How do you do it??
Jun 11th, 2003, 11:33 AM
#62
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When we were young - with young children - like a lot of others, we took road trips close to home, stayed in state parks, went to the beach, took longer road trips to visit relatives, etc. As the children got older, we took some longer trips - (flights), usually choosing the trip that was a good buy at the time (cheap flights - from Dallas to Denver for $58 round trip each, $98 round trip from Dallas to LA). This allowed us to see new parts of the country at a bargain price. Since the kids were grown, we have taken a cruise (it was chosen because it was a great deal), three trips to Europe (all on miles and spending about $200/day for all expenses), and we are planning a trip to NYC for Christmas (purchased thru Priceline). We love to travel and hope to continue to see the world - all at a bargain price of course! We save for our trips, and I spend hours planning them - in order to do more for less! I do enjoy the planning - it's half the fun!
Jun 11th, 2003, 12:34 PM
#63
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I took my first trip about 5-6 years after completing university. Since graduating in 1985, I've always had two jobs. One very full-time, and one part-time (couple nights a week or weekends). The part-time job money always goes into a "trip fund". The full-time job money is my day-to-day living money.
That's how I fund my trips. My first trip was about 4-6 years after graduating: Trafalgar first class 2-week bus tour of Europe. I was hooked!
Since then, I've had one "big" trip per year (two weeks usually). One more bus tour of Great Britain, and the rest driving around North America.
That's how I fund my trips. My first trip was about 4-6 years after graduating: Trafalgar first class 2-week bus tour of Europe. I was hooked!
Since then, I've had one "big" trip per year (two weeks usually). One more bus tour of Great Britain, and the rest driving around North America.
Jun 11th, 2003, 12:49 PM
#64
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At the risk of offending Fodors, I suggest subscribing ($12 a year) to Arthur Frommer's Budget Travel magazine. Each month, they feature 40+ package trips (usually airfare, hotel, and breakfast included and sometimes tours and car rental also) to places in North America, South America, trans-Atlantic and trans-Pacific -- often for $399 to $599 for a week or more! The magazine is chock-full of helpful tips for budget travel and you'll more than make up for the cost of the subscription.
Jun 11th, 2003, 01:00 PM
#65
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I think one of the most popular threads I've seen on the Europe forum was entitled "Is everyone here immensely wealthy?"
The person asked essentially the same question that you did, and hundreds chimed in with ideas and strategies on budget, money and travel. You couldn't help but learn a few things after reading the responses!
I'll try to locate it and bring it to the top for you on the Europe forum.
The person asked essentially the same question that you did, and hundreds chimed in with ideas and strategies on budget, money and travel. You couldn't help but learn a few things after reading the responses!
I'll try to locate it and bring it to the top for you on the Europe forum.
Jun 11th, 2003, 01:16 PM
#67
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Hi,
I know many people can't do this (myself included) but I have a friend who NEVER spends a One $ bill.
If something costs $6.00, she pays with a $10 bill (not a 5 and a 1) and when she receives 4 $1 bills in change... well that is another $4 that she won't spend, and just puts it away. It is AMAZING the money she saves every year.
I do a varation of this, probably like many people, and dont spend my change. I honestly do not miss the nickle here, quarter there, but manage to save a few hundred $ a year
Anyone else do something similar?
Ruby
I know many people can't do this (myself included) but I have a friend who NEVER spends a One $ bill.
If something costs $6.00, she pays with a $10 bill (not a 5 and a 1) and when she receives 4 $1 bills in change... well that is another $4 that she won't spend, and just puts it away. It is AMAZING the money she saves every year.
I do a varation of this, probably like many people, and dont spend my change. I honestly do not miss the nickle here, quarter there, but manage to save a few hundred $ a year
Anyone else do something similar?
Ruby
Jun 11th, 2003, 02:16 PM
#68
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I also was very discouraged to read such fun stuff that others were doing, then I read the thread with the bios and so many are older than I (not old!) and/or retired. I felt such relief to realize that I will get there in time and am pretty well on my way.
You have gotten great tips, some I may use too. I have learned to travel with people, my Mom, brother, husband and I. I love to travel with my Mom and brother because we like the same types of things and know when to give each other space. My husband is fun because he hasn't been anywhere so everything is an adventure. Splitting the costs is great too (though Mom is picky about places to stay)!
We also rent homes or apartments so we can cook meals. If we do stay in a hotel, I try to get one with a fridge, microwave and continental breakfast. Take a backpack and lunch (lunchables are easy). So then dinner is the only thing we eat out - but we could eat in if we needed to.
Another thing is look into home exchanging. Then all you pay for is airfare and doing stuff (museums etc). I am so excited to buy a house so I can begin to look at it seriously, though there are condos and apartments listed.
From here I also thought about exploring my own backyard. For example I would give recommendations on things to see here or see questions on here about things that I hadn't even seen. So I try and do that - even been known to sleep in my canopy. I can't wait to get a trailer so we can go further and more easily. Even rented a motorhome to see some of my state up close (with Mom, brother, husband, 2 cats and a dog - doesn't get much more adventurous than that)!
You have gotten great tips, some I may use too. I have learned to travel with people, my Mom, brother, husband and I. I love to travel with my Mom and brother because we like the same types of things and know when to give each other space. My husband is fun because he hasn't been anywhere so everything is an adventure. Splitting the costs is great too (though Mom is picky about places to stay)!
We also rent homes or apartments so we can cook meals. If we do stay in a hotel, I try to get one with a fridge, microwave and continental breakfast. Take a backpack and lunch (lunchables are easy). So then dinner is the only thing we eat out - but we could eat in if we needed to.
Another thing is look into home exchanging. Then all you pay for is airfare and doing stuff (museums etc). I am so excited to buy a house so I can begin to look at it seriously, though there are condos and apartments listed.
From here I also thought about exploring my own backyard. For example I would give recommendations on things to see here or see questions on here about things that I hadn't even seen. So I try and do that - even been known to sleep in my canopy. I can't wait to get a trailer so we can go further and more easily. Even rented a motorhome to see some of my state up close (with Mom, brother, husband, 2 cats and a dog - doesn't get much more adventurous than that)!
Jun 11th, 2003, 02:46 PM
#69
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We are in a very different situation. We are retired military so use space-a when ever we can. We are retired and our mortgage is paid up. We have been taking a trip to Europe almost every year. Have done a 30 day eurrail pass and also a 60 day. Besides many driving trips. We usually pick up things for a picnic lunch. Nothing better than french bread cheese and a bottle of local wine. Even on the train we take our lunch. Never stay in large hotels. Prefer small inns and B&B's. Last year did a two week Elderhostal in Ireland followed by four weeks on the continent.
This is the way we love to travel. Staying in small towns is cheaper than big cities and so much more interesting
When Our children were small we had a trailer and made many trips with that. They saw a lot of America which they still remember.
This is the way we love to travel. Staying in small towns is cheaper than big cities and so much more interesting
When Our children were small we had a trailer and made many trips with that. They saw a lot of America which they still remember.
Jun 11th, 2003, 04:05 PM
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There's a quote I heard once, and I wish I knew the author, but I know it isn't me.
"No one looks back on their life and wishes that they'd spent more time at work"
I think what people have said about patience and priorities are on the mark. It takes time to have and do the things you really want but isn't that always the case with worthwhile things?
But, it helps to make sure that you're on the course to end up doing the things you love. People have a tendancy to figure out how much house or car they can afford at any given time and then spend that. It makes much more sense, if you want to be able to do more than live for the next paycheck, to leave some headroom. Don't rent the apartment that just fits into your budget. Buy a house that comes way under what the bank says you qualify for. Same with cars, etc. Figure out if the career path your on will ever let you get away to use that money you've saved.
In the meantime, shop fares and rates and look for deals. Accept roughing it. Get the adventure travel in while you're young. Camp, use hostels, whatever.
My dad used to pile us up in a car and head out constantly. We drove all over the US and Canada, camping or in cheap hotels, cottages, so forth. I remember us pulling a 16' v-bottom boat behind a tiny little 70's Toyota Corolla from St. Louis all the way to Montreal. He was determined he was going to boat in the St. Lawrence Seaway. When we got there, there were signs the entire length - "No Boating". Then he pulled it all thw way back dry as it started. But we did see Niagra Falls. You just do what you got to do, and usually, but not always, it comes out ok. You won't ever regret finding a way to scrape by and do it.
"No one looks back on their life and wishes that they'd spent more time at work"
I think what people have said about patience and priorities are on the mark. It takes time to have and do the things you really want but isn't that always the case with worthwhile things?
But, it helps to make sure that you're on the course to end up doing the things you love. People have a tendancy to figure out how much house or car they can afford at any given time and then spend that. It makes much more sense, if you want to be able to do more than live for the next paycheck, to leave some headroom. Don't rent the apartment that just fits into your budget. Buy a house that comes way under what the bank says you qualify for. Same with cars, etc. Figure out if the career path your on will ever let you get away to use that money you've saved.
In the meantime, shop fares and rates and look for deals. Accept roughing it. Get the adventure travel in while you're young. Camp, use hostels, whatever.
My dad used to pile us up in a car and head out constantly. We drove all over the US and Canada, camping or in cheap hotels, cottages, so forth. I remember us pulling a 16' v-bottom boat behind a tiny little 70's Toyota Corolla from St. Louis all the way to Montreal. He was determined he was going to boat in the St. Lawrence Seaway. When we got there, there were signs the entire length - "No Boating". Then he pulled it all thw way back dry as it started. But we did see Niagra Falls. You just do what you got to do, and usually, but not always, it comes out ok. You won't ever regret finding a way to scrape by and do it.
Jun 11th, 2003, 04:40 PM
#71
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A lot of great ideas here, but I'm not seeing many along the lines of the above mentioned used cars and Target shopping. I've found it's much easier to stretch the money I have rather than try to make more. Some may apply to you austinite, some may not.
One of the biggest and best things you can do is figure out how to live without credit card debt. Giving 20, 30, 100 dollars or more a month in interest to a credit card company can really cut into your budget.
I too drive a seven year old used car.
I don't own a cell phone, (horrors! ) I figure 30 bucks a month times 12 is $360 a year towards my next vacation.
I'm careful when I eat out. You can pack your lunch and take it to work. If you save $5 a day 4 working days a week that's 1000 dollars a year.
If you smoke stop it, $3 a day times 365 days = $1095 per year.
Stop giving Starbucks 3 dollars for a cup of coffee, 200 days a year is $600. I know people who have two cups of Starbucks a day.
Get a roommate. My younger brother and I bought our home 12 years ago and paid it off two years ago. Our home is a modest 2,000 square feet. Do you really need a 4,200 square foot home in suburbia? Just imagine what no house payment at the age of 40 did to my traveling prospects. I know roommates aren't an option for many people, but when you're young and single...
Buy a case of beer, rent a movie and have friends over. A Miller 30-pack is running $12 right now. 30 cans of beer in a bar at $2.50 apiece is $75. While your at it, grill out burgers and dogs rather than ordering pizza or Applebees carry-out.
Avoid the technology trap. It's incredibly expensive to keep getting a palm pilot upgrade, the newest computer and a bigger and bigger TV. I'm sitting here typing on a 3 year old Dell Latitude laptop. It has a 56k modem and a Pentium II processor. It doesn't take much to visit a message board; it takes a lot of money to buy the latest video game and the new PC it takes to run it.
HSS - I call it Hobby Startup Syndrome. Scuba diving this year, snow skiing next year, rollerblades for 6 months after that, collecting comic books for two years, etc. Everytime you fire up a new hobby, you can expend a lot of cash. If you didn't stick with the last hobby, why do you bother to start a new one? If you want to do something like jet skiing, rent the equipment at $50 an hour for a few times. You'll throw away a ton of money spending $10,000 for a jet ski you use one summer then have to sell used.
One of the biggest and best things you can do is figure out how to live without credit card debt. Giving 20, 30, 100 dollars or more a month in interest to a credit card company can really cut into your budget.
I too drive a seven year old used car.
I don't own a cell phone, (horrors!
) I figure 30 bucks a month times 12 is $360 a year towards my next vacation.I'm careful when I eat out. You can pack your lunch and take it to work. If you save $5 a day 4 working days a week that's 1000 dollars a year.
If you smoke stop it, $3 a day times 365 days = $1095 per year.
Stop giving Starbucks 3 dollars for a cup of coffee, 200 days a year is $600. I know people who have two cups of Starbucks a day.
Get a roommate. My younger brother and I bought our home 12 years ago and paid it off two years ago. Our home is a modest 2,000 square feet. Do you really need a 4,200 square foot home in suburbia? Just imagine what no house payment at the age of 40 did to my traveling prospects. I know roommates aren't an option for many people, but when you're young and single...
Buy a case of beer, rent a movie and have friends over. A Miller 30-pack is running $12 right now. 30 cans of beer in a bar at $2.50 apiece is $75. While your at it, grill out burgers and dogs rather than ordering pizza or Applebees carry-out.
Avoid the technology trap. It's incredibly expensive to keep getting a palm pilot upgrade, the newest computer and a bigger and bigger TV. I'm sitting here typing on a 3 year old Dell Latitude laptop. It has a 56k modem and a Pentium II processor. It doesn't take much to visit a message board; it takes a lot of money to buy the latest video game and the new PC it takes to run it.
HSS - I call it Hobby Startup Syndrome. Scuba diving this year, snow skiing next year, rollerblades for 6 months after that, collecting comic books for two years, etc. Everytime you fire up a new hobby, you can expend a lot of cash. If you didn't stick with the last hobby, why do you bother to start a new one? If you want to do something like jet skiing, rent the equipment at $50 an hour for a few times. You'll throw away a ton of money spending $10,000 for a jet ski you use one summer then have to sell used.
Jun 11th, 2003, 04:55 PM
#72
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We sort of do the same thing Carib_Ruby. My youngest son collects the spare change, keeps the quarters and cashes in the dimes,nickels at those grocery store change kiosks. Last vacation he cashed in 80 dollars for his fun money. Its amazing how many georges I collect. I put them in a plastic tucks jar and will probably cash in over 100 for our Disney trip July.
Jun 11th, 2003, 05:38 PM
#75
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my suggestion... be patient....Take short trips when you can. Do not risk heavy debt just for travel. There is plenty of time for that. It would not be worth it to risk bad credit and huge bills!!
My husband and I are 33 and have just really started heavily traveling.
Enjoy!!
My husband and I are 33 and have just really started heavily traveling.
Enjoy!!
Jun 11th, 2003, 05:52 PM
#76
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Great tips Indytravel, we live like this as well, although we do have a cell phone (lowest minutes however), and high speed internet (definitely worth it!!). But I agree that Starbucks coffee,etc...is a ripoff! Is it that hard to time your coffeemaker and buy Starbucks on sale at Target??!
Our 2001 car is paid, and we're saving to pay for a house, so we're on our way!
Our 2001 car is paid, and we're saving to pay for a house, so we're on our way!
Jun 18th, 2003, 11:35 PM
#78
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Austinite ! You have broken the bank with such an answer ! God thing ! I'm in mi middle 30's, and like you, I'm a fun for travelling. Tha fact is that I've always been on a budget. But no matter this, have I always make my best to travel. My suggestion is that, for first travellers ona a budget, a clean bed and a shower are the unique musts you need. First time in NY I had to sleep literally on the floor, at a room rented by a friend. No matter this, I did enjoy the city as much as a Plaza Hotel guest. Do eat cheap, which is easy in your country, and just bear in mind if this $ you're gonna spend is absolutely necesary. When travelling in the US ( gone 4 times, repeating this summer ), sleep at motel6 like motels, have enormous breafasts, and run ! Go for it ! Good idea: monthly fixed earnings for the matter, try en envelope ! Jaime. spain
Jun 19th, 2003, 04:43 AM
#79
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People will come up with money if its something they like to do. I like local travel which makes the expense for travel very low, but there are others who are willing to spend thousands to go to Europe. I am a clothes horse and love home decor so I spend my extra money on that. When there is a will there is a way.
Jun 19th, 2003, 05:35 AM
#80
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Marry Well!! JUST Kidding!!! ;-)
However I did make a point to marry someone that was better with money than I am!
Prior to getting married I was saddled with a huge Credit Card debt. The several hundred a month I spent to pay it off for 5 yrs....would have paid for SEVERAL nice European Vacations!
IF you do have the time to give up 3-4 nights a week I do recommend waitressing. I usually got out early enough to still go out at night on the weekends and the extra $100 take home CASH in your pocket adds up. I probably had a good 250-300/week from those 15-20hrs. Minimum wage part time jobs won't do the trick especially when the tax man comes calling.
I worked a regular M-F 8-5 desk job while I did this. It was rough but if you get in good with the managers they will usually be flexible with time off. And I had a LOT of fun with my co-workers.
BEFORE you find yourself in debt or locked down to a mortgage, kids, pets etc....I agree with a poster above who said to change jobs---find a job that allows you to travel.
We just got back from Germany and met a girl on a bike tour from Australia. She was working for a tour company and got to travel, work and see lots of places PAID for!!!!! Plus her company didn't require her to babysit the customers --so she had free time to take the bike tour.
Probably doesn't pay a lot BUT --she gets to see all of Europe for most expenses paid.
AND by all means do the student/hostel thing as long as you can! We missed that age level a few years ago...but it would save us a lot of $. Plus now I am accumstomed to nicer travel. Makes it a lot harder to lower your level of comfort!
I know we will have to change our vacations once kids come along.
In the meantime--we visit my parents in Japan next August! FREE place to stay in Japan is PRICELESS!!!!!!!
However I did make a point to marry someone that was better with money than I am!
Prior to getting married I was saddled with a huge Credit Card debt. The several hundred a month I spent to pay it off for 5 yrs....would have paid for SEVERAL nice European Vacations!
IF you do have the time to give up 3-4 nights a week I do recommend waitressing. I usually got out early enough to still go out at night on the weekends and the extra $100 take home CASH in your pocket adds up. I probably had a good 250-300/week from those 15-20hrs. Minimum wage part time jobs won't do the trick especially when the tax man comes calling.
I worked a regular M-F 8-5 desk job while I did this. It was rough but if you get in good with the managers they will usually be flexible with time off. And I had a LOT of fun with my co-workers.
BEFORE you find yourself in debt or locked down to a mortgage, kids, pets etc....I agree with a poster above who said to change jobs---find a job that allows you to travel.
We just got back from Germany and met a girl on a bike tour from Australia. She was working for a tour company and got to travel, work and see lots of places PAID for!!!!! Plus her company didn't require her to babysit the customers --so she had free time to take the bike tour.
Probably doesn't pay a lot BUT --she gets to see all of Europe for most expenses paid.
AND by all means do the student/hostel thing as long as you can! We missed that age level a few years ago...but it would save us a lot of $. Plus now I am accumstomed to nicer travel. Makes it a lot harder to lower your level of comfort!
I know we will have to change our vacations once kids come along.
In the meantime--we visit my parents in Japan next August! FREE place to stay in Japan is PRICELESS!!!!!!!
