(1st and 3rd image are not mine)
We all have our own preferences for travelling. It's pretty clear now that mine is the budget travel lifestyle. That is the whole idea behind Travel Bee, I'm here to share my budget travel ways (along with some of my other interests like reading and animals).
I've already done some blogs about budget travelling, cheap flights and making the most of your hostel stay. This one however is all about preparing for the trip. What can you do before you leave to ensure you are going to be financially sound?
Work, work, work, work, work
This has got to be the ultimate advice for preparing to travel. I personally don't know how people can afford to travel extensively without working their little a** off beforehand, because that's how I do it!
Before I solo travelled in 2018/19 I worked two jobs, finished off my university degree and volunteered one day a week at my local zoo. I fit my two part time jobs in where I could, and I remember the first month I earned over 1k (ever!) and was ecstatic. I put it all into savings for my trip.
I am doing very similar once again, I quit my part time zookeeping job (*cries in zookeeper*) to work full time in hospitality. As much as I love zookeeping and my apes, I was very stagnant on the part time wages. I could not afford to move out or move in with my boyfriend, I was struggling with the price of petrol (I was travelling 50 miles a day for work), and I also couldn't afford many 'luxuries'... you know, the nice, small things that make life worth it. Even though I loved my job, I was struggling financially which was really putting strain on my mental health. I now work two jobs and volunteer one day a week at the local animal shelter, averaging out around 55 hours a week (I did 34 in my last job), I use far less petrol and don't have to pay rent! I have a lot more disposable income to save away now.
As I'm travelling for longer this time, I will need more savings, so I am working a lot more.
Pay as you go
If you book your trip via a travel agent or travel company (like myself) I recommend paying it off monthly.
It becomes a monthly bill, with a direct debit, meaning you don't even see the money in your bank before it's gone. I know this is sad, but it means your trip is being paid for automatically without you having to even think about it.
I, personally, find this easier as it makes the grand total less daunting and breaks it down into manageable monthly amounts.
Pre-book everything
This isn't for everyone, winging it can be fun, I get that! On the other hand, winging it eats into your allotted spending money.
If you plan a vague itinerary and book the tickets before hand, while you're still at home and earning, it means that you can replace the money spent. So when you're abroad, you can enjoy all these activities and not have to worry about if you can afford the ticket.
It's the same with accommodation. If you can pay for it before hand, I highly suggest it. There's nothing worse than handing over a big chunk of your spending money to cover accommodation. If you can pay for it while you're earning, it wont feel as big of a hit.
Book flights as early as possible for the best deals
Booking flights has to be done either as early as possible (about a year in advance) or as late as you feel comfortable leaving it. This is how you get the best prices. I always book mine as early as I can.
Fly out on a week day (preferably Monday-Thursday) and don't shy away from 1am flights because these will be the cheapest options for you. Going for the cheaper option will give you more money to save away for your time travelling, when you won't be earning.
Shop second hand
We love to shop for holiday clothes, I know...but do you need to?
Go through your wardrobe and make a list of what you have VS what you actually need for travelling. Take into consideration the religion of the countries you are travelling to, are you going to need cover ups for temples? Do you need to purchase t-shirts that cover your shoulders?
If you do need to purchase items for travelling, I suggest going second hand! Ebay and Depop are great online options, but for the best prices, go out to the charity shops and have a rummage!
This is also a great way of reducing clothing waste and the negative affect fast fashion has on the environment.
Assess your outgoings
Get a pen, sit down with your bank statements and actually have a look at your income and outgoings. Is there anywhere you can save? Can you swap to a cheaper phone contract? Unfortunately, bills are sky high right now and unavoidable, so it is going to be harder to save any money there at the moment.
Have a look at your disposable income. What do you have left after all your bills are paid and where is that going? You don't have to cut out all the luxuries (that makes day to day life a bit dull) but you will have to limit them! Try things like:
Instead of getting a take-away every Friday night, get one every payday.
Only eat out once a month.
Treat yourself to one thing off your wish-list on payday and that's it for the month (that's how I do it, one pay day treat).
Limit date nights
Have 'stay at home' dates with your partner or friends
There are ways to limit you spending but still feel like you're having nice things too. It's about finding that work life balance. I did this quite easily, even with working 50+ hours a week, but that's probably because my ideal downtime is staying home with some nice food, watching a film and reading! Old before my time I tell ya'.
Thanks for reading! I hope you enjoyed this blog, follow us for more here on WIX blogs or on Instagram @bilbo.h.
Thank you