The most common question I am asked, “So how do you afford to travel?” My friends got mad jokes so I usually have to make it clear that I don’t have a sugar daddy OR trust fund. My typical response, ‘ummm I save and plan my trips.’ Well duhh….but how? The simplest answer is over the years I’ve gotten smart with how I budget my money and made travel a priority. I’ve found that simple changes can make all the different. Here is my two cents on how I’ve managed to build a healthy savings for travel.

Stop brunchin’ and start meal preppin’ 

Eating out on regular basis is the fastest way to diminish your funds so I suggest preparing your own meal at home. Pack your lunch daily for work and put the savings into a travel fund. Creating a travel fund is the best way to hold yourself accountable. This can be challenging when you want to be social but the reward is worth the sacrifice. Trust me, it’s not fun when a flight deal to New Zealand pops up and you ain’t ready.

Pick up a side hustle

It’s so easy to become a uber driver these days to bring in some extra income. If that isn’t your style, babysit or bartend on the weekends. Remember lemonade stands will never go out of style.  I recently read a quote that stated, “If you desire to travel then do it. There are cheap travel possibilities too. It’s not about the money. It’s about the courage.” The point is that there are several low-key options to make your travel goals attainable. It’s up to you to be creative and make it happen!