the savings as if we never even received it. Can't spend what you don't have! <BR> <BR>Anyway, like so many others on this forum, we just made travel a priority in our lives and disciplined ourselves in order to afford it. I've dreamed of traveling to Europe for the past ten years, but time and money never seemed to coincide until I decided to MAKE them do so! That was the key -- deciding how much I really wanted it and figuring out how to make it happen. With the money we've saved we are taking TWO trips to Europe this year, one in May and one in September! <BR> <BR> <BR>

<BR>Me again - something else Pam's response reminded me about my own situation. My husband and I stopped buying each other Christmas, birthday, etc., etc., gifts YEARS ago, well over 20 years ago. We decided our gifts would be our trips. (tho I must admit he breaks down and buys me candy and flowers on Valentines and my birthday despite my "protests"!) Sometimes friends or relatives will complain about not being able to travel as much as we do, but in the same breath often talk about what to buy their spouse for birthday etc. Or complain that they just don't know what to get, or don't know what to tell their spouse to give them or they hate to shop etc etc. Our way is such a simple solution to gift exchange with your partner! Have to go now, work on planning New Zealand trip in Oct.! <BR> <BR>

WOW ... how refreshing to read POSITIVE posts rather than name calling, I'm right, you're not, ones ! I can't add much more to the already great suggestions on ways of cutting corners so you can enjoy your vacations, except to say that when we travel to one of our dream destinations, I'll get a post card of that spot and hang it up on my bulletin board at work, so when I'm having a bad day, or somebody is yelling that they didn't get what they wanted, or when they wanted it, I look at the postcard and smile, knowing that putting up with day-to-day stuff allows me to add another postcard to the ones I already have!! Wanderlust AND that first passport stamp are infectious!! Great suggestions and I'm anxious to read more ...

My motto is "I work to travel." My problem is not working out the money as much as it is having the time to take off work. <BR> <BR>Talk about a bummer; when you are younger and have all that time off school/university, you don't have the money and when you finally begin to see the money, you don't have the time. <BR> <BR>Anyway, I'm surprised that more people just don't have a special savings account for travel. I save at least 10% a year for my trips. I go at least once a year for 2 1/2 - 3 weeks. By saving thoroughout the year, it doesn't hurt as much and it really does add up. Set up a savings account today (and no I don't work in the banking industry!). <BR> <BR>Deb

<BR>Wealthy, I think not. However, it all comes down to priorities. My husband and I both work, and we have no kids. We made a solemn promise to each other when we got married 15 years ago that as long as we were both working, we would always take one nice vacation a year. Fortunately, one has become two. Our home is modest and of course could use work, whose doesn't. However, we look for deals on airfare (Hello, Paris for $411 each round trip the end of May), and jump on them. We stay in modest 2 or 3 star hotels, and eat modestly when we travel. No 5 star Michelin restaurants for us, I would think they would be boring. We use public transportation where ever we go, and always look for the tourist cheapies, for example, the Paris metro card and the Paris museum card. We went to Europe on our honeymoon 15 years ago and have been hooked ever since. It was cheaper then Hawaii, and much more magical.

I'm not rich. I go away to Europe or the Middle East (and/or Asia) for 6-8 weeks every second year. Australians get 4 weeks annual leave every year and you can save it and use it when you want (depending on who you work for). I don't have a mortgage and don't earn a fortune, but I work weekends and save very hard for my travels.

What wonderful replies! And I don't think our original query-er (don't wanna scroll back to the top, lest I lose everything) could help but learn something. I wish some H.S. teacher (or many) would incorporate the wisdom here for a "let's get real" class for today's adolescents. The "pared-down, don't need-won't spend" approach is certainly how we managed our first trip overseas, in 1984 -- I worked on Chicago's Magnificent Mile then, walking to the train past Crate & Barrel and Marshall Field's, with a little interior voice that kept repeating, "we're not spending money, we're not spending money." It worked. Now, semi-retired on a third of our former income, it's a learning experience. "Scrimping" in this circumstance takes on a new meaning, but as you all have so amply demonstrated -- where there's a will...there's definitely an airline ticket!

Its definitely a matter of priorities. I think travel is VERY important; my husband, on the other hand, would rather pay off more of our student loans. I'm planning a trip for us for late this year, and it will be his first trip to Europe. I, at 27, have been over 3 times before. I'm hoping that once he finds out how wonderful it is he will stop complaining about the cost. I submitted a budget proposal when I started planning the trip, and it was very interesting to see how I cam up with the money for everything. If you plan far enough ahead, you'd be suprised at how easy it is to afford a trip. <BR> <BR>We're not sacrificing our lifestyle at all, and I didn't change our monthly budget. It was more of a decision to pool different resources in differnet ways. For example, he works for an IBM subsidiary and receives quarterly bonuses. I'm taking that money and putting it in our trip account. We had purchased a big screen tv from best Buy last year, which was interest free for a year. Now that the year is over, I take the $100 a month we were spending on that, and transfer it to our savings account on the old due date. <BR> <BR>I find that the Entertainment books are a great value, especially for when we decide to eat out. They also offer good hotel values, and car rental deals. My other big secret are the credit cards which give you miles for every dollar you spend. Between charging everything (and I mean EVRERYTHINg) each month, and having all our bills charged to the credit card, we tend to amass 30,000 plus miles a year - and thats without flying anywhere. Seriously, the long distance companies, like MCI, will give you 10,000 miles for switiching to their service. You then get 5 miles for every dollar in long distance, which averages to $75 a month for us. You have to stay with the company for 6 months, but then you can switch elsewhere and get another bunch of miles. My grocery store, Randalls, offers 1 mile for every $2 I spend, which is on top of the dollar per mile i get for charging our groceries. Our electric bill, phone bill, long distance bill, cable, cell phone, water bill, and security system are all charged to our credit card. The only check I ever write is for our student loans and mortgage, and I assume there are federal laws about letting you charge those. As long as you pay off your bill each month, this is a GREAT way to earn free trips abroad. <BR> <BR>Some people above seem to have great fares flying to Europe. I'm assuming they must live on the east coast. I live in Texas, and the best flight to europe I've ever found was about $550, and that was from Houston to London. <BR> <BR>All it takes is some careful, anal planning, and you should be able to travel at least once a year.

Amazing. 28 responses in only a few hours. The question must intrigue the kind of folks who visit Fodor's web site. Here are a few ways to stack away some bucks for travel. Give up smoking. Don't drink much. Invest early and often. Watch expenses. Don't gamble. Do volunteer work -- amazing the ideas others will share. Read a lot at the library. Read Fodor's web site. I started doing all these things (except the latter) starting 50 years ago. Some early investments paid off handsomely; Wal-Mart, Ford, Johnson & Johnson, for examples. Just start early, keep it up, never quit, reinvest all the dividends. Buy stock in companies whose products and services you know. Kick the tires. Pay cash. Do it yourself. Have fun.

Hi Debby <BR> <BR>I aim for a o'seas trip every two years! We live so far from Europe, here in Australia, and it costs us so much to get there that I - <BR> <BR>1. Set a goal for a particular time of year. <BR>2. Save my $'s opening a savings account and NEVER withdraw. <BR>3. Cut back on other things. <BR>4. Save my leave. I get 4 weeks per year, and we need that to travel to Europe, to make it worth while financially. Takes Australians 24 - 34 hours to get somewhere in Europe. <BR>Costs upwards of $2000 economy altho cheap flights (northern hemisphere winter - $1700. If airlines get desperate airfares can go down to $1300 but never when I can go) <BR>5. Put up with ssssssstreeessss at work to travel. <BR>6. Be happy to go 2* if needed <BR>7. Get the agent to price the trip and work backwords, cutting out the non essential extras then find ways of doing it yourself, and since I've found Fodors, it's easy. <BR>8. New, but small and cheap car. Only use it to travel to work and back - 3 km anyway. Husband's company car at weekends. <BR>9. Yes, Neal, don't smoke. <BR>10. Enjoy the preparation/information gathering for 18 months - makes for a very long wonderful holiday. Lasts 6 months after you get back. <BR>11. BE DETERMINED. <BR> <BR>Denise. <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR>

To add a totally new dimension to all of this - I am New Zealander, 25 and doing it all now before I settle down (which doesn't go to say I won't stop). I worked my way around Australia, travelled Asia for a month (not even hotels for me, this is super budget), and then arrived in the UK to work. I worked for one reason - to travel. Every cent I have goes on travel. I do not own anything (yet) and will start from scratch when I do settle down. In that time I have spent four months travelling Europe - in a van, camping the whole way - not even 2-3 star hotels (would have bee nice...). Travelled Africa for a month. Am going to Egypt/Israel for 6 weeks at the end of this year, and then camping through Africa for 2 months before staying on in South Africa to work for 6 months. No bookings up front, all budget accommodation - tent taken every trip, mingling with the locals - not shut away behind a pension door. When I am 30 my fiancee and I will stop travelling, and choose a country to live in. Then we will take one holiday a year - he is from South Africa, so we have the choice of two beautiful countries. Why do not young Americans do what so many NZers, Australians, and SAcans do, and experience it all working there way around before seriously starting a career. Sorry to have babbled on, but just trying to add a totally non American perspective.

Jo, to answer your question about why more young Americans don't travel around before settling down to a career (and this is just my personal opinion). American's have a "live to work" mentality. It is ingrained in us from fairly early on. To leave school and travel around before settling on a career is, sadly, almost viewed as failure. We are taught that we have to fiercely climb the "corporate ladder" as soon as possible. Do not delay. I know my parents would have simply died if I said I was going to work my way around the world after college. We are taught that we must own things - house, 2 cars, etc. The bigger, the brighter, the better. My husband and I eventually purchased a home after we married, but more and more people I encounter feel they have to own one before. It's sad, but that's just the way it seems here in the US.

Put me down in the not-wealthy crowd. My job pays ok (but not great), but I just bought a house and two new cars two years ago, just had a child three weeks ago, and I am still paying off large college loans (for the next 6 years). I have used a strategy that many others have mentioned. I stay in moderately priced hotels. When I went to Switzerland, I got a room for $28 a night in Interlaken. When I went to Cancun, Mexico, I stayed downtown for $50 a night vs. the $120+ for most beachfront hotels. Now that I have more expenses (with the child), when I can travel again I will likely have to try yet more strategies. My other Europe trips have been in late August and in the Spring (both very nice for weather), but now I will consider taking late fall and winter trips to save on airfare. Also, you can take shorter trips. I think a lot of the expense comes from trying to get the most for your airfare by staying in Europe for 2-3 weeks. There is nothing wrong though with a couple of week long jaunts to say Paris or London and Rome/Florence. What I envy the most are the people who have lots of vacation time. I sometimes regret that I didn't finish that PhD in European history so that I could have more free time in the summers and be able to travel to Europe to work.

Hi, everyone: <BR> <BR>I second Ilisa's statement about US values. The importance of material items begin at birth with a baby shower. Americans tend to think that more, more, more is better than what's sufficient and necessary to do the job. Not to mention, high school aged children judge each other on what brand name clothes they wear! Then, once you've finished college you're expected to get a good job, work your fingers to the bone and become successful, which is always defined as how much money you make. <BR> <BR>I work in Boston in a corporate office where I see materialism at it's best. Where you shop, the size of your house, and the year of your car are incredibly important to people here. Don't get me wrong, I like nice things too, but materialism isn't a priority to me. <BR>Life is too short to worry about inanimate objects. I value seeing beautiful landscapes and meeting different people over having a new suit from Ann Taylor or driving a fancy car. In the end, you'll get bored of the suit and the car will need repairs. Then, you've got nothing to show for the money you've spent. <BR> <BR>On the other hand, the memories and photographs I have of enjoying myself with my companion while traveling are worth more than anything else money can buy. <BR> <BR>Jennifer <BR> <BR>PS--Debby: Thanks for asking the initial question; I'm glad to see that there are other people out there who feel the same way as me. <BR>

Have enjoyed this topic very much. It all comes down to PRIORITIES. <BR> <BR>We are not frugal, but our house and our vehicles are way below our means -- and those are THE TWO BIGGIES. We have a "date" every Saturday night by having a nice meal out. And we share plenty of $$$ with our churches each year. <BR> <BR>I almost laugh at the people around me who are so busy trying to look important. (I know someone who spends thousands on Christmas but hasn't been to church in 20 years.) I WILL laugh in 20-25 years when I'm retired and having fun, and those around me are whining that the government isn't doing enough for them. (Hey -- they could have put money into retirement, too, but they chose to p*** it away.) <BR> <BR>Debby, you just have to decide what's important -- yourself or your image. <BR>

Jennifer makes a good point above about the Ann Taylor suit and the fancy car. The key to becoming wealthy (or in a nicer term - financially independent) is to surround yourself with appreciating assets (financial investments, real estate) rather than depreciating assets (cars, clothes, electronics, etc.) And please don't collect money for a trip in a "trip jar" - put it somewhere where it can earn interest. Make every penny work for you! <BR>Also, smart financial decisions can make a big difference. If you have a student loan and are paying an interest rate of 8% on it, should you pay it off early or put the cash in some other investment? Clearly, you should choose to pay the loan off early, because you would have to realize an 11% risk-free pre-tax return (assuming a 28% tax rate) to equal the benefit of paying off the 8% loan. And an 11% risk-free pre-tax return does not currently exist. <BR>Also, a 401k or IRA should be used by everyone, no matter how young they are (the younger the better). There is no better vehicle in which to grow savings. And if your employer offers to match a portion of your 401k contributions, it would be crazy not to maximize this offer. It's free money!

<BR>With all due respect and gratitude for the many excellent suggestions, it is possible that Debby is already scrimping and saving as much as she can. <BR>Debby, look at it this way. You yourself are already a veteran traveler. <BR>You've been abroad once before, and you soon will go again. It's not as often as some people get to go, but it's a lot more often than most peoplego or even care to go, poor souls. <BR>You enjoy travel, you wish for more travel, you can read and plan your future dream trips which as another recent posting noted is a wonderful activity in itself. It's not as good as getting there, but next time you're scraping together your pennies, think <BR>of two or three or ten years from now when you can take your third trip!

Dear Debby: <BR> <BR>Everything in life is a desperately fragile balancing and juggling act. I, too, have had to pay for car loans, school loans, rent, and now--a mortgage. And yet I do more than 2 trips per year. <BR> <BR>My one major annual trip is overseas. 1997 - Brazil. 1998 - Singapore. 1999 - France. <BR> <BR>However, I also do road trips. I drive to places like Montreal, Cape Cod, etc. I don't have quite the money to fly overseas, but I still have the time. I do things like whitewater rafting in West Virginia, or skydiving, or hiking in any of the wonderful parks in the US. <BR> <BR>And yes, I sacrifice some things. I don't feel a need to spend a lot on cars, clothes, etc. because those things come and go, and can be lost in a second. My travel memories and the things I learn I keep in my head forever and nothing can take that away from me. <BR> <BR>Some people tell me that they can't travel this year because they are working on their house, or "don't have the time", or will do it soon. And life passes them by--working for the next house, car, or job. And these things provide no more fulfillment or inner peace than a pile of dogshit on the sidewalk. <BR> <BR>Since opening my eyes and having this desire to be true to myself, to live freely, and to be one with the beauty of this earth, I have made a vow to myself to be no longer part of the problem. I will try to maintain a non-destructive lifestyle and try to create some good in this world. If I can accomplish anything, always and right now, it would be to be a good man. Maybe I can't afford to go to Africa yet. Nor Australia. But I can improve my life here. I can make my world better my making myself better. I can open my eyes and see what the people of Zimbabwe or Iceland have to teach me in the ways of life. <BR> <BR>Daniel <BR> <BR>PS Now I am all fired up.

Dear Debby: <BR> <BR>Everything in life is a desperately fragile balancing and juggling act. I, too, have had to pay for car loans, school loans, rent, and now--a mortgage. And yet I do more than 2 trips per year. <BR> <BR>My one major annual trip is overseas. 1997 - Brazil. 1998 - Singapore. 1999 - France. <BR> <BR>However, I also do road trips. I drive to places like Montreal, Cape Cod, etc. I don't have quite the money to fly overseas, but I still have the time. I do things like whitewater rafting in West Virginia, or skydiving, or hiking in any of the wonderful parks in the US. <BR> <BR>And yes, I sacrifice some things. I don't feel a need to spend a lot on cars, clothes, etc. because those things come and go, and can be lost in a second. My travel memories and the things I learn I keep in my head forever and nothing can take that away from me. <BR> <BR>Some people tell me that they can't travel this year because they are working on their house, or "don't have the time", or will do it soon. And life passes them by--working for the next house, car, or job. And these things provide no more fulfillment or inner peace than a pile of dogshit on the sidewalk. <BR> <BR>Since opening my eyes and having this desire to be true to myself, to live freely, and to be one with the beauty of this earth, I have made a vow to myself to be no longer part of the problem. I will try to maintain a non-destructive lifestyle and try to create some good in this world. If I can accomplish anything, always and right now, it would be to be a good man. Maybe I can't afford to go to Africa yet. Nor Australia. But I can improve my life here. I can make my world better my making myself better. I can open my eyes and see what the people of Zimbabwe or Iceland have to teach me in the ways of life. <BR> <BR>Daniel <BR> <BR>PS Now I am all fired up.