How-To: I’m Saving Money to Travel the World ?

Prioritization

If saving money is what you need to do to go around the world, then it all begins here. Every step I take, every decision I make, is done with my goal in mind. It involves plenty of sacrifices. Being thrifty is my first step. Here’s a good rule of thumb: Whenever you have to prioritize, think of the two relevant factors of effort and impact. When the things you’ve got to do are of “low effort” and have “high impact,” it makes the sacrifice a lot easier.

The Art of Simple Living

Saving up for my first international trip meant living life a little low key. I did not succumb to my weaknesses of purchasing the latest pair of Levis or buying the latest iPhone. I made a note of all my set expenses (like rent and bills), unrestricted expenses (wining and dining, movie nights and online purchases) and then weeded out the “must-have” from the “can-have” expenses. It’s surprising the difference between how little one needs to get by and what one thinks one needs to get by.

Stay Focused

Let’s face it. Your plans are going to be disrupted quite often by miscellaneous expenses, mockery of your ambitious efforts and much more. It’s important that you are convinced with the measures you are taking to reach your goal. Focus like a 

dog

 does on its bone. I did the math to figure an approximate amount that I would like to save. I’m 30 percent there and am going to stay strong the remaining 70 percent of the way.

At the Finish Line

The small efforts of cutting down on daily expenses and giving up certain luxuries will pay off at the end when I will be able to successfully travel across countries, savor local cultures and cuisine, meet great people, etch memories to treasure, and enrich my experiences ten-fold. The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page.