Let’s face it: travel is expensive, and costs keep growing much faster than our salaries ever will. In order to find the resources to travel, I implemented a few ‘hacks’ to save in a non-invasive way. At the end of the day, it is about spending more mindfully, not about depriving yourself of everyday pleasures. Be specific about what you want and prioritize accordingly. And don’t forget: it’s not about perfection; it’s about intention and progress toward your goals.
But goals remain dreams unless you put in place a plan for achieving them. You will likely not reach your goal overnight, and probably not within a week, but the most important part is to start somewhere and consciously work towards it.
1. Prioritize quality over quantity
Don’t get me wrong, there is great beauty and worth in hanging out in a cozy cafe and buying an elegant pair of shoes or a perfume you really enjoy. My point is to stop the mindless, aimless spending on a whim or out of unplanned convenience. And if you are honest with yourself, how much do you actually enjoy a latte served in a paper cup, burning the tip of your tongue for which you have been queuing for 10 to 15 minutes? Or the one you have to bring to your own seat (if you find one) where the person who sat there before you have left a tray of mess behind and the counter or tabletop hasn’t been wiped since the place opened in the morning. Equally, how many bronzers and foundations does a girl need? Eyeshadow palettes? Likely you are always buying the same colours anyway. My idea of saving is to not to deprive yourself of things you love and enjoy and save on the things you don’t. If you love a café moment, why not plan it in for the weekend, when you can take your time and actually savour the coffee you order in a place that’s really worth it?
2. Stop buying online
While I stopped buying online because of the hassle and the endless waste of time involved in chasing returns, the stress generated by receiving 10 update emails per package, and being a prisoner in my own home because the delivery company announced it would come “between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m.” only to show up on another day altogether, I think that shopping online is one of those things that ultimately makes us overspend. In my case, stopping this madness has not only had a positive effect on my life in terms of reducing all of these stress factors, but it also reduced the number of things and clothes I bought at the end of the day. I really think that we need to just pause for a second and remind ourselves that we no longer live in COVID-19 lockdowns. We can actually go to the shop and try things on there. And if you cannot be bothered to do so, chances are you did not need the item to begin with. In my opinion, it also saves you zero time to shop for fashion online because you likely end up having to deal with the return process and go to the shop or a parcel drop-off place (and let’s face it, they are rarely in the chicest areas of town), which arguably takes much more time and is way less enjoyable than going to the shop to begin with.
3. Reduce mindless spending on coffees/matcha to go
I don’t know about the place in which you live, but where I am, you cannot really get a coffee outside for less than 4.50 EUR (around 5.30 USD). And matcha starts at 5 EUR (roughly 6 USD). That’s a lot of money if you spend it on a daily basis. Not to mention all the trash, the thought of which alone makes me dizzy. If you are the kind of person that really enjoys a latte on the run while getting to work, why not invest in a cute thermos cup that you fill up at home and take with you instead? I am not saying you should reduce pleasure in your daily life; I am rather advocating for focus and spending with intention when, at the end of the day, you are looking to save up for something that is truly important to you. And if you care enough to take the time to read this blog, then chances are you are looking to save up for a trip you have been dreaming of for a while.
4. Use up your beauty and skin care products before purchasing new ones
None of us is an island, and we are bombarded with advertisements for new beauty products and skincare trends all over the place. Also, if you are just a bit like me, you probably love browsing through Sephora or the beauty section in the big department stores. I have a huge soft spot for everything beauty-related, and I used to stock up on products, especially when there was a deal or discount, thinking that I would need it later anyway. While this is partially true, I have, however, noticed that I had a tendency to basically keep my cash locked in a drawer until three months down the line when I eventually did run out of whatever product. Most of the time, there was either a new deal on offer, or I wanted to try out something else anyway. I guess, ultimately, you will just have to surround yourself with those products you truly love so that you end up cherishing them to the last drop. Don’t be like me; don’t stockpile.
5. Invest in a versatile capsule wardrobe
You don’t need 5 scarves and 7 hats this winter. You probably only need two neutral, good quality pieces of each that work with the coats you own. You also probably do not need to buy a new coat every single winter but can very likely wear it 2 to 3 years if you invested in a classic, good quality piece. My late granddad used to say: “I am too poor to buy poor quality”; this motto did not really resonate with me for many years, but with age and experience, I learned to understand what it meant. If you don’t have endless resources, it is better to spend a lot once on something that will last you long, because in the long run, you’ll spend less. Of course, if you are in your 20s, you are more likely to want to experiment with fashion and really go for trends, and that’s all great, but the more mature you get, the harder it is to pull off trends, and quality matters more, I believe.
For reasons of style and sustainability, I am also a very passionate advocate for quality leather shoes. I am obsessed with keeping them neat and clean, and as soon as they show signs of wear, I will take them to the shoemaker and have them repaired. This is why I invest in a few select pairs of shoes and boots and treat them with the greatest care.
If you reduce the amount of clothes you own in a curated and thoughtful way and shop less but smarter (i.e., does it go with things I already own? Do I have an occasion to wear this piece? Does the quality or material justify the price?), you will be spending less money overall and look put together every day. Maybe you find that very basic, but if you are reading tips on how to save intentionally, you are likely not a trust fund baby either.
6. Cook at home and pack lunches
Preparing your own food: Unpopular but not really rocket science. If you want to save money and probably be healthier in the process, you just have to start cooking and prepping your own meals and plan ahead for packed office lunches. It will save you lots of money. Instead of a lunch walk to the supermarket on a daily basis and spending 10+ Euros or Dollars on an assorted mess that will probably come down to a sandwich in the end or a mayonnaise-drenched salad bowl with soggy pasta at the bottom of an unaesthetic plastic bowl (or stale potatoes for that matter), prep your own. And that’s only lunch; you haven’t even addressed dinner yet. I prep a salad or something easy to take to the office, where I also keep some olive oil and vinegar for the dressing and cook a warm meal in the evening at home.
7. Book smartly
Granted, the 7 a.m. flight is always cheaper and the same goes for the Eurostar or other high-speed trains. Although I am used to getting up very early, and that really isn’t the issue here, there simply is no sense in saving 20 EUR on a plane fare and then having to dish out 80 to 100 EUR on a taxi because there is no public transport option in the early morning. It’s about planning it right to save money in the right places.
Conversely, I do sometimes upgrade to first class on the Eurostar (when the fare difference isn’t too high) in winter because I can get lounge access, which will be a huge plus when it is very cold on the drafty platforms and I risk getting sick and having to spend the fare difference on medicine later on.
Plan properly when it comes to the hotel location (Check out my blog post It’s all about the location) to avoid long commutes or taxi rides to the places you want to visit.
8. Invest in a good suitcase and carry-on
As a student, I would buy those cheap suitcases that usually ended up breaking immediately with wheels falling off or the zip giving in. It was usually a nightmare because they don’t break at home when you fill them. They break when you least need it. Within your means, I am sure you can find a suitcase from a more reputable quality brand that is timeless in terms of colour and well produced so that it won’t let you down in the next 10 years. Plan long-term because I am sure you are not only intending to go on one trip in the near future. If you have found your way to my blog, you probably love traveling and are looking to go on many more trips to come.
9. Keep track of what you save
It may be a good idea to keep a separate account or other mechanism in place for recording what you actually save. You can go old school and start paying more with cash and keeping the rest in a jar at the end of each week, or you can record your expenses in a way that you know exactly what you have saved at the end of each month.
The Japanese method of kakeibo is something I recently discovered and find both fascinating and effective for that purpose.
If you practice this form of simple home accounting, you will soon figure out your monthly basic needs in financial terms and, likewise, how much money you are able to save every month. Then, you will be able to immediately set a fixed amount aside once you receive your paycheck and forget about it in a savings account.
10. Plan your trips in advance
Booking hotels, flight tickets, or train fares in advance usually saves you money. At the same time, pencilling your trip into the calendar months in advance gives you something to look forward to. Having several trips lined up throughout the year really motivates me to get through the everyday drudge.
The comfy traveller's diaries 