Afford a Trip

11 Ways to Afford the Trip of a Lifetime
By Don Miller

The last four years fortune has smiled upon our family. We have had the opportunity to enjoy four fantastic trips we will remember for a lifetime. Frequently people have wistfully commented, "I/we would love to travel like that but will never be able to afford it. The cost is prohibitive". Wrong. Everyone has priorities including how they spend available money. Maybe there are things you could do to increase your income but often altering your spending habits will give you a chance to enjoy your "Trip of a Lifetime".

The following ideas are some ways our family saves for a vacation. Some may be applicable to your family, others may not.

1. Eating out is expensive even at fast food restaurants. Typically, Carol and I like to go to our favorite Tex-Mex restaurant once a week. Our meals, a margarita each plus tip usually costs about $30. When we cut back to once every two weeks that saves $60 a month. In one year, $720 goes into the travel account. If you eat out more often or have a herd of kids, the savings can be enormous.

2. When eating out I usually have a glass of wine and occasionally one grande margarita or frequently two regular size drinks. When saving for a trip, I cut back and the savings easily equal a couple hundred a year.

3. Pay for most of your small personal expenditures such as gas, small grocery purchases, lunches, soft drinks and incidentals with cash. Why? Because you get change. All change goes into our globe that has been converted into a trip piggy bank. $1.50 per day is $540 a year. $5 daily would be over $1800.

4. Houston has toll roads which I have occasion to use weekly. My round trip would cost $5.50. Instead, I travel on alternate routes or the frontage roads. It may take a few minutes longer but as soon as I come in the house, I put that money aside. Approximately $286 a year is saved.

5. Work overtime if possible or get a part-time job.

6. Numerous occasions for gift giving present themselves throughout the year. Christmas, birthdays, Valentines Day, Anniversaries, Mother's Day, Father's Day, Arbor Day and Mall Opening Day to name a few. This is not to suggest to ignore those holidays and special occasions but perhaps reconsider what you are giving or how much. Especially Christmas, how many times do you purchase all kinds of junk just so the tree is completely obliterated with gifts? Perhaps the gift recipient would be thrilled with X amount of dollars put away toward that special holiday.

7. Men iron your own shirts instead of going to the laundry. Travel Smith (a catalogue company) has dress shirts that when ironed with no starch look much better all day long than any commercial laundry. You can figure out your savings.

8. Watch your spending habits. When we have money in our pockets, many of us just cannot wait to spend it. Learn to control yourself. This is not to suggest you live the Spartan existence of a cloistered monk, but give some consideration to your purchases.

9. Work lunches, as differentiated from family dining in point one, is another area of potential savings. It is difficult to have a decent burger, salad or whatever with a soft drink for under $5. There are approximately 250 work days in a year. Conservatively, that is $1250 a year for lunch. Bring a sack lunch 50% of the time. You just saved $625 a year.

10. Travel independently when going overseas. You will have more fun and enjoyment and the savings are significant.

11. Some areas of the United States, most places in Europe, Australia and New Zealand have lodging in Youth Hostels. Your savings, especially as a group, can be substantial compared to brand name hotel chains.

To make the above plan operate successfully, you need to have a specific reason. To say, "I am going to Europe someday" is too vague. There is no sense of urgency or commitment. Be specific as possible about the date.

Begin your trip planning immediately or like New Year's Resolutions the trip will die before it gets started. Get all participants involved or at least informed. You need to have that dream or that carrot everyone chases. Constant discussion makes it real and keeps everyone motivated to save.