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How do you save up?

Saving to go to Europe?

16 years ago, February 8th 2008 No: 1 Msg: #26992 Delete Edit

bailey337
This side of Texas

B Posts: 21

Hello everyone, I just have a quick question. How in the world do you save do go backpacking in Europe? I am going to Europe in a few weeks, (its only for 10 days) but my dream upon dreams is to go backpacking across Europe, I think I would be ok w/ a month or 2. How much do you save up? And how do you get the time off from work? I am almost obsessed ! My "tentative" date to go backpacking in Europe in summer 2010, but I guess I dont know how to save up that kind of money and get 2 months off work, what did you all do? Reply to this

16 years ago, February 9th 2008 No: 2 Msg: #27066 Delete Edit

denidax
Deni, Dax and Ella

B Posts: 568

Hello Erin!!!

We'll...even though Europe is quite expensive, is not as bad as you think!!!!...

You said you want to come in 2010, which means you have more than 2 years to save; just think of all the things that you do or buy that you don't need:

We are all tempted with the sales (specially women ;oP)...but I admit that most of the things I buy when I go "shopping" I don't need them, my solution?: avoid temptation!!!!, I haven't been shopping for months (literally!!!) and I must say it feels very good;

Try to eat at home instead of going out, rent movies instead of going to the cinema...you get the idea...

A good "investment" will be to buy "Vagabonding" of Rolf Potts (I don't get tired of recommending this book because it's great!!!!); it's about 4 dollars in Amazon and it explains how easy traveling actually is; also check the Couchsurfing which is an amazing organization in which people offer their couches or help around the world...that will save you some bucks in accommodation and will help you to meet local people.

we've been saving for our trip for about a year now, and ok, we have a little "advantage" because we live in England and we save in pounds and the main leg of our trip will be in Asia and we'll be traveling mainly by bicycle, so we can stretch the money a bit more...but for a couple of months in Europe you shouldn't have any problem... there's the Interrail network, that you can buy a ticket for up to a month (I think) at a very reasonable price, also Ryanair is a very (and I mean, very) cheap airline that flies everywhere in Europe,(normally not to the main airports but to nearly every country!!).

As for your job...well, you could ask for an unpaid leave for that time or...quit!!!! if you found your current job...what makes you think you won't find another when you come back????

I hope you enjoy reading the book and planning the trip, that's half the fun!!!!

Good luck!!!

Deni Reply to this

16 years ago, February 9th 2008 No: 3 Msg: #27094 Delete Edit

Ali
Ali Watters

B Posts: 5,200

Saving is hard - but having a goal makes it a lot easier. As Deni says above - part of it is the art of living cheaply.

Magazines - don't buy them - even travel ones 😉 - if you have internet access you can get your fix there instead. Most seem to cost $5-10 - it's just disposable money.

Avoid the consumables tricks - like cheap razor bodies - with really really expensive cartridges.

Every time you think of buying something - think - "What will I do with this when I'm travelling?" - it really helps make sure you only buy what we need.

It's kind of opting out of modern living - our economies need consumer spending - if we only buy what we need then growth slows. So insulate yourself from advertising, be prepared to live differently, get involved in activities that are free or cheap - it will depend on where you live, but hiking, art galleries, museums are free activities.

Another thing that often happens - two jobs - that's up to you - and your main employer - do you have the energy for two jobs? pick a second job in a completely different area to your first one.

Most of the long term travellers on this site have very very little - no cars, no permanent home - living on the road as much as possible - you get to opt out of so many things living like this. Cars depreciate, houses require maintenance and in some countries have a lot of taxes. I think that this deserves a topic to itself.

As for jobs, many people quit, many people ask for a sabbatical - unpaid leave - if the employer refuses - talking about quitting often brings them around. Reply to this

16 years ago, February 9th 2008 No: 4 Msg: #27120 Delete Edit

bailey337
This side of Texas

B Posts: 21

Thanks for the advice. I know my biggest thing to "give up" would be going out w/ friends, i.e. going to bars/clubs, movies, dinner, it adds up, sometimes $40 bucks for just a night out! And the next day, nothing to show for it. I am going to Europe at the end of Feb, but only for 10 days, I want to go for 2 months at least (ideally, 6 months would be better to expeirence stuff, but again, $$)

anyway thanks for the advice Reply to this

16 years ago, February 10th 2008 No: 5 Msg: #27137 Delete Edit

Dudes
Amy and Chris

B Posts: 55

Another important factor you need to consider is what you find comfortable or acceptable while you are traveling. Are you okay with going to a market or grocer and buying some bread and cheese and eating that for your meals or do you really want/need to eat out at a restaurant while you are in a foreign country? Another big deal is shelter? Are you okay with trying to contact strangers and stay where you can find a spare couch? If so, you can save a ton of money if you go the couchsurfing route and it is really easy to do in Europe.

Having a general idea of what you will spend before you go is helpful in then being able to set a goal, even if it is just a very basic initial idea it's going to help.
I think Ali said it perfectly and I just wanted to echo it with way too many words! Reply to this

16 years ago, February 10th 2008 No: 6 Msg: #27172 Delete Edit

bailey337
This side of Texas

B Posts: 21

Thanks, I have heard of couch surfing before but I guess I didnt realize it is such a big thing over there! Reply to this

16 years ago, February 12th 2008 No: 7 Msg: #27341 Delete Edit

DustinKeating
Dustin Keating

B Posts: 14

I remember having this exact same concern the first time I left for my big euro-trip, and it seems that every first time traveler does the same - the proof is in the questions non travelers always ask, things like; "but how did you save up all that money!".

Truth is, you can read any amount of books, threads, wiki articles, whatever, and you still won't get a good feel for exactly how much money you will need to travel because, when it comes down to it, it is a very personal situation. So I won't even attempt to give you an actual number figure as to how much money you will need (spend), but I do have a suggestion to how you yourself may figure it out.

Attesting to the previous submissions, it's all in what you do before you leave that governs how you will travel. I'm a firm believer that the amount you will spend daily in Europe is directly proportionate to how well you cut yourself off from spening before you leave. If you're strong enough to avoid the "tempations" while you are at home and preparing for your trip, then you're likely to be more frugal while you're abroad. If you're hellbent on saving enough money to really acheive the trip you want, than you're more likely to budget for things that really matter while you're abroad because after all - this is what you've saved for.

So test yourself. If while at home you find yourself making leaps and bounds in the budgeting department, graced with the where with all to avoid the tempations of your normal life, than you'll probably stretch your dollar fairly decently overseas. If not, maybe a little practice or a little more cash is the way to go. Either way, all that matters is that you strive to acheive the bankroll that will fund the lifestyle you're truly comfortable with. Not all of us are meant to sleep on the foreign couches of strangers, or on the benches of train stations, but the big thing is finding that out in the first place. Reply to this

16 years ago, February 13th 2008 No: 8 Msg: #27414 Delete Edit

deleted_49612
deleted_49612

D Posts: 24.6K

Hello Bailey 😊

Live simply and way below your means.
I dont have a car or TV.
Have a budget and have an opportunist attitude about shopping.
I buy a lot of things when the shops want to get rid of them. I have shirts and trousers, shoes and boots etc which cost between 1 and 5 Euros.
Work out a weekly budget for food and household things and stick to it most of the time.

When u are travelling be flexible about where u go so u can avail of special offer ticket prices.

Work: Sometimes I quit because I was only doing the job to earn travel money in the first place. Sometimes I moved to other countries and worked there. With my last job they were always short staffed so I used to do lots of overtime in exchange for more days off to travel. Now I dont work, appart from looking after my daughter that is. I fit my travelling time into how much time my boyfriend can get off work and/or when my daughter has a school break.

To travel around Europe at the moment u will need 30 to 50 Euros(backpackers budget and staying in hostels) not including intercity transport. I generally try to have more money than I need while travelling in case of emergencies and in case I discover something wonderful I must do or have that costs money.

Mel

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