Travel doesn’t come for free, unfortunately. Most of us agree that it should be, but in order to see the amazing sights this world of ours has to offer, we need to have the cash on hand. The good news? There are ways to not only lower the cost of your trip, but also save up a little faster beforehand too.

First things first, it all depends on where you’re travelling to, and how long you’re going to be away for. If you’re thinking of going on a backpacking expedition, perhaps it would be a good idea to find an income source on the go? Have you ever thought about working online? Perhaps writing on the go? Doing a spot of graphic design? Teaching English online? Is there a skill you have which could translate to cold, hard cash? This is certainly one of the best ways to fund travel trips which are a little longer than your average vacation. You’ll find countless people doing this right now, generally referred to as digital nomads.

Perhaps you could be one of them too!

If you don’t feel like working whilst you travel, how can you save up the cash to ensure that your trip doesn’t end prematurely?

Sell Your Junk

It might sound like an obvious suggestion, but have a huge clear out. This means that you can not only free up some space in your home, but you’ll also make some extra cash too. You would be surprised the things that people will buy, and you know what they say – one man’s junk is another man’s treasure!

Take on an Extra Job

In the months leading up to your trip, why not take on an extra job? You’ll need to cut back on your social life anyway, in order to save cash, so why not do something constructive with that time and grab some more cash in the process? Remember, if you already have a full time job, you’re likely to be paying more tax on your second job, but that’s still worth it for the extra you’ll have in your bank account.

Downscale Your Home

This isn’t for regular trips, but if you are thinking about going on a longer-term travel adventure, what about your home? Do you own your home? If so, why not rent it out and have a monthly income coming your way? If you rent, is it worth keeping your home on whilst you’re away, or should you give notice and save the rent you pay? These are things to think about.

Sell Your Car

If you own a car, you’re sitting on a money source right there! You can’t drive it whilst you’re away, so why not sell it for now, grab the cash, and then if needs be, buy another cheap one when you return home?

Be Thrifty With Your Travel Plans

Aside from saving up the cash before you go, you should be very careful with the cost of your travel plans too. You can easily find cheap flights if you search, and if you think about doing split bookings, rather than booking return journeys. Travel light and cut down on the need to book a suitcase onto your journey. Think about using hostels rather than big hotels, and shop around for absolutely everything!

Travel doesn’t come for free, but it certainly doesn’t have to break the bank either.