Let’s be real — travel costs money. And when you’re juggling rent, groceries, bills, and a tiny human who grows out of clothes every three months, it can feel like an impossible luxury.
We get it. We’ve been there — looking at dreamy beach stays on Instagram while wondering if we should even be thinking about vacations with our mortgage looming in the background.
But over time, we’ve figured out a rhythm that works for us. It’s not flashy, and it’s definitely not “quit your job and travel the world” kind of advice. It’s simple, steady, and sustainable. If you’re just starting to think about saving for travel, here’s how we did it — from ground zero.
1. Start with high-interest debt
The first step is to get out from under anything that’s charging you ridiculous interest — think credit cards, personal loans, or buy-now-pay-later traps. If you’re paying 20% or more interest on a balance, that beach holiday is going to cost you way more in the long run.
Focus on one debt at a time (smallest or highest interest — pick what motivates you) and knock it out before setting aside money for a trip.
Luckily, our biggest and highest interest debt is our mortgage (thanks, variable interest rate)— we just paused big-ticket travel and took local trips instead. Think staycations, nature trails, or quick train getaways with home-packed food. Still memory-making. Still worth it.
2. Build an emergency fund
Before setting sights on a holiday, your financial safety net comes first. We know it’s boring. It’s not Bali. But it matters.
Start small: aim for $500 as your first milestone. That’s enough to cover basic emergencies — like a car repair or a last-minute flight to see family. Eventually, try to build this up to cover 3–6 months of essential expenses.
Think of it this way: your emergency fund gives you the peace of mind that travel won’t set you back in a crisis.
💡Pro-tip: We kept ours in a separate high-interest savings account — out of sight, out of mind.
3. Set a realistic travel goal
- Where can we go on $500? It doesn’t matter if it’s not a far off exotic place. Start small, travel local while you build up funds for a bigger holiday.
- Can we make a 3-day trip happen for less than a fancy day out in the city?
- Are we willing to do one budget hotel and one splurge night? Or do we just pick cheap basic rooms as we are going to be outdoors most of the time.
4. Start a dedicated travel fund
Once you know how much you want to save, make it official. Open a separate account, name it something fun like “Greece, here we come!” or “Japan Dreams”, and set up a recurring transfer. Even $20 a week adds up quickly.
We often funnel in “extra” money here:
- Freelance gigs
- Gifts or bonuses
- Credit card cashback or points
- Selling stuff we no longer use
When the balance grows, you feel closer to your trip, and that alone keeps you motivated.
💡Pro-tip: Don’t let the money you are saving sit idly. Keep it in a high interest saving ETF or savings account so it earns some interest without any risk.
5. Cut expenses without feeling miserable
We’re not into extreme frugality. We still get the occasional latte and treat ourselves to decent takeout. But we do track where our money goes, and we cut what doesn’t bring real joy.
Things that helped us save for travel:
- Cooking at home during weekdays, no matter how busy we are or how hard it is
- Canceling subscriptions we forgot we had
- Buying fewer (but better) clothes
- Swapping weekend malls for nature walks
Every $50 saved was a tuk-tuk ride, a meal, or an extra night on our trip.
6. Research, hacks & off-peak travel
We’re not full-blown travel hackers, but we do try to be smart.
Some things that helped us save:
- Booking mid-week flights
- Traveling during shoulder season (right before/after peak times)
- Researching every single place we go to understand common scams and tourist traps
- Planning our trip well in advance to save last-minute pricing hikes on hotels and flights
- Signing up for airline deals/newsletters to snag offers
We once got a 2-night resort stay in Bali for half price because we booked 3 months before our travel date.
7. Travel within your means - guilt-free
Not every trip has to be luxurious. And not every trip has to be dirt-cheap either.
For us, travel is part of how we bond as a couple, show our daughter the world, and reset from the daily grind. So we budget for it, save with intention, and enjoy it without guilt. Some nights are budget homestays, some nights are boutique resorts. Some meals are street food, others are splurges.
It’s all about balance, and keeping your finances healthy enough to let you do it again next year.
In Summary:
If travel feels out of reach right now, that’s okay. Start where you are.
✅ Build that emergency buffer
✅ Pay off any debt draining your energy
✅ Set a goal, no matter how small
✅ Save with intention
✅ Travel in a way that works for you
