Take the Trip But First Save the Money

Travel is the only thing you buy that makes you richer.

We seemed to have jumped straight from a post-Covid existence into inflationary angst, not cool at all. Saving money, breadmaking and nesting were the daily existence, along with virtual work and school for many. Although, we are back out in the world, our wallets are taking a beating.

Combine this uncertainty and frustration with the NEED to travel, experience the world and live beyond the daily grind. How’s a regular working 9-5’er going to set goals and see the world? Here’s what I did, written as I’m about to embark on my first European trip since 2019.

Prioritize

Living through Covid already had many rethinking priorities about how we are live life. The wheat and the chaff were separated for us, and what matters vs. what doesn’t matter became much more apparent. Work from home showed us all the clothes bought to stay fashion forward and trendy suddenly weren’t necessary, or even interesting. Drinks out every weekend, turned into board games and cocktail recipes at home. Nights out dancing turned into walks around the block, waving at neighbors. Overall, much that was put on hold, wasn’t really a a priority in the long run, and the true priorities became much more clear. Prioritize what is important.

Sacrifice

2020 taught us there are many things we can live without. But still, there are bright shiny things that catch my eye. In this case, I delay gratification, and see if that “want” goes away. And sometimes, I just tell myself to move along, live without it, and circle back if I can’t live without. Some items in my line of vision right now, Radley’s of London purses and Made in the Deep South cuff bracelets. Have I bought either? Nope, I’m hoping the obsession passes. And really, do I NEED or do I WANT? Undeniably, I’m grappling with that question until I get to the heart of the matter. Cut out what you don’t need.

Budget

Irrefutably, what I do need, is travel. New places, history, and unforgettable memories. That’s crystal clear, no grappling or delaying decision making. Inflation be damned, I became determined to budget for an adventure. Enthusiastically, I turned my attention to planning, with budgeting at the top of the list. What would it cost to get there, how much money would I need to save and how long would it take to build that pile of cash, to convert to Euros.

That’s where Savings Calculator came in handy for me. I researched places to stay, food budget, tickets to what I wanted to see, and added a 10% emergency component to get a total amount needed. Conveniently, Savings Calculator allowed me to accurately predict how much I needed to save. Meanwhile, bonus points awarded for the timeframe feature, which allowed me to plan when I’d have the money saved. Quickly, I determined the monthly amount I could set aside, without too much pain, and calculated how long it would take to get the total I needed. Budget what you do need. (and find the tools to help you reach your goals)