Traveling Together!

The amount of money you make may change how OFTEN you can travel... but not IF you can travel. Start saving a percentage of your income every week. 

Let's say you make the average amount a full-time 20-24 year old in the US makes - $37,000/ year or - $550 per week (Net - spendable money) and you have to pay for apartment ($1,000 per month), car ($150/ month), cell ($100 per month), insurance ($120.00 per month) and food ($400 per month). You have about $400 left each month. If you save $200 per month you have $2,400 per year to spend on travel... I can send you on low cost international trips for that amount of money every two years, EASY!! It's all about budgeting. 

You say, Brian, those numbers aren't real. Well then let me give you my real numbers from. When I was working at a corporate retail job, I was making $33,000/year. That's a monthly take home of about $2,100. I rented a room (not an apartment, but a room) for $600.00 per month in Downtown Charleston with two other roomies. (I did this because I chose certain comforts over others- so don't say you can't... you just won't...). My car was $175 per month (used Kia Specter) and my insurance was $95.00 per month through Progressive. I jumped on a cell phone plan with four friends so it was only $50 per month with a crappy 3 year old phone that I took good care of... And my food intake was meals of frozen chicken and rice or ramen which cost me $50.00 a week which was what I budgeted for. I had also incurred a Credit Card crisis which I was paying about $300 per month towards. At the end of the month, I had $685.00 left over. I chose to save $300 per month for travel and $100 per month set aside for a new home and $100 additional towards that debt I had incurred before I started budgeting... The rest went to alcohol and partying lol. 

I had $3,600 every year for travel plus whatever I got back each year from my taxes. On $5,000+ I was able to go anywhere I wanted - and I started with Ireland. 

It doesn't matter how much money you make... what matters is how you choose to spend it... 

Ah... you must not be an Elder Millennial or Baby Boomer... because young Millennials, Gen Z and Gen Alpha are flipping the table on the work place... and you should join us. 

When I was younger, I spent all of my allotted time off traveling. I chose to put it before Family Vacations (which I could do on weekends). Travel superseded Football Games with my brothers and even small trips just to get away. All of my allotted time off went to BIG Travel.  (I think I used to have 1 week Paid Time Off (PTO))...

As I got older, I learned that as a hard worker, the people I worked for wanted to keep me... and they would find ways to make me happy. Often, Baby Boomers think that's done by money... but for me... they kept me happy with more time off... I negotiated instead of pay increases that I be given more PTO.  I was working in a small business by that point, and they were stoked to pay me less and give me more time off. I made sure the job was done when I left and caught up when I returned... I was at five weeks PTO when I moved to my current career. 

When I was hired here, another small business (small businesses can be far more flexible) they said, "We can't pay you what you were making at your last job..." To which I responded, "Not a problem. I need this much to take care of my bills and lifestyle... and I will take unlimited PTO with no questions asked (unless I'm not getting my job done, of course...) They agreed. I now travel 2-3 times out of the country every year as well as 10-20 long weekend trips. I own that house I was saving for. And I am more happy being able to be free and to be me... 

This is the dumbest thing I have ever heard... And I want to preface this by saying, I am not here to give you financial advice at this moment... my next words are NOT FINANCIAL ADVICE... but I went into debt before I started budgeting- I went in debt by almost $15,000 because I wanted to travel so badly... I don't regret one second of that money being foolishly spent and putting me into a crippling debt at an early age. (And I would do it again in a heartbeat to enjoy this life we have... one shot and then you're done... might as well make it count).

I saw a meme that said, "Go in debt to travel now and spend your life paying it back... instead of spending your life to make money for travel and never being able to enjoy it..." That resonated with me. It's a slippery slope and budgeting is the wiser move... but I, myself, chose happiness of travel over the intelligent approach. 

Anything in the wrong hands can be bad... but in wise hands your Credit Card can make money FOR you!! I used to save $3,600 a year and be able to take one big international trip every two years... I save $5,000 a year now and can turn it into THREE to FOUR big trips each year, including international trips and/or cruises... how? Credit Card Points!! (Best Travel Tips I can offer)

I chose, and stand by the fact that 1 or 2 Credit Cards should be your max (an American Express and a Visa/Mastercard.) I have the Amex Purple (Delta) seen below and use it 95% of the time. I use my Capital One when a place doesn't take AMEX. If you want a great card, check out the link below for the Amex Delta Purple (And the information below about all the great perks). 

**Side Note: If you use the link below you get extra points for signing up and using the card!!**

I use my Amex for my monthly budget of food, alcohol, events and all of my travel expenses. (I have a friend who has worked it out that his car payment, rent for his apartment and insurance are all done through his Credit Card too... GENIUS!) 

Utilizing your card this way will make it possible to gain so many points a year that you will be able to fly most anywhere for free (at least once a year or so). With this card you also get DISCOUNTS on Delta flights, free checked bags (which saves me hundreds of dollars a year), Delta Lounge Pass (which saves me hundreds more when flying domestically and internationally because I don't have to buy food and alcohol in the airport... it's FREE), and upgrades for flights as well. The card also offers a program to get TSA precheck and Global Entry (which they credit you back). And so much more...

You thought those other people were just well traveled? They are well equipped! With a Credit Card Company that works for them and takes care of them on the front end and the back end of their travels! You should get equipped too!

**Credit Card debt can be crippling - use them wisely and only with a budget**

USE YOUR CREDIT CARD and GET THOSE POINTS!! Another friend's company requests that she use her Credit Card when she travels and then just supplies receipts for reimbursement. She uses her Credit Card, collects the points, and the company pays her back for it. 

USE the stuff around you to make money for you... like this. And like paying your rent etc. with a Credit Card since you are ALREADY going to be paying for it. And always try to pay those credit cards off at the end of the month so that you don't accumulate extra costs from interest.

This gets us down, now, to the brass tax of things... We have talked about how to get the funds, but not squandering the funds is a whole different beast... one that can be conquered with the right tools. 

• Utilize the "Alerts" Function on sites like Kayak.com , Hopper and others - It will track the pricing on your flight to let you know when to buy so that you get the best deal. You should start these Alerts at least 8 months out if possible. Low Cost Air Travel **
• Travel in numbers that make sense for your lodging. For cheapest lodging, hotels in foursomes to split the price four ways. For Airbnbs - maximize the number that can sleep in the given lodging. (I know that seems silly to have to say but... )
• Don't be afraid to call when you travel in larger groups (20+), especially with new upcoming hotels, attractions and restaurants... many times they will wine and dine you and your 20 guests just to get those 20+ reviews (And you should all plan to give a review)- It is worth it to them to discount (and sometimes even comp) your expenses because for them those reviews are gold for their SEO and Marketing!! So just have your extroverted friend call... you never know what perks you might get... *Best Travel Tips*
• Networking is a GREAT way to save money... When we traveled to Ireland, we stayed with a new friend I had met and connected with at a wedding. She let me and my friend stay with her for a week in her cottage FOR FREE... this was amazing because we got the local perspective, a friend to hang with AND stayed for our first week in Ireland for FREE... Networking!