At the beginning of a new year, many people make a list of resolutions. If your list is anything close to mine, we all have travel the world jotted down. Travelling the world is a rather expensive affair and that is why we are starting a travel fund. While that fact is set in stone, there is no need to let it stand in our way. The following steps should make it easier to crisscross the globe without denting our finances.
Set Up a Travel Fund.
In order to save for trips, open a bank account dedicated to traveling. Make it all sorts of hard to withdraw money from the account. This will help you save and be one step closer to visualize your travel goals. Modern technological trends in the banking sector, one doesn’t need to be a financial wizard to start investing. Invest your money wisely and don’t forget to always put some in the travel fund. Sign up for accounts that give you access to investment opportunities if saving is not the way for you. Supplement this account with fresh funds periodically to ensure your travel fund grows.
Automate your savings.
Human beings are creatures of habits. Saving will seem a bitter task when compared to the fun things like shopping. Automate your account to allow a portion of your paycheck into your ‘travel fund’ account. This will make it easier for you to keep up with the periodic supplement of funds you had set for the account.
Assess your Expenses
Figuring out how you spend your money will help you budget your paycheck. It will be easier to see what needs to cut out if it is not essential. Track your expenses for a given period to see what your biggest expenses are. Some mobile banking applications will do this for you. These apps keep track of all your expenses over the given period. It is important for you to cancel subscriptions to sites you no longer use. Cutting down on these services is also crucial. Let’s say you have a Hulu and Netflix account, try using one and changing it with the other after a period. This will help you cut unnecessary expenses.
Take Advantage of your 401K.
When you receive your bonus, instead of spending it on things like a new car, increase your 401K contribution. Seeing as most employers match their employees’ contribution, you’re essentially getting free money. With this free money, you can then fund your traveling and get that new car. With a promising financial future, traveling will be easier to save for.
Take Advantage of Any Offers or Rewards.
Credit card providers and airline card providers reward users with discounts, cheaper flights in addition to cheap hotel rates. These offers and rewards are invaluable resources when it comes to planning dream trips happen. Look no further than the internet where you’ll find people who put this resources to good use. However be careful when signing up for these cards as one can easily get into debt.
This collection of tips and tricks can be used by any and all travelers to plan for their getaway adventure.