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Have you looked at your budget and can’t find the money for travel expenses?

You may be looking at your budget now and feel like all your money is going toward paying bills.

Sure paying your mortgage, student loans, car loans, and credit cards are all necessary payments, but if you are in debt, it can feel like all you’ll do with your money is put it toward your debt.

If you have debt, traveling much seems out of your reach.

But if you plan right, you can still learn how to afford travel even if you are in debt, because taking a vacation is important to your mental health.

I’ll show you how to pay for travel so you can get that much needed getaway.

Plus, with my ways to pay for travel, you’ll be on your next vacation in no time!

So let’s get busy and learn how to get on our next vacation!

travel expenses

Pay For Your Travel Expenses In Cash

If you are already in debt, the worst thing you can do is add more money to it! When traveling while in debt, you want to make sure you can afford to take it without adding to your debt.

This means you should not be charging any purchases to your credit cards, and instead, pay for everything using cash (or your debit card if you have to pay with a card). Pay for everything upfront so you won’t overspend while on vacation.

BONUS FREE DOWNLOAD

Create A Plan For Your Money

These FREE Budgeting Spreadsheets will help you keep a pulse on your money (from the palm of your hand).

TIME FOR SOME TOUGH LOVE: If you can’t afford to pay for a vacation in cash, you shouldn’t be taking a vacation right now. If you can take some earned time off, you can still have a fabulous and frugal vacation at home!

If you can still afford to make your debt payments and take the trip, go for it!

In order to continue paying down your debt, you should save up for your trip until you can afford to pay for it upfront. I know that might stink to hear… but there are loads of ways to work towards a vacation goal and quickly raise the money to get there FAST. It’s a good way on how to afford travel.

travel expenses

Do Some Research Before Planning Your Trip

If you are in debt and looking to travel, you will need to do some research before you start planning your trip. You have a tight budget to work with, and you need to learn everything you can about your trip before you go.

How much will food cost?
Can you find cheaper accommodations?
Are there free or inexpensive things you can do for entertainment?
Doing some research ahead of time will not only help you decide where to go based on your budget but also how much your travel expenses will be and the best time of year to go.

You can request a free vacation guide from most states. Look up the visitor’s sites and any city you may be thinking of visiting. Many of their Facebook and websites will have the upcoming events for the year. This is a great way to find free and cheap entertainment.

Learning how to pay for travel will take some time, but it will be well worth it when you find those free things to do on your trip.

Grab your FREE Florida Florida Travel Guide here!

travel expenses

Learn To Be Flexible

If you want to travel for less, you need to learn to be flexible about your destination, time of year, and travel days.

Flying in the middle of the week and during the off-season can save hundreds or even thousands off your trip. When the demand for flights to your destination of choice is low, you can get huge discounts on your flight.

Peak season will be the most expensive time to travel, thus increasing your travel expenses. And you will pay almost double for the same trip!

Instead of planning a week-long or two weeks of vacation, take a couple of weekends or mid-week vacations throughout the year. Smaller vacations are still great at helping you relax, recoup, and reconnect with your family, but they are also cheaper to begin with.

Having shorter vacations can be easier to save up for and afford since they won’t cost as much.

travel expenses

Get Creative When Traveling

If it’s been awhile since you’ve taken a trip, you may have to travel a little differently than you used to. This may involve making a few sacrifices to afford travel.

This might include cooking instead of eating out, staying at an Airbnb instead of a hotel, or even camping if necessary. You may also need to choose a cheaper hotel instead of a five-star hotel.

BONUS FREE DOWNLOAD

Create A Plan For Your Money

These FREE Budgeting Spreadsheets will help you keep a pulse on your money (from the palm of your hand).

If you feel like you can’t afford the travel expenses, it might be time to sit down and reevaluate your priorities while on vacation.

If your ways to pay for travel just aren’t adding up to the costs of your trip, consider staying in your state for your trip instead.

Have you considered staying with family and exploring their town and state? It may be a great way to save on your travel expenses.

Have you heard of House Swapping? It’s a unique way to go on vacation with little money! Check out these 10 sites to learn more about it.

travel expenses

Eat Like A Local

While cooking is going to save you the most money when eating on vacation, it’s not always an option. Whether you are unable to get a room with a kitchen, or just want to eat out while on vacation, eating like a local can help you save money on your travel expenses while still enjoying the local cuisine.

Touristy destinations can make finding cheap eats impossible, and prices will be more expensive. If you want to truly experience what the city you are visiting has to offer, ask the locals where the best places to eat are, and go there instead.

Our favorite app for finding great places to eat is TripAdvisor. It’s a great app that tells you what the #1 rated restaurant is in the area. Start there for the top five ‘must eat at’ locations!

You don’t have to have a ton of money to travel, and you can still enjoy a nice vacation even while you are paying off debt.

If you are willing to negotiate a few critical parts of your trip, you can still make payments on your debt and enjoy a nice vacation every year.

When you plan right, you can learn how to afford travel even if you are in debt, because taking a vacation is important to your mental health.

Plus, with these tips on how to pay for travel, you can get that much needed getaway.

And, with my ways to pay for travel, you’ll be on your next vacation in no time.

Don’t let your debt keep you from traveling with your family, and don’t forget that you should never add to your debt even if it means you could take a fabulous vacation.

YOUR TURN: What travel expenses do you negotiate or try to cancel when you go on vacation? Let me know in the comments below!

travel expenses
How To Afford Travel Even When You’re In Debt
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