How to Fund Your Wanderlust?

HOW TO FUND YOUR WANDERLUST?

There is no such thing a FREE travel, if there is, please let me know okay? But there is this thing called saving up for your next escapade. This month, the Pinoy Travel Blogger is offering every traveler out there some of our best kept secret- “How we fund our wanderlust.”

So you think we are rich because our Facebook photos are full of travel photos here and there. To tell you honestly, most of us are not born with a silver spoon. We work hard to continue this lifestyle of traveling. This is a collection of ways to fund your next trip- some basic, some weird and some extreme but I believe you will learn a thing or two. Hope this helps!

Before you continue, let me tell you also that some of us work online, some have day jobs, some in call center agents and some are like me- just traveling. 😉 But one thing is for sure, we pay for our travels. So stop whining that you don’t have money for the next trip. Read this and reap the benefits by following the tips.

I have categorized the tips for you to understand more clearly. Adding my personal experiences in each trusting that it will help you as you read.

PRIORITIZE.

I have learned to focus on what I really love doing, things that I would do even without a salary. I prioritized traveling around the Philippines instead of seeing what’s there abroad. I am reminded of my priorities in life when I read of Ruby,

Deciding that you really want something means pushing that thing on top of your priority list. As for me, I have long decided that this “thing” is being outside and experiencing places…I make sure that I only buy what I need. It is not an easy task, I sometimes still find myself struggling in refusing these pretty things that I deem unnecessary. When I am depressed, no amount of retail therapy can cheer me up, except if retail involves a drink or booking a ticket to somewhere. —Ruby (Read more: Put Your Money Where Your Heart Is)

Karen on the other hand learned to master the Mastercard,

Minimize use of your credit cards – I used to be a sucker for promo fares, that I abuse the power of my credit card. Luckily, there aren’t much promo fares nowadays and I had a breather for my credit card bills. But it’s equally important that you pay your credit card bills so you clear them as soon as possible. —Karen (Read more: 5 Personal Tips for Managing Your Travel Funds)

PLAN AHEAD.

Traveling around the country is no joke, I planned my itinerary for 2 years, had 2 weeks of sleepless nights to fix logistics. So I won’t be surprised to hear from Mervin, who has a day job of 9-5 and still find time to enjoy weekend travels

I travel based on budget. My travel adjusts on the budget that I set. I take advantage of airlines’ seat sale promos. I don’t spend too much on airfares as I buy my tickets way ahead of time. Researching well before a travel is also very important. That way, I get to search for cheap accommodations, low-cost way to get there and on affordable food. I do not book on hotels, I go for hostels and pension houses. Don’t overspend, you still have more travels and adventures to come. —Mervin (Read more: Pinoy Adventurista- How I Fund My Wanderlust)

It would also be important to note here that planning ahead also means seizing those airlines’ seat sale. Promise, you get lots of bargain when you got a promo fare. So always be on a lookout.

WORK.

Some of you think that I don’t work, I actually do. I do some freelance writing jobs in travel magazines. I believe most of you have day jobs but find it hard to escape the cubicle, how about trying some unconventional jobs- online or abroad

Do online and freelance jobs. Odesk, Essays.ph and Elance are some of credible online companies that let you earn. Odesk and Elance have plethora of jobs available for anyone who wants to make a few bucks by doing projects such as writing articles, doing graphics or transcribing audios. Essays.ph is a local hub for writers who like to earn through essay writing. Just be cautious in accepting job offers since some people have been ripped off by a few employers. —Ryan (Read more: Pinoy Wandering Boy: How to Fund Your Wanderlust)

My basic principle in my travels is, to work and save and when vacation time comes, book a ticket and travel, as simple as that. So what do I do when I’m not traveling? I’m working. I work as a teacher in Thailand- the center of backpackers in Southeast Asia. Just like many travelers in Asia, I teach English. I started as an ESL (English as a Second Language) teacher in one of the bilingual schools in Thailand. –Regin (Read more: Regin’s Travels- How to Fund Your Wanderlust)

If online jobs and teaching English is not for you, how about Facebooking? For real? Yep, that’s one of Mica’s sidelines

If you have a day job, you can still do extra work on weekends. There are a number of websites where jobs for freelancers are up for grabs. Aside from my blogs, I also write for a tabloid. Some of my former sidelines include maintaining social media accounts for companies, editing videos/slideshows, scanning a box of old pictures and as a dance instructor. LOL. —Mica (Read more: Strategies on Funding Wanderlust- Senyorita Style)

Some of you wan to stick on your job, but be sure to work well enough to get some bonuses like Paula,

Having a day job surely helps in funding this crazy hobby of mine. In the office, I sure take time to focus on my work (Really, this gets harder and harder everytime I am fresh from a trip! lol) and diligently finish them efficiently. Small things are rewarded in many ways possible. For a job well done, I often times receive a P 1000 SM GC which is definitely a big help in buying personal items for my future travels e.g shampoo, soap, etc. One time I received a GC worth P 3,300! Just in time when I needed to buy a new pair of rubber shoes! —Paula (Read more: I Fund My Wanderlust by III)

This is so basic and my favorite,

CUT YOUR EXPENSES.

Almost 3 years ago, I stopped buying clothes, stopped drinking over-priced frappes and make my own float. It is hard at first, but I was happy to find myself contented. Continue reading and you will be amazed that it is really possible

During weekdays, at work, instead of eating in a fastfood or in those 24-hour-restos nearby such as McDonalds, Mang Inasal, Chicboy, Jollibee, etc., I would rather eat somewhere more homey. In Makati, “Pares”, and Jollijeeps are emerging like mushrooms. These small eateries offer Filipino food which are around 70%-90% cheaper. —Mich (Read more: An Average Call Center Agent’s Guide for a Nomadic Bliss)

I am a milk tea fan and my addiction to it results me in buying around 3 times a week. I already cut it out and noticed the difference of my weekly budget. I also cut eating in a fast food during office breaks. Once in a while won’t hurt if you are really craving for it. —Gladys (Read more: When I Learn to Prioritize)

Avoid going to the mall during a SALE! You might think you’re saving a lot because items are 50% – 70% off (blame it on marketing) but the tendency is to hoard, and now you have these things that you don’t really need which end up gathering dust. But then again, you can still turn that around and do a garage sale (another way to fund your wanderlust). —Kat, (Read more: How to Fund Your Wanderlust If You are Just Living Paycheck to Paycheck)

Loraine has a confession to make,

When I realized I had more disposable income, I spent mindlessly on those expensive coffeeshops. I watched movies almost on a weekly basis. I spent on low quality unneeded shoes, clothes and bags because they were cute and they were on sale. I still saved my money but I spent the rest gloriously. I think there was this case of telling myself that I can now afford these things.

Those lattes found their way out of my wallet and into my waistline. Which promoted me to spend on new clothes because I didn’t fit the old ones anymore. When a yuppie has more disposable income, he/she is probably inclined to spend the money in non-essentials. Expensive gadgets, unnecessary clothes, and what-nots. Unconscious Spending. Spending for the sake of spending. —Loraine (Read more: Sharpen Your Time and Money Management Skills)

Violy on the other hand learned to live a simple life,

I grew up with simple needs and a simple life, even now at my age I don’t drink, nor smoke nor wear make-up, and a lot may consider it weird but I am not into shopping too! I don’t wear jewelries or fancy clothing. The only thing in my life I don’t mind spending for is food, my collection of books, spending for my family and my travels. —Violy, (Read more: Dream Big and Make It Happen)

And since you have cut back on your expenses already, its now time to

SAVE.

This I believe is the most basic but the hardest thing to do, you really need a lot of self-discipline not to open that piggy-bank until its not yet time. Let’s see what others have to say on this subject,

Sparing 20% of your salary per month to support your wanderlust does not hurt. In the end, you’d realize that the experiences you had are much more worth than what you saved or paid for. While “Ang tunay na pag-ibig ay hindi nabibili ng salapi” may not be applicable to travel in its initial stage, travel experiences, whether good or bad – are simply priceless. — Cris (Read more: Saving For My Love For You)

Yeah, save! Saving for your travels is as valuable as traveling itself. After I budget my monthly paycheck, I usually save my travel fund either in a secret envelope or in my bank account. I was not born rich. During my elementary years, I used to wander around our barangay selling ice candy for one-peso each. Those experiences made me realize that you need to sweat it out in order to earn, and once you’ve earned something, you need to save it for future use. I learned this skill from my parents. —Ephraim (Read more: Fund Your Wanderlust in 3 Easy Ways)

I also like joining the so called “Paluwagan” in the office. It’s really just a group of friends who agreed to shell out a certain amount every payday and give it to a member on their agreed scheduled payout. It’s a nice way to save up, I think of it as pooling my funds somewhere that I can use on an opportune time. —Francis (Read more: Funding the Wanderlust- How I Prepare for My Travel)

Let’s cut the discussion and just do what Pol suggests

Set-up a savings account or a piggy bank. Name it as your (Name of destination) Travel Fund. (Example:  Machu Picchu Travel Fund, Barcelona Travel Fund). —Pol (Read more: How to Make Your Dream Happen)

Some still manage to go the extra mile for the love of travel, they

SACRIFICE.

I have to spend countless nights in company of complete strangers in one dorm room for I need to find ways to lower my overhead expenses so I can have additional funds whenever my wife and kids would visit me. Furthermore, I have learned to sleep in the airport to save on hotel fare; I missed those nights spent in plush hotels while in transit in Dubai and Doha. A meal worth a dollar along the street of Bangkok’s Khao San road and Singapore’s food hawkers became a norm. There were so many experiences that I won’t forget since I started wandering. —Welson (Read more: One Year of Wanderlust for Free)

Brenna shares some situations like

Situation: Friends invite me for a get-together. What I do: Ask when and where. Most likely, if I’ll be forced to spend and commute, I’ll be too lazy to, (good thing I’m lazy). Instead, I invite them to my house and they bring drinks and food. Result: I don’t spend ANYTHING. I still get to eat and bond though. or

Situation: I pass by Starbucks on the way to work. What I do: I walk faster, ignore the huge Starbucks sign calling my name and practically run until the store is out of sight. Result: Moody, sleepy me all day. —Brenna (Read more: Small Tips to Funding My Wanderlust)

These kind of strategies work and are not bad at all. I am learning a lot! Want more? Here’s a certified WHAM (work-at-home-mom) has to say,

My dad once referred to my spending habit as something comparable to using a tweezer – money is plucked out one at a time. Indeed, I always over-rethink any purchase over P300 (is this too frugal?), I only buy second-hand clothes and haggle whenever I can. The words ‘impulse’ and ‘shop’ doesn’t come together in my dictionary.

When travelling, I try to keep within the budget by abiding to my “gastos studyante” (spend like a student) philosophy. It’s as simple as spending like you’re only receiving a meager allowance. Climbing Mt. Pulag back in college, our group passed on renting a jeep and instead walked from the DENR office in Kabayan, Benguet all the way to the Ranger Station in Babadak to afford the climb. —Kim (Read more: How I Afford the Travel Lifestyle)

Hope you are taking notes, but there’s more. Ever tried to

SELL SOMETHING.

I was selling Palawan pearls, honey and dried fish when I was just starting out. I don’t mind that, other sell

Food

There came a point wherein my companions wanted to eat the same meals that I brought. Hence, I decided to have meals cooked in batches to accommodate them. By the way, the meals that I prepared were purely vegetables – with no hint of meat at all. Doing this not only helped them save money (since my veggies were not expensive), I also assisted them with their diet issues. —Edcel (Read more: How to Save Money for Your Trips)

Vegetables

If you plant your own vegetables then you would not need to buy the types that you have planted in the market making you save up more. If you plant more or you simply don’t eat vegetables then you can post a sign at your door or gate that says you are selling your vegetables. You could even knock on your neighbor’s door or tell your officemates that you are selling vegetables. —Josiah (Read more: A Peso A Day Makes your Travel Dream on the Way)

Photographs

Most of us love to take photographs. Taking pictures with your own camera is addictive and perhaps can even be your vocation. The potential way to earn money is to sell your photographs in a newspaper or a magazine. Or if you also want fame and fortune I strongly suggest to sell it in a complete package with an article. If your work doesn’t get published , do not lose hope. Don’t give up and please eat rejection. I got used to having my photos and articles rejected and ignored at the same time. —Mark (Read more: Frugal Insider Tips)

If we can do it, why can’t you? Maybe you want a different plan like being a

VOLUNTEER.

Reiza and Grasya has tried this and have seen places most Filipinos hear only in the news

Luck must have been on my side for after the SE Asia trip, I landed a post as a humanitarian aid worker in South Sudan that allowed me to travel around East Africa (Kenya and Uganda) every two and a half months, and paid enough money for me to travel to other countries like Nepal, every once in a while. Sometime during my mission, I will set foot in France. Hopefully, next year, I will find myself in another exotic land. Or crashing into the homes of friends I met during my jaunts. To date, I boast of 25 invitations in 15 different countries. I pay the fare, they take care of food and accommodation. —Reiza (Read more: I Dream to Travel)

Work in the mountains where there is no need to spend. I was a VSO Volunteer in a far flung rural area in India.. no malls, no fancy restaurants, there’s really no reason to spend except on basics and on occasional gathering. —Grasya (Read more: How I was able to Travel with a Wee Fund)

Lastly, and I think most importantly. Learn to

INVEST.

Nothing earns you money more than investing. You can put your cash in the bank for years without seeing a significant interest, but when you invest in a business, you can have as much as 5 percent return in investment every month. This is the best thing that I did with my savings, and it enabled me to go to Europe!  —Aleah (Read more: Ways to Build Your Travel Fund)

I started investing from the day I started having my first regular job working for a crazy 24 hours in the world of TV production. While others are enjoying their brand new gadgets, clothes and cars, I save in every way possible even up to the last centavo. Tried my hands too on selling stuffs from World Trade Center to garage sales – fun, tiring and enriching experience. I enjoyed both the world of employment and business at the same time. —Sarah (Read more: The Farm that Funds My Travel Fancy)

When I was 20, I learned to invest. I started building my emergency/travel/retirement fund through variable life insurance or unit-link life investment. The younger you start, the better earnings/returns you will have. Variable Life Insurance/ Unit-linked investment- This type of investment is linked with a life insurance so I’m not only protected but I’m also growing my money at the same time. In this type of investment, money is pooled together and invested in government bonds (fixed-income securities) and equities. —Izah (Read more: How to Build Your travel Fund)

I have invested some of my money to stocks exchange and used some of that investment when I traveled the whole Philippines. I started that investment when I graduated from college and I’m thankful that that investment has helped he pursue my dream.

BE LUCKY.

Don’t laugh yet! That’s Atty. Mheann’s experience,

How do I fund my wanderlust? My reply was spelled out in my really old blog entry – I just get LUCKY! As I learned the true nature of luck, I made good luck a constant factor in any project I wish to bring to fruition – be it feeding my wanderlust by scoring free plane tickets, accommodations and travel expenses from generous boyfriend, best friend, client, boss, prospective client, friend, friend of friends, scholarships, and miles saved up from airline memberships; to landing a good job that pays well and allows me to be location independent, or something else. I constantly take positive steps to attract, recognize and strengthen luck in my life. –Mhe-ann (Read more: Get Lucky To Fund Your Wanderlust)

Yes, I definitely agree with Atty. Mhe-ann, I have used luck in most of my travels, try looking into my days 1-50 and days 51-100 expenses. Most of the trip are because I was lucky. But of course, you have to be out there for this luck to work on you.

Now that you have read the secrets of some Pinoy Travel Bloggers that you read, then maybe its time to be one of them- someone who has the resources to enjoy what’s out there.

If this is not for you then maybe your officemate or sister will find this article handy, care to place this on his/her FB? Thanks! 

___ ___ ___

This is Pinoy Travel Bloggers way of helping indie travelers in the Philippines and beyond to start building their travel funds, live the dream and travel. If you find this interesting, then maybe you might want to check our past Blog Carnival topics by visiting this link: PTB Blog Carnival