Travel is not just for the rich
I’m traveling my TAIL off in 2019.
In fact, I traveled my tail of in 2018 too.
& I’m only 25 years old.
We are not rich, yet we live fairly comfortably for 25 year olds.
Two full time jobs and two side hustles between the two of us. We work HARD. And we still have student loans (I’m talking $70,000+), a mortgage, a car payment, plus various other bills not to mention 2 dogs who seem to get into enough trouble to cost us $3,000 easily per year.
Yet we travel.
Let me say it louder for those in the back
TRAVEL IS NOT JUST FOR THE RICH.
You just can’t be an asshole about how you spend your money.
In 2018 we went to the beach 2 times, the NC mountains once, went to 10 states, had a WEDDING. We traveled 3,028 miles by ground and 9,519 miles by air. Oh and we didn’t go into a single penny of debt doing so.
I’m not here to give you a “how to stay out of debt and still travel like royalty”
No I’m here to tell you “to stop spending money like an asshole and actually go see the world”.
1 week from tomorrow we are heading to the beach, again. That will be 3 beaches visited in 4 weeks. We’re in the phase in our life where we want to do all the things, see the world, be set free from reality more than once a year. Wait scratch that, it isn’t a phase, it’s a way of life now.
traveling doesn’t have to be for the rich. We are not rich, yet here we are getting ready for our 3rd beach in a matter of 4 weeks. Here we are planning our flights to Rome and Germany this fall. HOW DO WE DO IT?!
everyone can travel.
I repeat.
EVERYONE CAN TRAVEL.
you just have to cut the bull shit.
- you do not need to eat out for lunch 5 days a week. pack a lunch.
- you do not need to go out to dinner multiple times a week. you have 2 hands and a stove, go cook for yourself (it’s healthier anyway).
- you do not need the newest version of the iphone. you want it.
- you do not NEED that Starbucks every day before work. make yourself your own damn coffee. Buy the ingredients online, you can make that same shit at home for $1 a piece.
- you do not need a manicure biweekly, or those eyelash extensions, or that spray tan, or those fake boobs, or whatever the hell else the ‘beauty standards’ are calling for these days.
- Your dog doesn’t need that bandana because it’s cute (trust me I’ve almost fallen into this and likely will when it fits the budget).
- You don’t need that new pair of brown sandals when yours from last summer are hold up just fine
- You don’t NEED a second pair of shorts just because the sale is buy one get one 50% off. That’s still spending MORE money than you came into in the first place.
- You don’t need that NFL bells and whistles package, you want it.
- Do you need to see the movies in the theaters, or can you wait?
- How many 5k races do you actually need to do?
there are things you splurge in because you like to.
Me? I buy new running shoes every 3-5 months. okay, I need to, but still.
choose your favorite “feel good items” and CUT THE SHIT.
A starbucks a day, 5X a week: $100
a biweekly manicure: idk, $40 a month
cutting back just ONE restaurant meal week: $60 a month (per person!)
now let’s stop right there. that $200 is the price we are paying for an airbnb in Myrtle beach for 2 NIGHTS! Holy crap- traveling IS POSSIBLE?!?
it is.
But wait let’s keep going.
- Lunch at the cafeteria: $8-10. Lunch made at home: $2-$5.
- That dog bandana that’s not necessary?: $15
- Those sandals? :$20
- That extra pair of shorts, even on BOGO: $20
- That NFL Sunday Ticket package?: $100
- Just one movie a month, for 2 people plus concessions: $40
- The average registration fee for a 5K: $35
things add up.
oh and one last thing…..
Use FuelSaver systems, saving anywhere from 3 cents to up to a whole DOLLAR (at least here in NC), per gallon. If you’re buying a new car (cuz you need to) go for fuel efficiency! We each drive 50 miles or more per day, our car? 48-50 miles PER GALLON.
As you’re cutting costs, spending thriftyly (is that a word), etc. Let me first suggest making a budget. Take a look at where you spent your money last month, and where you can cut costs. Remember, cutting costs just minorly, in multiple areas, can add up to be HUGE! Don’t feel like you have to cut everything, like I said earlier, it’s okay to still have your “splurge” items, if that is what makes you feel good. But trust me, a budget is hands down necessary when it comes to trying to travel more, while still living. There are plenty of budget apps (for free!), they are tedious to set up but once you get going, you’re rolling. Not to mention there are excel templates set up for budget tracking as well. Use resources and technology- it IS the 21st century afterall!
So stop telling yourself you can’t travel. You are just choosing to not travel by choosing other things. If travel is important to you (like it is us) then you need to figure out how to make it work.
Life of Carly B 