Even An Idiot Can Save For Travel
Posted on Jan 12, 2012 | 37 comments
A few days ago I received this comment on a post I wrote long ago about saving $20,000 in a year.
What planet are you on? Most people can only afford to get by and were hoping for some decent ideas on how to stretch the extra $50 a week they have left over. Instead you come up with a whole bunch of ways to save cash by getting rid of luxuries most people don’t even have in the first place.
Please take my advice and don’t write another thread, you're obviously an idiot…..
Well, if you didn't know it before, then I guess you know it now - I'm an idiot. I give. It's official. I graciously accept my lowly lot in life.
But if an idiot like me can save enough money to travel the world, then why can't you?
You know the movie where the daughter gets kidnapped and the parents start selling everything to come up with the ransom? Or how about the one where the little boy needs a new heart and the dad starts working overnights selling credit card security plans from a call center to make the transplant happen?
When pushed; we respond. That's what people do. We step up at the very last second and get the job done, or else we fail. It's really that simple.
So when we sit back and we start to wonder why we don't have that Ipad, or that house, or why we aren't able to travel because we just don't have enough money, maybe it's just because we haven't been pushed far enough.
Saving money requires two things: The means to make it, and a reason to save it.
Pretty much all of us make money. Sure, some make more than others, but I don't think what one makes matters too much when it comes to saving. I know plenty of people who make a lot more than me and wind up saving a lot less. And I also know plenty of people who make next to nothing, but are so frugal with a buck that they have managed to save up a pretty nice rainy day fund for themselves.
Saving is a choice. It's a state of mind. You have to want it, and it takes time. You have to have something you're saving for everyday. It doesn't matter if it's one dollar or ten - save what you can.
I want to travel. It took me a long time to accept that fact. I spent a lot of money and time in my life searching for what I wanted, but now I know, and along with spending time with my family, travel has become my biggest goal in life. So when I choose to skip buying a cup of coffee, a pair of pants, a movie, a donut, an Ipad, or a drink with friends, I see it as rewarding myself with the opportunity to experience a churro, a day on the beach in Belize, a cup of coffee outside a cafe in Paris, a jungle trek with my family in Peru, or a dinner with friends in Thailand. Every dollar I choose to avoid spending now, gives me more time to travel later.
I know some may say that life happens now, and if I focus so much on saving now, then I will miss out on the present. But my present is filled with work and daycare and routines - I don't enjoy it much. My future is one of travel. It's not far away, and I am going spend every second of today saving for tomorrow because I now know what tomorrow brings.
We have talked a ton on this site about saving money and how cheap it can be to travel and how to minimize your expenses. But when it comes down to it, it's how you live your life today that will affect how you live your life tomorrow. If you know what you want, then start working for it today. Don't say can't. Don't second guess yourself. Just start. Start saving. Skip the coffee. Live as cheap as you can. Forget what you don't have and work with what you do. Go get that goal.
Now, back to me being an idiot.
People may get annoyed with posts like this because they make saving and traveling sound so easy. I know from other people's computer chairs the world may not be as rosy as mine right now. I know because I have been there. At times in my life I have definitely acted like an idiot - especially when it comes to money. I used to just throw money away. I never knew what I wanted. I made a million excuses to help me justify buying something I needed to have. At one point I lost everything we had and I put my family in debt. I wasted so much.
I started this website/adventure because I was so sick of everything and I had to change. It hasn't been easy. It's hard work. I don't always like saving every penny now, but I know it's the right thing for us to do. I know it. And I guess I am sort of an idiot to think that every person out there can someday own the same feeling of "knowing" just as I do right now, but . . . that's what I think. That's what I know.
It's buckling down time here for us. This is Step 7 of our Escape Guide and for the next 11 months I am not spending a dime. I want the world, and I am saving for it.
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Love, Love, Love the Title and the truth in it. People make so many excuses for NOT doing what they want, they play it safe and then complain about the fact that some people made a sacrifice, took a risk and are now on the path of realizing their dreams!
A King's Life recently posted..Wingin’ It With Kids – A No Plans Travel Approach
I think the scary thing is we grow to believe are excuses are truth. We convince ourselves of what we need. I do it all the time. I get jealous of others who are buying stuff and going places. Have to keep the big picture in mind. Thanks Sabina.
Here is a link I ran across the other night.
Living without money- http://livingwithoutmoney.org/
Looks cool - I have to check it out Lee. Thanks!
You can do it! It is really hard, but after a while, it is a game. Can you go to Target and get JUST the essentials? Can you make dinner with those canned goods that have been in the pantry for a year? Can you start selling things to make money?
I remember when we were at this stage, and some neighbors were buying a boat, then a new car to haul it, then decided to redecorate their living room and buy each other extravagant anniversary gifts. Think of the travel they could have done!
Hi Angela! I haven't heard from you guys in so long!
It is a choice. Even for those who have less or are struggling. Actually, often we struggle because of the choices we make. I have sure made some bad ones.
If you want it, you'll find a way. Thanks!
I can truly attest to this. My husband is a grad student and works 2 jobs, we have 3 kids, and I homeschool and have no income. We are determined to do this. We have a 2 year plan to get rid of our debt and to save like crazy. We are living in a tiny house and doing without a lot of things that some people feel are necessities because we want to give our children the opportunity to be open-minded and to serve others all over the world with whatever means we can serve; mostly time and energy.
In the meantime, while we save like crazy and pay off our debt, we are still living life to the fullest and LOVING it.
But, you're right, not everyone will understand this. You have to get to a point where this is your passion and something every member of the family is on board for.
I enjoy reading your blog, it is very motivating and inspiring.
I didn't always want this Ashley. I'll never say I was a huge consumer, but I sure did spend. Something just changed.
You can do it Ashley. Those who don't believe it yet just aren't ready, but that doesn't matter. The key is living YOUR plan everyday. Don't let the holidays or an event throw you off. Stick with it! You don't need money to be happy. You might need it to travel a bit, but you don't need much. The most important thing is knowing you can.
It sounds like you are doing this for all the right reasons. All the best! Thanks for following along and taking the time to leave a comment!
Amen, it's all about mindset. It's HARD to give up the daily "necessities" that society makes us "think" we need. Jenny & I get flack all the time for the way we live our life, so what. I'm happy, and from the looks of it, you're well on your way to happiness and a meaningful life spent with the ones you love most...what else could this life possibly be for? Not to mention you're inspiring thousands of other by sharing your journey. Much love to you, my friend!
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Thanks Josh! I don't really care what others say, but I do find it interesting.
It is possible. No matter where you are, even at the bottom, it's possible to build yourself back up and do what you want. It's never easy, but it can be done.
What more could you want than happiness!
I'm pretty sure your commenter banned you from ever posting another thread - and yet here you are - YOU IDIOT!! This gave me a good laugh and I'm really glad you've chosen to turn it around and write a really helpful post. Good luck with your not spending for the next 11 months. Make sure you don't let the "it's ok we still have 11 months left! (or 10, 9, 8 months etc). It's so easy to think that when you just want to eat out instead of cook! But the time flies and if you give in now you'll be thinking gee, we could have saved so much more!!
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Thanks Tracey! I am sure I have been banned! That's ok though, I was planning on visiting!
I will stay strong. And what is it 7 days away or something. I am so excited for you guys!
LOL...another person with excuses! Up until three years ago, my family lived on one wage so I could be home with our kids until they started school. We spent a good 20 years travelling on next to no money - I can remember once on a driving trip we bought fish and chips for dinner only without the fish! (But we remember it more!). When my son was born, we lived off fairly meagre savings for a year so my husband could also have the year off. We took another year out when my son was in grade 2 and spent the year travelling around Australia. Now that I am back working I can't believe how much money people must waste. Having said that, after travelling in the States last year, there are a lot of people who are working minimum wage jobs (and more than one) just to put food on the table. In Australia we pay extremely high taxes and everything is ridiculously expensive, however, we do have universal Medicare, lots of generous incentives from the Government (eg. Baby bonus etc, holiday loading) which lots of other people don't get. My husband and I are both teachers and the conditions in Australia compared to the States seem a lot better. I agree with all the other posts though that the vast majority of people make excuses to justify their choices - shopping seems to have become a hobby! Also Justin, remembered one more tip for you for your driving trip to Central America - audio books are fantastic for when the kids start getting bored in the car (especially Roald Dahl, Andy Griffiths - all stories on tape so the kids can listen and still look at the scenery out the window).
Enjoy your budgeting this year...we too are budgeting and leave on the first of December for a trip to Europe with the kids.
Cheers
Linda
Wow Linda - you have some classic stories. That is great!
I know all to well how people struggle. My job for 15 years has been helping people get back on their feet. It is never easy, but it can be done. And for those of us who have a good chance - we should take it!
Great suggestions. Have a great time in Europe!
Oh now I am so motivated to start saving! I love it - so if you are an idiot for saving for your trip, then I guess that makes us one too?
I guess if you want something bad enough then you will move heaven and earth to get it!
Cheers
Lisa
Lisa Wood recently posted..There Were Seven In The Bed And The Little One Said
I read the post and comment. The most funniest part is that the bloke calling you an idiot, does not know the difference between "your" and "you're"
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I'll admit, I do that all the time as well. But I was so kind to fix it for him in the post!
Natalie - where? I re-read the comment and can't see it?
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In the original comment on this post: http://www.greatfamilyescape.com/20-ways-to-save-20000-this-year-and-travel-the-world/
I did some editing for the guy. But honestly, I always put "your" first and have to fix it - I'm lazy.
Oh, you are so kind even helping him with his grammar and spelling.
I went over it trying to find the wrong you're/your.
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It was the least I could do! After all, I did throw him under the bus in front of the world. Well, maybe he did that himself.
No comment. I'm still laughing.
Amy recently posted..Living Without...
Of course saving money for travel by getting rid of your gym membership or cable tv aren't very practical ideas if you've already long cut those items out of your budget. I think the point of your original post--and this one too--is to ask, "what are you spending your life on?" What do you really want? What are you spending money on now that under evaluation isn't as important to you as the travel you desire? For me-- gym membership and cable tv are easy to give up. So is a second car or a house as big as our friends think we need. Lots of other things too that we don't even realize we are living without until other people come to our house! Know what I'm not willing to give up? Having a drink with my wife or a friend--or by myself! It's too important to me! I enjoy it too much now! But I've thought about it and accept that. I have to figure out where to get my money for travel from other places--through savings as well as passive and/or location independent income--in the overall family budget!
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I agree, the big things are easy to give up. The small things are tougher as we all want to enjoy our lives. I don't suggest anyone give up the small things in life completely. But limiting them, or giving them up short term, that works for me. I see it as destination. I give up things short to term to get me to my destination and then I embrace them again. Like climbing a mountain - Some work, a payoff, and a celebration to follow.
You know what Justin? With very few changes to this post, you've covered every single thing in life. It's not just about saving money; it's about living your dream. "If you know what you want, then start working for it today. Don’t say can’t. Don’t second guess yourself. Just start." That's it right there.
My family and I rode our bikes from Alaska to Argentina. That's 17,300 miles through 15 countries. We spent three years pedaling south. THREE YEARS.
And you know what? It didn't come easily. We didn't reach our goal by dancing through the tulips. We reached our goal through hard work and sweat and, yes, tears. We cycled over passes higher than the highest peaks in Colorado. We battled daily headwinds for two thousand miles along the Peruvian coast - that's 2/3 the distance across the USA. We sweated in 100 degree temps in Central America and froze our hinies off in the high Andes in the middle of winter.
We reached Ushuaia at the end of the world because WE WANTED IT. We knew what we wanted, we kept our eye on the goal, and we fought through the down times to get there.
No matter what your goal is - whether it's saving money or riding a bike to the ends of the world - it's just a matter of doing it. Know what you want to accomplish, then take one itty-bitty step after the next. And then the next. And next. But go. Do it.
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Yes! I agree 100%! Saving money is not my life goal. I'm not even a cheap person by nature. I like to enjoy life and not be picky about everything. But to get my goals I have to save short term, and so I DO IT! Eventually we will be able to make money as we travel and not worry so much about saving, but just like on your journey, sometimes you have to pedal hard and sweat to get to the destination. Sometimes you don't like it, but you make the best of it and do it to get to where you want to be. Right now we are peddling uphill towards the destination!
Well said Nancy! Knowing what you guys did(and do) really helps keep us going when it gets tough!
I read the original thread and I too am laughing pretty hard! I was making 25,000 or so a year or so, and I've been traveling with much less than I ever thought I would need. If you only have 50 extra dollars a week, and put that away, what will that make in a year? Enough to travel. Period. If travel is your dream and you truly want to pursue it, the hardest decision is - as you say - making that choice and making it a state of mind. I, for one, loved this post!
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Thanks Dayna! It is so much less than you think you need. Amazing how when you get settled you start to collect and buy stuff you don't need. That was my point. You just have to commit and go. Glad you guys found the site and we can chat about this stuff!
What a fantastic post! It reminds me of a quote that I can't remember verbatim, but it basically says that if something isn't happening in your life it's because it's not high enough on your priority list. It it is high enough on your priority list, then you will find a way to make it happen. We're in the same boat with you, saving to travel the world and forgoing so many things day to day. At a time when our family was still growing, we sold our "dream" house and moved into a very small house. Sometimes I think about getting whiny we I miss the space we had, but then I remember that my kids are not going to sit around as adults and reminisce about how great it was to have a walk in closet. They will remember the travel.
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Yeah, we all get that way Jessica. But I think once we travel that changes. Our new vacations will be in the suburbs with friends and family and then we will be wanting to get back on the road. But when things get tough we all want to be in other people's shoes sometimes. Keep moving forward. Commit, and it gets easier the closer you get.
Thanks!
Well it would be idiotic to NOT save, how can you look to the future if you don't? Maybe someone who makes $100k/year doesn't need to? (not implying you do).
Unfortunately I do agree on focusing on the NOW situation, because we never know what comes tomorrow and savor TODAY but that does not mean we shouldn't or can't look to the future either.
I too am amazed on what people (and governments, err they are people too) spend on silly things! I took a road trip last summer, when I made my first stop in Idaho I couldn't believe the rest stops FULLY air conditioned (or heated) to get to the restrooms you had to go inside (nice BIG glass doors) where there's a foyer (um yeah tiled flooring and marble benches), tinted glass all the way around and then of course two doors to enter the bathroom itself; my point is we don't have anything THAT elaborate in Oregon but Oregon spends money like crazy on silly things too and I could go on and on about it but I won't.
I have an income that allows me to not have to worry about looking to the future but I do look to the future because its the smart thing to do and based on my needs I have to anyway and plus all the savings will make travel that much easier.
So, you go right on ahead and save because that's the BEST thing you can do especially as a family.
Of course, we are all different. I live in the NOW everyday. I come home, play with my kids, etc... But if I were to not focus on the future I would never get anywhere. I would be off doing everything with my kids and wife on the weekends and heading back to the grind all week. I focus on the short term future so I can change and make our dreams a reality. I get living in the now, but saving for the future doesn't make me dead.
I appreciate your comment. It is about balance and making wise choices. Be cautious of the future and of living only in the now. Balance.
Thanks Shannon!
Woooooooow! It's one thing not to agree wth someone but it's another to just spit hate. Why are peple always so hateful. Just because it's impossible for some people to do something, it doesn't mean it's impossible for everyone.
Keep up the great work! Great article!
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Awesome post and good response to their original comment. We can never understand how people cannot save. Hopefully everyone will learn from this and good luck with your next few months
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Thanks Cole! You can do it if you want. I know some people have discovered ways to work from the road, and that is great. I'm not there yet so I have to save. I figure a couple months of digging deep for the shot at a lifetime of travel is worth it!
Love this! If I can save to move to New Zealand for a year as a uni student working only 20 hours a week with NO credit card debt and NO student loans - then surely other people can too! It is just all about priorities!
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See that! Anyone can do it - you are so right. Thanks!