How to travel as a broke college student
Step 1: Take advantage of all Opportunities and Resources.
As simple as it sounds, you may not be aware of all the opportunities around you, whether it be at school or with friends and family. At first, it might start with a family vacation when you’re younger and then sooner or later mom and dad might start asking you where you’d like to go. Leverage! Family trips are always going to be the cheapest when mom and dad have you covered! Do you have friends or family who live in a different state or country? Pay a visit! Not only will you have a place to stay, but you’ll basically have your own personal tour guides who can help you get acquainted with the area. But beyond using family and friends, there are also resources that you have at school! By going through the school, having a strong group, and scheduling all of that ahead of time, I was able to save a ton of money. And now that I’m in college, there are SO MANY destinations you can go to study abroad and live there!
Step 2 – Consider all the options.
As much as I want to travel, I know that being in college I can’t go everywhere whenever I please. Create an order or list of all the top destinations you absolutely need to travel to. Personally, I prefer not to go to the same place twice when I can go somewhere new and have a fresh new experience. Years ago I put Spain at the top of my wish list. Now, after patiently waiting and not participating in the average spring break, not only do I get to live there for a few weeks, but I’ll be able to visit at least three more different destinations while abroad, scooping one by one out of the bucket. list.
Step 3: PLAN → SAVE
Separate a jar or box and make it your travel money bank. Whether you save $5 every few days or weeks or even opt out of eating or drinking with friends and instead putting that money in the till, you’ll see how much it can add up quickly. For birthdays or holidays, instead of asking for material things you may not need, ask for donations for your trips. It helps when you tell your family exactly where you want to go, what you want to do there, and how happy it will make you. The faster you start saving, the easier it will be to buy your ticket. Apart from saving, start putting together your plans. The more you do your research, the more money you can save and the more you can prepare your budget. I have found that if you try to plan each of your days, it saves you money from too many daily purchases, spending on groceries, or even wasting money on fraudulent activities that were a waste of time.