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Saving Money

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I need some new ideas for saving money for backpacking next summer.
15 years ago, August 18th 2008 No: 1 Msg: #45840  
B Posts: 7
Me and my boyfriend are planning on traveling to Europe next summer to backpack for about 3 months, however we are still students and have NO MONEY! We are trying to save and cut back on unneeded expenses, but we're both afraid that we're not going to have enough money to either do all the things we want to do, or not go for as long. If someone has some suggestions on how to save up money or how to cut costs while traveling abroad I'd really appreciate it! Thanks! Reply to this

15 years ago, August 18th 2008 No: 2 Msg: #45844  
Here are some ideas that I borrowed from another website for ya. I'm in the "save save save" mode at the moment as well. (althought I just had a weekend of a lot of spending as I went to an amusement park with some friends).
It gets a little boring at times, but I just try to think of the perks of saving cash.


-Stop Drinking Alcohol (or at least, cut it down drastically)
-Give Up Cigarettes
-Don't Go Shopping. Ever
-No Eating Out
-Move Home to Your Folks
-Cancel Cell Phone


* An important thing to do all through this is to keep a record of your lifestyle savings.
* Open a dedicated savings account so you have a measure of progress towards the budget you've calculated;
* Live within your means, i.e. spend less than you earn;
* Reduce your outgoings by adjusting your lifestyle;
* Increase your income by selling unwanted possessions and/or changing jobs. Reply to this

15 years ago, August 18th 2008 No: 3 Msg: #45857  
Hello Ally 😊

You might be surprised just how little you can live on. Be openminded about what you eat and wear(well, no need to go to extremes or anything :D) and you will be able to live on a lot less.

Walk as much as you can instead of taking the bus etc....

Get rid of mobile phone. Use email instead. Get rid of car, if you can at all do without it.

Mel Reply to this

15 years ago, August 18th 2008 No: 4 Msg: #45894  
N Posts: 12
I agree wiht Jay with keeping a record of your spending. Write down every cent you spend for a week and it should become pretty obvious where you can cut back easiest. In fact, you'll probably be shocked at how much you really spend that isn't necessary. Cheers! Reply to this

15 years ago, August 24th 2008 No: 5 Msg: #46599  
We found out that most China towns can offer great cheap food. Good for people with little money. Reply to this

15 years ago, August 30th 2008 No: 6 Msg: #47305  
When I was living in San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua, one of our most important trips of the day was to a small local "internet cafe" to write to family and friends and keep in touch with world news. It was also a place where you could meet local friends and see the new faces that may have just arrived in town. One evening I went to the cafe and there were two young men in their early 20's on the computers and there was a duffle bag sitting on the floor between them. On the backs of their chairs and on every other empty chair were draped the skimpiest bikinis I'd ever seen. I got to chatting with these guys and they told me they had traveled, mostly backpacking it, all the way from Brazil, on the money they made from selling these bikinis in every tiny internet cafe they came to. These Brazilian bikinis were just 2 triangles on top with strings and 2 on the bottom (not much bigger), with strings. But they were REALLY cute, and they were selling for $20.00! In a town where you could get an entire meal for $1.00 and a clean place to sleep for $4.00-$5.00! Well, they sold a bunch!! Even a few of the local girls, who didn't have a lot of money, somehow found the $20.00 to buy these teensy-weensy bikinis! Mostly they were bought by other travelers and foreigners living in town. I was surprised at how many they sold! Of course it didn't hurt that they were both attractive young Brazilian guys, but I thought this was a brilliant idea! Travel and make money as you go. These guys were not salesmen. They weren't pushing these bikinis. I even had to ask them if they belonged to them. These things sold themselves! So, just find an item that all the young ladies will go crazy for. Something small like these bikinis, and go to towns by the ocean where every young woman is looking for another cute bathing suit! Good Luck!
A. zudro Reply to this

15 years ago, August 31st 2008 No: 7 Msg: #47341  
I have one viable sudjestion. You can get a street performance set which will render some money. This is not as complicated as it sounds. I did it several times and I am not a good musician, nor were my partners. Try to do a set up with belly dancing (any dance with a good dress will do but the dancer is essential for attention and outdoor cafés). You will have great fun and get to know nice people. You need to speak to other performers since there might be informal rules. This is particularily good in Granada and Sevilla, (Spain).
You can hitch hike in France and Netherlands from small towns only (e.g. not from Paris). People will literarrily turn around to pick you up. Spain is almost impossible for this so don't even try. This will save you lot's of travel fares. This way of travelling is far more common in Europe than in USA.
In the town of lagos (Portugal) you can probaly work for bars handing out flyers which will give you free drinks and some money.
If you get to Sweden i might get you free location. OK? Good luck!

Reply to this

15 years ago, August 31st 2008 No: 8 Msg: #47392  
Yeah, NO shopping at all!!!!
You are gonna be surprised how great it works! And how many clothes, shoes and the rest of things.. you've got already..(!)
I did it and..flying to Asia in 2 weeks 😊))))
Beldonado's suggestion - if you get to Dublin (and I'll be around) I can offer my coach 😊
Gooooood luck!
S. Reply to this

15 years ago, September 3rd 2008 No: 9 Msg: #47825  
Dont forget when in Germany especially... Couchsurfing.com and Mitfahrgelegenheit.de (carpooling)! I've learnt my lesson! Reply to this

14 years ago, August 27th 2009 No: 10 Msg: #84456  
B Posts: 171

Travelling has also made me very good with managing my money. I have learned how to make the most of whatever money I get.





when i find myself trying to justify spending money i sometimes ask "how many days of travel would that buy me?" which often results in makeing the desicion not to spend it. :D



Reply to this

14 years ago, August 27th 2009 No: 11 Msg: #84465  
What I do, is ask myself how much I need or will enjoy whatever I want to buy and can I get it for a better price if I wait a bit. I only buy what is a great price, what I need or what I will really enjoy, and that lack of careless spending saves enough for longhaul travelling more than once per year. Reply to this

14 years ago, August 27th 2009 No: 12 Msg: #84467  
2 posts merged into this topic from: Travel will change you. Reply to this

14 years ago, August 30th 2009 No: 13 Msg: #84700  

Yeah, NO shopping at all!!!!



This is what it ultimately comes down to, but I find it sooo hard, especially because as soon as I say I can't do something it's all I can think about doing! My way round this is to write a list of everything i'll need to buy for the trip and then whenever I get the urge to spend I buy something off the list. This satisfies the retail therapy urges and spreads out the cost of buying all the travel gear.

If you can't take it with you, you don't need to buy it! Reply to this

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