Whenever you log in to your social media these days, you come across at least one person who’s chilling in some other city, state, or country, and is traveling like there’s no tomorrow, don’t you?
A netizen recently asked, “How do folks afford traveling?”
What Does The User Say
OP says, “Social media is filled with videos of people and influencers showcasing their travels worldwide. Lately, I’ve been getting annoyed by these countless videos and reels, whether it be jealousy or frustration, that I just turned 30 and now feel that my time is more limited.
I know I sound bitter, but I can’t help it since I, too wish to be able to travel far and wide. I make what I think is a decent income ($60k) and can never see myself spending $1k-$2k or more on just a plane ticket to travel abroad.
The most I spent on a plane ticket was $500, and that was from flying to Cancun, MX, which is the furthest I’ve ever traveled. My vacations/travel mostly consist of staying in my state or traveling to neighboring states from how expensive plane tickets can be.
Are folks that post all these videos and reels just have that much more disposable income or are there travel hacks that I’m unaware of?”
We’ve curated the responses that made the most sense below:
Different People, Different Priorities
“I think it’s different priorities. Some people see $1-2k on a plane ticket to go on vacation as just part of the budget. If traveling and seeing the world is important to you then it’s worth the money.”
Southwest Airlines Credit Card
“I had a Southwest Airlines credit card that I paid all my bills on and then paid it off each month since my paycheck was able to cover my bills.
Anything outside my check I didn’t spend because I knew I’d get into debt. Life happens, the ex is a jerk, card is closed. But I had all those points still.
My SO and I fly all over for free but this is poverty finance so we try to find a family member to stay with or a walkable city to avoid rental cars.”
Aggressive Savings
“My hubby and I set a good portion of our savings just for traveling. We don’t make a lot of money. We just save aggressively just to begin with, so that the portion for traveling is good enough to cover 2 national trips a year (mostly driving, flight tickets are insanely expensive) and an international trip every 2 or 3 years.
We don’t have a big house or fancy cars. We want to save money for experience rather than materials. Not to mention we’re DINK, with no debt except the mortgage. But I plan to have kids soon so I don’t think we will be able to afford this lifestyle when the kid comes LOL.”
Some People Make A LOT Of Money
“Some small amount of people make A LOT of money. The top 5% of US incomes are still 5-6 million people earning north of $400k a year. Get even narrower and you’re talking 1-2 million people earning millions.
These are landlords, business owners, and the plain old inherited wealthy people. They can spend whatever they want. They can drop $10k on a vacation the way we wage earners treat ourselves to lunch here and there.
I’m sure this is a terrible sub to bring all this up in but there are lots of people in the ‘club’. Just not us.”
Doable Travel Hacks
“I’ve traveled to 20+ countries and have never spent a couple of grand on plane tickets. My travel hacks include staying with friends in different cities/countries, doing language exchanges where you live with a family for a while, staying in hostels, buying food from grocery stores, etc. Instead of renting a car in a different place, consider renting a motorcycle.
I make a similar amount to you, but travel doesn’t have to be expensive. I don’t have many amenities in my apartment. My car is paid off. No debt. No kids. Travel is what makes me happy. So, I do what I can to make it happen.”
Being An Influencer
“My cousin is an influencer, just went hiking through the Japanese Alps. Her daddy’s got money and set all his kids up with good financial accounts
My aunt was a gold digger and we’re the white trash side of the family. I was homeless as a minor. Idk it really causes resentment and jealousy in me. Knowing how the other half lives, being told that I need to know my worth etc etc bc my cousin is so oblivious to the privilege she’s been afforded.”
Use Sites Like Expedia
“Book flights and hotels together on sites like Expedia. That gets your costs down. Go on a cheap cruise.”
Traveling During Off-Peak Times
“I used to save a fortune on traveling by going during off-peak times when all expenses, like airfare and hotels, were much lower. Try traveling after mid-September, or in May. Europe is gorgeous during those times.
It’s a good idea to have a special savings account for travel and toss money into it whenever you can. It may take a few years, but eventually, you’ll build it up enough to go somewhere nice.
Stay in hostels if you can, or find a flight/hotel package that’s reasonable and includes breakfast. Fill up on the free breakfast and skip lunch. There are lots of ways to travel for less.
If you have a credit card that gives you points, you can often use them for airline travel miles.”
Disposable Income Plus Cheap Travel Tricks
“Disposable income helps. So does learning to travel cheaply.
My wife and I enjoy travel. We use Google Flights to find the best plane ticket deals and will adjust travel for the cheapest flights. We use Airbnb a lot. It’s usually cheaper for better accommodations, and we usually get one with a kitchen so we can cook.
We took a flight to Europe on Sept 11 once, cause apparently nobody wants to fly that day and the tickets were cheap (had empty seats on the flight too which makes it more comfy).
We will absolutely fly somewhere, swing by a grocery store to get bread, peanut butter, jelly, cereal, milk, soft drinks and prepare meals at the place we are staying. We aim to make 2 of the 3 meals at the place we stay each day and will eat out the third meal (usually lunch or dinner).
Traveling and traveling cheaply are skills.”
Get Yourself A Travel Partner
“OP, are you single? One of the biggest ways some do this is to dual income it up, without or before having kids.
For example, if you can afford your necessities at 60k right now if you meet someone else also making 60k, you’d have a ton of options. Sure, some expenses go up (like food), but it isn’t anywhere near 2x, especially with the cost of housing right now.”
Say Yes To Cruising
“Cruising is one of the most affordable options I’ve found. I sail Carnival and will book over a year ahead to get the cheapest price. I also normally book with the $50pp deposits.
Then you have until 3 months before the cruise to pay it in full. If you live close to a busy port, then the prices can be dirt cheap.
I usually put down $1-200 a month depending on what the final price is. Most things are included on board the ship with Carnival. I’ve gone with $50 and just gone on free excursions before.”
Be Frugal, Create A Budget, And Improve Your Everyday Life
“Not sure about others but I highly value traveling. I do a big trip overseas once a year and just planning it helps me get through the grind of working. You have to properly save and budget for it.
Be frugal in everyday life and hunt down every deal possible for basic necessities. Cut out unnecessary items. Can’t stress how much creating a budget helps.
On top of all this improve your financial literacy. Example: I needed a deck built. I opened a credit card that would allow me to finance this deck over 12 months for 0 interest while giving me a signup bonus of 500.
I used these points overtime on regular everyday purchases + signup bonus to fund the majority of my trip abroad.”
Choose Your Destination Wisely
“A lot of people choose their destination based on the flight cost. A friend of mine flew to Paris on Christmas day because flights were $300.
Some people put everything on their credit card to get travel miles. People who travel for work may have frequent flyer miles and hotel reward points.
Influencers can get some things for free and are also able to write off travel if it is for business purposes.”
Having Rich Parents
“Rich parents is the real answer but you’ll never see that on their socials. Even just parents paying for your college is a massive difference.”
Sacrificing Other Things
“A lot of them are sacrificing other things like saving for retirement or an emergency fund. And often times flat out spending beyond their means racking up debt.”
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This article was originally published on Mrs Daaku Studio.