“If I’m self-isolating, it’s going to be with a good book!
This is my motto while I stay home and stay safe.
Lately, everyone has been cooped up inside and staying home. Now is a good time to catch up on reading and travel planning. I know we can’t travel without worry right now, but a girl can dream, right?
Truth is, I am constantly planning my next vacation and this year is no exception.
To save for my vacations, I have a vacation fund where I deposit money each paycheck for my next trip. My good friend, Danielle Desir, who is a financially savvy traveler, does this too. She is just as passionate about travel as I am. In fact, she’s so passionate about travel and saving, she wrote a book about it entitled Affording Travel.
I contributed my own savings tips to the book, but after reading it, recently I have learned more financial tips for myself. So sit back and get ready, this article will share some of those tips and my favorite quotes from the book.
What’s Holding You Back?
“The truth is that most people get in their own way when it comes to pursuing the things they want in life.”
Danielle Desir, author of Affording Travel
Girl, get out of your own way. Personally, I couldn’t agree with Danielle more. Some people say they want to travel more, and yet, they don’t put action behind their goals. If you are truly committed to traveling more, prove it.
Pick a destination, and find out how much it costs to get there. Then, set a date for your trip. I am serious, forget about COVID-19 and all this craziness. Set a date for your next vacation! Then, above all, meditate on your travel destination daily.
How to Get Started: Make Travel a Priority
“I’ve made travel a financial priority in my life, and you can too. Yes, you can travel while paying off student loan debt. You can travel and live in your dream home. You can travel and raise humans and care for pets. You can even do it if you have a full-time job. Traveling isn’t only reserved for the ultra-rich or retirees.”
Affording Travel is Danielle Desir’s second book.
Read Iceland: Nature, Nurture & Adventure by Danielle Desir
Danielle and I definitely agree that traveling is for everyone that wants to travel. Periodt.
So, stop using the excuse that you don’t’ have the money to venture the world or across the United States. Instead, make travel a priority.
According to Danielle, the best way to show that travel is a priority is to save for it first, not last.
Danielle says, “And while there are plenty of people who will tell you to save for travel after all of your bills are paid, I’m not one of them. Instead, I encourage you to include travel as a line item in your budget and treat it like a recurring monthly bill.”
We both recommend you, save for travel like it’s a bill and pay that bill every month. Don’t sell yourself short. If you start saving now, you’ll be on your next vacation before you know it. Make sure your travel adventures happen by saving for them consistently, starting now.
Listen to Affording Travel an Interview with Danielle Desir
Step 2: Girl, You Need a Budget
I don’t like budgets just as much as the next person, but they are the best way to know where your money is going. As Danielle puts it, “I like to think of my budget as the Google Maps of my money. My budget points me in the right direction and tells me which avenues to avoid, so I can get to my final destination quickly.”
Your final destination is your next trip. Then, save for the next trip, and the next one, and so on. Use a budget to help you find and allocate the money you need towards your vacation fund. It’s best to put your money aside for your vacation fund automatically by setting up savings deductions from your checking account to your savings account (aka your vacation fund).
Save a monthly amount you can afford, and don’t be afraid to start small. Remember, every dollar counts. Want to boost your vacation savings faster? Use extra cash, bonus checks, and other financial windfalls to increase your vacation funds faster.
Boost Your Savings with Apps
As you know, yours truly made it into the book, but you’re going to have to read to the end to get all my juicy tips. Don’t worry, I’ll share one with you now. Save more and save faster with savings apps.
In Affording Travel I said, “You can use your change to pay for your vacations. I use the Acorns app, which rounds up my debit or credit card purchases to the nearest dollar and invests it into the stock market.”
It’s true, Acorns rounds up my purchases and I use the money I accumulate to pay for my plane tickets or spending money for vacations. Honestly, this is not my primary method of saving for vacations, but it helps make travel more affordable.
Try Acorns out for yourself and let me know what you think. Use my link and you’ll get $5 when you sign up.
Well, folks there you have it–my favorite tips to help you get on your way to traveling soon.
I hope you will take the time to read the entire book, which has many more tips like these just for you. It’s a quick read and helpful to anyone that wants to prioritize travel and their finances in their life.
Tell me where are you going to travel to first? Share your response in the comments, and let me know how soon you plan to get there.