One of my life’s goals is to travel the world as much as possible. Finally, after 8 years of contemplating, I traveled internationally, but I was mindful of my spending, as my aim was simply to travel and see places. They say, ‘Travel the world,’ and it’s absolutely true! But that doesn’t mean you need to spend a huge amount of money. In India, there’s a couple who own a small tea shop and have traveled to almost 26 countries on their limited income. However, social media has created the impression that travel needs to be luxurious to look aesthetically pleasing. I think that’s why many people wait to travel until they can afford a luxurious experience and perfect photos. I’m someone who just wants to experience things and would keep it private unless I think it would help someone like me. I have no intention of becoming a mainstream tourist. I spend my money intentionally on things that bring me comfort and make my life easier and better.
These are the ways I tried to save money during my first international trip.
Travelled off-season
I booked the trip for the off-season because I didn’t want to deal with severe cold or see snow at the time. The climate where I traveled was clear and sunny with a cool breeze. It was perfect, allowing me to explore the area without any issues, and I also got a great deal on the trip.
No New Clothes for Travel
Did you know you can wear the clothes you already have when traveling? The urge to buy new clothes before a trip is often influenced by social media. I didn’t spend any money on clothes, and I’m proud to repeat my outfits. It would have been different if we were traveling during winter, as we would have needed layering clothes. But since it was summer in the country, I packed casuals along with a few cardigans and a hoodie for cooler weather. I only had to wear the hoodie only once when we were in the mountains.
Kept A Budget and Paid by Cash
Setting a budget is the first step to saving money in any part of life. Especially when traveling, budgeting helps you avoid overspending. We exchanged money into both the local currency and Dollars, and paid everything in cash to easily track our spending.
No Luxury Stay or Dining
I have to admit that our travel agent booked a decent stay with free breakfast as part of the package, but it wasn’t anything fancy, and I was fine with that. For lunch and dinner, we chose local restaurants, which helped us save some money. The food was delicious, too.
No Shopping During Travel
I didn’t spend my money on shopping at malls or duty-free stores while traveling. I only bought some local sweets and small souvenirs like magnets and vintage timepieces, all within the budget we had planned.
What did I splurge on?
Minimalism or international living is about spending money only on what is essential for you. I splurged on transportation and booked a private cab and guide, as we needed the comfort and the flexibility to stop whenever we wanted. This was included in the package, along with a decent hotel, sightseeing, and flight tickets. It felt like multiple private road trips. As I mentioned earlier, we traveled during the off-season, so it was much cheaper. You can further reduce costs by opting for group tours or booking everything yourself.
There you go! I hope this blog has influenced you in a way that shows you can travel on a budget if your goal is to be a traveller rather than a mainstream tourist. I believe everyone should travel and see new places, as it’s one of the true purposes of life. Creating a sinking fund and budgeting properly allows you to travel with your family without breaking. You don’t have to impress anyone but yourself.
