Backpacking is one of the coolest ways to travel, you gain masses of knowledge about the World we live in and meet the best and worst of the human race, not to mention the amazing sites you see.
Money is always an issue and backpacking without money is not impossible but certainly less fun than having money on the hip. Before you leave it is imperative that you save up as much cash as possible and here are some tips on how you can do it.
Stop Spending
It sounds foolishly simple but frivolous spending is something you need to be very aware of ,as the costs very quickly add up. It’s important that you begin asking yourself in all honesty “do I really need this,” even items that appear insignificant such as coffee or a sandwich, if you spend £1 on a coffee and do that 20 time over a few months then that could be a domestic flight in one of the countries you are about to visit, think, think, think.
Sell the World
Take a look around your room/house, see if you have anything worth value that you can do without, a bike, a guitar, games console, electrical appliances, CD’s, DVD’s. There is a market for everything, sites like Gumtree, eBay, Music Magpie are great outlets to sell your stuff. Even your car, consider buying a bike and selling the car. Remember to keep in mind how you may spend the money you make, that way you can balance out whether the item is worth selling.
Take a Second Job
Easier said than done bit a second source of income is priceless… so to speak. There are plenty of jobs out there that you can do un your own time and fit around your existing job. Check out online jobs such as copywriting, it won’t make you rich but it will certainly help those vital funds. Bar work or waiting on tables can also be a good source of income and are generally evening based, great if you work during the day. It may sap a lot of your energy but keep thinking about the greater good, your trip.
Other Items
It’s worth noting down how much money you are spending day to and cutting back where you can, there is always a little movement in the bills. Perhaps you have a TV subscription, get rid of it, too much money on petrol, try and car share with a colleague. Ask yourself if that night out is really worth it, remember, it’s about the long term not the here and now. One other helpful tip to avoid spending money is too inform your friends of what you are doing, this should help them putting any unnecessary pressure on you when they want you to join them for a night out or an activity.
Keep the dream of your trip firmly in your head and keep note of all the money coming your way and leaving your pocket, do this and you are sure to have a healthy fund to leave with by the tie the trip comes around.