I get asked a lot how I afford to travel so I wanted to share with you how I’m able to go on all these trips!
Sorry to disappoint but I don’t have a sugar daddy financing these excursions and my parents are not paying my way : )
The biggest thing I do is go on a financial diet when I’m home. I don’t have a large disposable income but I joined mint.com years ago for free and it keeps track of my spending and I can see where my weaknesses are in my budget (for instance eating out for me was adding up to be a lot so I joke about how I eat ramen noodles to afford travel.) I’ve been learning to cook more and it’s definitely saved some money.
I also realized I’d be happy sacrificing a few things to set aside travel money. I only get my hair done maybe 2 or 3 times a year now and pay to get my nails done rarely. I cut out my Starbucks habit and bring my lunch to work. Those things were adding up and while I enjoy them, traveling is more of a priority to me at this point in my life. I’d much rather have new experiences than go shopping. I also save money by having 2 roommates who are wonderful and have been so sweet to take care of Raja when I am away.
Whenever I get the itch to buy something, I ask myself, “how many hours would I have to work to pay for this item?” If someone came to me and said, “will you work X amount of hours and I”ll give you this in exchange would you say yes?” I spend less and even with a full time job I will gladly wait tables or walk dogs on top of that or whatever odd job comes my way to add to my travel budget.
Some of you have asked if I make money from my blog. Yes, I do but it is still a new blog (less than a year old) so definitely not enough to fully support myself yet and I don’t accept every offer that comes my way because I want it to be representative of me.
I work 12 hour days at my office regularly when I am in town so I don’t have much of a social life due to the schedule and my friends are so much fun but when we do get together I find myself wanting to spend way more than I should. To avoid overspending at an expensive place downtown, I invited a few girlfriends over tonight for a spa night at my place and it’s something super easy and inexpensive where I still get to spend quality time with them. As long as I work hard when I am in town, my boss is very understanding about my desire to travel and I’m so appreciative for that.
Traveling has also shown me how little you really need so I don’t have the same urges to buy new things. And it feels really good to rid of things and donate them. (I will admit I get more attached than I should to clothes – my denim skirts from high school are sitting at Goodwill as I type this).
I travel cheaply, too. I research a lot and if I can’t find a hotel in my price range, airbnb.com is my favorite tool to use when traveling.
I realize that everyone has such different priorities when it comes to spending but travel has become more and more important to me and after reading some comments, I wanted you guys to understand I don’t have piles of money laying around I just have to choose what I’m going to give up in order to make it happen.
*This post was not sponsored by mint.com I just really like using their tools and it’s helped me so hopefully it will help you too 🙂
I enjoyed reading this. I’m always being asked how I afford to travel and my answer is usually “I spend less on travel than you do on x, y, z, etc.” I still live near most of my immediate family and this is the 1st year, I can’t even think of any material things to ask for for Xmas & birthday.
Thanks, Brian! I feel the same to me it’s as simple as giving up some other things. I realized if I cut back on food maybe $50 a week that’s $2600 a year and that would make a huge difference! Glad you can relate.
$2,600 is airfare, decent hotel & food for a week. I haven’t made any money off my blog yet. Signed up for WordAds, but nothing so far. Food is a major expense for me and that’s the one area I can cut back in the most, lol.
Exactly!! Actually any sponsored post has been through contacts I’ve made via Instagram. It helps because they get a sense of how much traffic you have and what your audience is. I agree I definitely love my food 🙂 haha
I’ll have to look into sponsored posts. My only other income besides my day job right now is the NYC food tours I run once in a while. I just converted to WordPress this year. Before that I was on blogspot as part of an MBA class project.
Adventure inspires the writing:) An escape from the daily chores of life:) Enjoyed your post.
Thank you Denise!! 😃
Money is fungible
I feel the same! Experiences win every time : )
Thank you for joining my blog, if you had not I wouldn’t have found your terrific Blog!!!!
through you “sittingprettyinqueencity” I’ll be able to travel to some great cities.
That makes me so happy thank you!!
Reblogged this on GUM: Growing Up Millennial.
Thank you, I’m flattered : )
No problem at all! From one Carolinian to another.
Those are great useful tips
Thank you! : )
I always get asked the same thing too! I joke that the reason I can travel is the reason I live paycheck to paycheck. But really I save money for my excursions, like you said, and skimp on other things so I can make sure the travel budget grows! Great post!! 🙂
So happy I’m not the only one! Haha It seems we have that in common : ) Thanks, girl! <3
Absolutely! You should check out my blog if you get a chance 🙂
I also use Airbnb! I think it’s a great way of travelling. I prefer it above hotels… because it’s a much more homey way of travelling and you get to know really awesome people!
I seriously love it!! I agree it’s so comfortable and I prefer it to hotels too. Such a great find!
I think it all comes down to making travel or whatever you want in life a priority. Awesome post btw!
Completely! I know it may not be other people’s priority so they think I’m crazy but for me, it’s totally a priority!! Thank you!
This is such an alternative and convenient as I am using my phone all the time. 🙂 Thanks for this post! 🙂
Great post. If you’re not aware of FareDealAlert.com, you should check it out. They have some ridiculous deals to all ends of the world. They have an entire page for Charlotte deals 🙂
Thanks for the tip! I’ll have to check it out!
Great post! People always ask me this, too, and it really is about prioritzing what you want to do. And it’s so rewarding to save up and then know the memories will be priceless and long-lasting from the trip, far more so than things. 🙂
I am with you sister!! 100% : )
Thanks for stopping by my blog 🙂 Love your tips here. Going to give the rest of your posts a read soon.
Thank you, Beverly!
Traveling is fun and can be done if you really want to make it part of your life. Thanks for stopping by and liking my recent post, Paleis Het Loo. What a grand place that was–as nice as Versailles! True opulence at its most lavishness. Sigh . . . but if I lived in a place like that I might not want to leave it and travel so much, or maybe I still would. Who knows? It’s so much fun seeing the world. Happy travels!
I think you’re right! When I’ve traveled to beautiful places and made friends there many of them have said they live in paradise they think it can’t be topped so they don’t want to travel! It’s nice that they still appreciate the beauty even though they’ve always seen it. 🙂
Thank you for sharing with us !
Thanks for reading! 🙂
Hi, Johanna. You have some great advice there. My starting point is always to go for the cheaper option where I stay. I just finished a trip to Canada, and I was perfectly content having the most basic accommodation possible. That keeps me out of the hotel and in the city. I was never crazy about those travel shows where the host or hostess goes on about the expensive hotel he or she is staying in. I can understand spending more for a good location, but who cares about the delux sheets or if you get chocolates on your pillow every morning?
Laszlo you are speaking my language! haha I personally don’t spend much time in the room when I’m traveling (just to sleep and change really) so I avoid paying for the extras and that’s why airbnb has been such a great option for my travels.
fantastic ideas! thanks
Thanks girl! : )
I just read your post ,every comment and all of your answers. Very well done.
I definitely like your writing. I’ve never tried airbnb, but every time I hear about it, it is always very good reviews.
I’ll have to look into that because, as you said, I’m only in the room to sleep and store my gear. All other times, I’m our for pictures and video of wherever I am at the time.
I love Ramen noodles. I haven’t had any in a while but I used to add cut up chunks of baked chicken breast with seasonings… I loved it. In fact, if I started eating it today, I’d probably gain a lot of weight because I like them so much, lol.
And you’ve inspired me. Being single, I eat out all of the time. And it’s usually bad food, like fast food. That is a large chunk of my monthly expenses. I’ll look into mint.com and see what it’s all about. If I budgeted like you, I could take several trips a year, instead of one big one where hotel is a big expenditure for me.
I’m considering Rome for my next trip. My sister wants to go, so I’ll have to try airbnb next time, because she is definitely a nice hotel type person, lol.
Maybe I’ll see you at an airport sometime. 🙂
Wow that’s amazing you’ve been through everything on here! I loved Rome I meant to write more about it. I took a cooking class there which was one of my favorite experiences. Yes, I love mint and people don’t realize I sacrifice a lot of other luxuries in order to do things but it’s all about priorities. Glad you feel inspired : ) I’ve traveled with those who need luxury and those who are fine sleeping outside so it’s all about compromise or maybe even saying, “we’ll rough it here 2 nights maybe you pick the next night” I definitely mix it up and I appreciate it more when I do stay somewhere that actually has air conditioning and amenities. Thanks for your comment!
Yes, people have different incomes and can afford different travel styles, but everyone can travel with a bit of saving up:) I travel somewhere because I can get a cheap ticket and find budget stays, I only occasionally splurge on luxury stays:)
I’m the same! I’ll maybe splurge for one or two nights (mostly because I’ve missed air conditioning) and I’m all about finding a good deal when I want to travel!
I really enjoyed reading your blog and your tips of not wasting money was awesome!! keep posting , if you ever made mind to visit somewhere you can get in touch with the website of mine.! http://www.ugandarwandagorillatours.com
Thanks so much, Polly!! I’m glad you enjoyed 🙂 and I’ll definitely let you know if I ever do! Thanks for reading!
Such a great and helpful post !
Cutting out food is really hard for me. 😅 But I am gunna try doing it this year !
Thanks!!! Thank you for reading 🙂 I know, it’s not always easy but it’s all about making things like that a habit and then you don’t even have to think about it!
Yes !
Good for you in making sacrifices to get the things you really want!
Syd
Thank you, Sydney!! 🙂
Reblogged this on Persona and commented:
Just for travellers
Thank you!! very nice of you 🙂
Small world histories: I read this post months ago on FB that I friend from Oregon shared on her biography. I loved it that time and now I enjoyed again! I totally agree with you, now I kinda “settled” here in Punta Cana, but I´m from Argentina and travel since I turned 18 years old!
Thank you!! That sounds amazing I’ve always wanted to visit there
🙂 Now there´s soimeone to count on!
Do you have any tips for making income from a blog? Thanks, love your posts!
Thanks, Maddie! I am still learning but have been lucky enough to have other bloggers give me some tips. One suggested coming up with products and selling them (which I haven’t really taken on I am not the crafty kinda girl lol) Most companies that have hired me have found me through my Instagram account and e-mailed me so that’s the bulk of it so far. I hope that helps!
Not everyone is rich enough to afford travel related expenses..!!I do owes a travel agency , the only source that money comes in..
http://www.ugandarwandagorillatours.com
Hey! I’m just curious how you make money from your blog? That could be very useful info for me while I’m here in Spain
wow Spain sounds incredible! To be honest, any money I’ve made has been through contacts I’ve made through Instagram that have e-mailed me with offers. That’s been the main thing.. hope that helps!
nicely written! 🙂
Hey, could you let me know how to get paid by writing blogs. Would really appreciate it.
Thank You.
Thank you! Most companies have found me through my Instagram account & emailed me opportunities from there. So far, that’s been the only way I’ve made money from the blog 🙂
Reblogged this on Alejandra Durán and commented:
This is really helpful 🙂 I also love to travel and I think I will checkout mint.com
Thank you, so much Alejandra! Really nice of you 🙂 Yes, I use mint all the time it really helps wrap my head around how I manage my spending!
I am inspired by you….You are a Happy-go-lucky girl!!
Thanks! you’re the sweetest 🙂
Wish my boss could appreciate my desire to travel 🙁
I understand what you mean! I have worked for my boss for 8 years now and I’ve even gone a couple of years without even going on vacation before so after all that time solidifying a really great relationship with them, they’re happy to see me happy traveling so they try to accommodate any time off I desire. I realize I’m lucky but it also took years to get the point where I am
Yea good point, Ive only been working full time a year so just gotta stay patient and work hard !
yeah, It definitely didn’t happen overnight and I sacrificed a couple of years without any vacation so I hope people realize it takes time!
Nice to know how you save money for your travel.
Thank you! Yes, I hope this is helpful to some people 🙂
This has been so helpful to me. I really need to cut down on my spending.
I’m a work in progress but even this month I canceled some things I decided I really don’t need! It’s all about making it a habit
Reblogged this on ✈️ Dancing With Fireflies ☕️ and commented:
I love hearing how other travel bloggers afford to travel. Money comes and Money goes. Learning how to budget and make travel a priority is how Charlotte and others travel around the world without a trustfund. Check her out!
Thank you!! So thrilled you feel the same way 🙂
It’s nice to see that you’ve found relatively painless ways to set money aside for travel. Good luck to you.
Thank you! It’s still sacrifice but I just make different choices with my spending 😃
Never mind! I just asked you in another post how you can afford to travel, now I know and it’s exactly what I thought, I still need to discover what you do for a living and how your boss let you go for so long, I guess I will be discovering it little by little as I read your blog 😉 where is the follow button?!
I am a manager in North Carolina where I live but I have worked with my boss for 8 years now. I had a couple of years where I didn’t get to take any vacations! But after such a long time, they allow me to take a lot of time off as long as I work very hard when I get back. So when I’m in town I work 12 hours days sometimes 6 or 7 days a week but it’s worth it to me if I can be off a few months!
wonderful photo! It sounds like you have your priorities straight.
A wonderful book that was written years ago is “your money or your life” by Joe Dominguez and Vickie something or other. Everything they say still applies today.
Thanks, Shelley! I need to check out that books it sounds like something I’d enjoy reading!
Great post. If ever end up In Holland shout out and you have a cheap living at out boat 🙂 Give us food and we are fine 🙂
haha thank you! I would absolutely love that. Sounds like so much fun. True story when I was growing up I used to tell my parents I was going to live on a boat!
You should, its so cheap and a free life. Lovely.
Ok I will move in 🙂 haha
Hahahahs great. 🙂
Flipkey.com and vrbo.com are other websites for places to stay and of course, couchsurfing.com, too. Happy trails!
I’ll have to check those out! airbnb is the one I always recommend because I’ve had such good luck using it but it’s nice to have options! Thanks for the comment 🙂
I think I’m going to have to give mint.com a go!
I check mine almost daily I really love it for keeping up with spending!
I assume its just for the US 🙁
you’re right I believe right now it’s only available in the US & Canada.
I love airbnb bu thaven’t tried mint.com yet. Great tips for people who want to travel but don’t think they can afford it. Thanks for sharing 🙂
Thank you very much! I love airbnb too!
I love the tips about using mint.com and airbnb.com. I use Quicken, but I hear Mint is a great site. I will definitely be using airnb.com when I travel to Ireland next year. I definitely need to go through my budget though, and see where I can trim out a little fat. 🙂
By the way, thanks for liking one of my blog posts!
of course! Thanks for reading! I looove Airbnb and have used it in a few different countries now and it’s helped me save so much money. For instance, in Paris I couldn’t afford a hotel room for just me but I didn’t paid less than $90 to stay right by the Eiffel tower and Seine river which was SUCH a good deal by using airbnb. Ireland sounds amazing I’ve always wanted to go there!
Thank you for this post. It was good. I love to travel too. I think some of the things you use to save i did too. Like not getting my hair done and doing my oun nails. Also what help me a lot was bring food in from home to work. Xxx
Yes! food was a big one for me. I work 12 hour shifts regularly so getting one meal during the day out was a way to reward myself and then I decided to reward myself with travel instead! So it’s lots of soups and teas and homemade sandwiches at work but I see the difference in my budget big time.
Well done Charlotte ….. many young people could take a leaf out of your book, even if they aren’t travellers. Being careful with money is not being mean it is a sensible lifestyle choice giving you the chance to be goal oriented and save for the things that are really important to you. I am older, have done heaps of travel on all budgets and some of the most memorable experiences have been ‘on a shoestring’. I love to wander away from tourist routes and do my research before I leave home to find where the locals eat and live ….
Thank you so much!! I feel the same I’ve had different budgets for different trips and the funniest stories and best memories are from the shoestring budget ones 😝
Reblogged this on LFTD and commented:
Use Mint.com to help budget to save for traveling!
Thanks so much Monica! 😊
thankyou, I love you post 🙂
I agree, airbnb is great. We also like hostels which are fabulous places for meeting other travellers and self-catering saves money too.
I gave up smoking a few years ago and set up a regular deduction for the amount I would have spent to go straight from my pay into my travel account. It’s amazing how quickly it adds up.
You are about to laugh at me because I’ve told my friends before,” well I’ve never smoked before can you imagine how much I would’ve spent if I was a smoker?” And I’ve reasoned budgets out of it ❤️
Airbnb is one of the cheapest methods. It’s pretty amazing too
Also, you are making money on a blog that’s a year old! Whoa awesome!
I really like one thing though: your determination
Keep travelling!
Thank you so much!! I actually just booked another airbnb for an upcoming trip to Manhattan 🙂 I tell everyone about it! Really is the best!
This is fantastic! I’ve been meaning to write a similar post because it’s such a common question!! Huge fan of Mint and Air Bnb as well. Lifesavers. Especially Mint.
ahhh! Mint is THEEE best thing ever. I check mine several times a day and it really helps with budgeting and seeing where your weaknesses are. And I just used Airbnb to plan a weekend in Manhattan. Glad you love it too 🙂
Really nice post! And thankyou for sharing a way for keeping track of our financial disposals! Definitely useful!
Also, I love your blog and your pics!! 😊
https://fromdreamtoplan.wordpress.com/
aww thank you so much!! 🙂
This was a great read. I done same thing. Check out my blog on how we paid off debt to travel Maeganwhite89.wordpress.com
I will absolutely check it out!! Thank you!
I have done the* not sure what happened there lol
I loved this read! So inspiring! I’m located in Raleigh, NC, & have a background in GD and Art but currently working in sales. I started my blog for similar reasons too & would love to follow a path similar to yours. Your success is inspiring and you deserve all the support you’ve been getting! Once I rack up some commission I hope to travel like you can! I look forward to reading more posts from you
– OAK + PINE
You are the sweetest! Your comment totally made my day! Love that you’re from NC too!! I just launched my own website design and social media management company in December so trying to take it a step further to travel more often and work remotely!
That’s very inspiring! I’d love to do that someday! Keep it up girl – more power to ya
:D!