Vacations should not be a pipe dream for anyone. Getting away from the stresses of everyday life is essential for your mental health, relationships, and physical well-being. In fact, people who take regular vacations are usually able to cope with demanding jobs much easier than those who don’t. The problem is that many people simply feel they can’t afford to travel. They may live paycheck-to-paycheck or have expenses that outweigh their incomes. But fortunately, there are ways you can travel to the best locations, even on the smallest of budgets.
Take out a loan
Taking out a loan may not be your first choice for funding a vacation. But if you get an unexpected weekend off when they’re few and far between, it may be a good option for you. Eastern Loans offers short-term financing that’s easy to apply for and quickly available. Many people use these as a way to fund last-minute vacations and return to work refreshed and revived.
Paying your balance off early usually means lower fees and interest. So be sure to keep this in mind when budgeting to pay this loan back.
Stay in hostels
Hostels are more ideal for individual travelers than for families. But if you don’t mind renting a bed in a room full of strangers, it will certainly save you some cash. In fact, many hostels cost less than a few bucks a night.
The advantages to communal living are many. For one thing, it will give you the full backpacker experience that many adventurous souls are after. It will also allow you to meet many people from different cultures, and possibly even get a free breakfast.
Travel off-season
You may not have a choice of travel dates, but you do have a choice as to where you go. If you decide to go to a location where it’s not peak travel season, you’ll likely save hundreds of dollars. Hawaii, for example, is most-traveled to when it’s cold in other places. So, their peak season is winter. If you have a summer vacation like most of the world, you can probably find some pretty good deals to Hawaii in June.
Travel with friends
Splitting vacation expenses might be the best and most fun way to pay for your trip. The more people who go, the lower your costs will be. There are many places to find condos, cabins, and houses that will accommodate multiple families. You just need to check for rentals in your preferred destination. For example, you might search for Roseland holiday cottages if you’re considering a trip to the UK. Or you can broaden your search by looking for beach results if you’re not particularly about where you’ll go.
Also, save by getting round on your urban bikes or women’s bikes!
Work while you travel
You can actually snag temporary gigs on the road if you’re the adventurous type who doesn’t mind getting your hands dirty. In fact, there’s a whole movement of people who do this year-round. Workamping, as it’s sometimes called, involves traveling to places in need of a little labor. You might clean up a campsite in exchange for a free RV space. Or you might work at a day camp in exchange for free meals. The possibilities are endless, and you can find them on various temporary job sites dedicated to this lifestyle.
Manual labor isn’t the only type of work you can do to earn your keep. Many countries will pay teachers to stay in their smaller villages and teach subjects like English as a Second Language (ESL) for short periods of time. Some of these jobs even come with free accommodations and meals. Among the highest paying places to do this are China, South Korea, and the Middle East.
Taking a break shouldn’t have to be linked to your financial status. Where there is a will, there is definitely a way. Keep these tips in mind when you’re looking for a vacation getaway or a month-long break to help you budget, manage, and enjoy your vacation.
