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Traditional travel media makes you believe

traveling is expensive.

They do this by showing you EXPENSIVE hotels &

resorts, airlines, and cruises

WHYDO THEY DO THIS?

Because that’s where the

money and advertising dollars are.

You can’t run a magazine selling $20 a night

hostel rooms.

Moreover, in America we have a VACATION culture,

not a travel culture.

It’s not as common for us to

travel the world for a year as it

is in other cultures, so

we just don’t know many people who have done it.

2014 2015

But we do know a lot of

people who go to resorts.

Which just reinforces the perception that travel is

EXPENSIVE.

But what if I told you you’re being LIED to

and that travel really is within your grasp?

What if I told you, you could go ANYWHERE,

ANYTIME without much money?

I’ve spent the last seven years proving that

TRAVEL IS AFFORDABLE and that everything you’ve read in

the past about travel is wrong.

or 2 years

You can travel on a budget without sacrificing comfort...whether you are going away

2 monthsfor 2 weeks

2014

2015

can you accomplish this? HOW

12 EASY

WAYSHere are

to Save money & Travel more:

Cut Your Expenses

#1

For two weeks, track all your expenses.

People waste money each day that goes

unnoticed. A bottle of water, gum, a snack,

a coffee—it all adds up.

Cutting your expenses is the

best way to increase your

bank account.

It’s the low hanging fruit that allows

you to create a travel fund within

your current means.

Here are some simple ways to cut back

1) CUT THE COFFEE – Coffee is the little thing that quietly drains your bank account. That daily coffee costs you $150 per month (assuming $5 per coffee). That’s $1,800 USD per year that could pay for two months in Southeast Asia.

Here are some simple ways to cut back

1) CUT THE COFFEE – Coffee is the little thing that quietly drains your bank account. That daily coffee costs you $150 per month (assuming $5 per coffee). That’s $1,800 USD per year that could pay for two months in Southeast Asia.

2) LEARN TO COOK – We all need to eat, but restaurants are getting quite expensive. Before I left, I cut down on eating out to two times per week and cooked every other meal.

Here are some simple ways to cut back

1) CUT THE COFFEE – Coffee is the little thing that quietly drains your bank account. That daily coffee costs you $150 per month (assuming $5 per coffee). That’s $1,800 USD per year that could pay for two months in Southeast Asia.

2) LEARN TO COOK – We all need to eat, but restaurants are getting quite expensive. Before I left, I cut down on eating out to two times per week and cooked every other meal.

3) LOSE THE CAR – Cars cost a lot of money between insurance, repairs, & filling your tank with gas. If you can, get rid of yours. Learn to love the bus, take the subway, bike, or walk. It took me longer to get to work using public transportation but I saved thousands.

Here are some simple ways to cut back

4) GET RID OF CABLE – In the age of free (and legal) streaming TV, there’s no reason to spend $50 USD per month on cable. Get rid of it and watch everything online.

Here are some simple ways to cut back

4) GET RID OF CABLE – In the age of free (and legal) streaming TV, there’s no reason to spend $50 USD per month on cable. Get rid of it and watch everything online.

5) DOWNGRADE YOUR PHONE – While smart phones are handy devices, getting a cheap phone without any fancy apps will cost you half that per month. You might get bored on the train, but your money will be put to better use when you’re spending a few more weeks in Europe, enjoying nicer meals, or learning to scuba dive in Fiji.

Here are some simple ways to cut back

6) OPEN AN ONLINE SAVINGS ACCOUNT – While you are saving money, earn a little bit more by putting it in a high yield online savings account. I netted a few hundred USD this way while I was saving for my trip. Interest rates are pretty low these days but you can still get 1–2%.

Here are some simple ways to cut back

6) OPEN AN ONLINE SAVINGS ACCOUNT – While you are saving money, earn a little bit more by putting it in a high yield online savings account. I netted a few hundred USD this way while I was saving for my trip. Interest rates are pretty low these days but you can still get 1–2%.

7) STOP DRINKING – Cutting back on alcohol is going to have a big impact on your budget. It may not be as fun staying home but limiting how much you drink is an easy way to save money.

Avoid Bank Fees

#2

3% foreign transaction fees and $5 ATM withdrawals

can really eat into your money when you are on the road.

$

Here’s how to never pay a bank fee again 1) GET A NO-FEE ATM CARD – Get a Charles Schwab no-fee ATM card or join a bank in the Global ATM Alliance to avoid all ATM fees in their network (US partner: Bank of America). Also check with your local bank for other options.

Here’s how to never pay a bank fee again 1) GET A NO-FEE ATM CARD – Get a Charles Schwab no-fee ATM card or join a bank in the Global ATM Alliance to avoid all ATM fees in their network (US partner: Bank of America). Also check with your local bank for other options.

2) GET A NO-FEE CREDIT CARD – Sign up for a no-fee credit card like Capital One’s No Hassle Card, Chase Ink, Chase Sapphire Preferred or United’s MileagePlus to avoid the normal 3% overseas transaction fee that most credit and debit cards charge.

Get a Rewards

Credit Card

#3

Why pay for travel when you can get it for free? Use a travel rewards credit card to earn points and miles that can be redeemed for free travel.

These cards come with sign-up bonuses around 40,000–50,000 points, which is enough for a free round trip flight to Europe. Branded travel credit cards will help you travel cheaper, better, and longer and, when used properly, are essentially money generating machines.

These cards also come with other perks and point offers that allow you to fly for free often.

✈

Get Travel

Insurance

#4

You never know what could happen on the road. Insurance covers you if you experience a medical emergency, you need to be evacuated, your trip gets cancelled, or you break your camera.

It’s only a few dollars a day and has saved me many times over.

The #1 mistake people make is not getting travel insurance.

➪

#5 Get Travel

Discount Cards

These global cards offer discounts of up to 50% for museums, transportation, tours, and hostels.

TRAVEL DISCOUNTS

Travel discount cards are a

great way to save money.

The biggest travel discount cards are:

YHA Hostel – primarily for hostels but includes other global discounts

ISIC — International Student Identity Card

IYTC — International Youth Travel Card

VIP Backpackers — discounts in Australia and New Zealand

MEMBER CARD

#6 Save on Flights

Airfare is going to be your

biggest expense and lowering

its cost is going to be the

biggest win you can get.

✈

If you can’t redeem miles for free flights (or you’ve used them already), here are some other ways to lower the cost of plane tickets:

1) FLY OFF-PEAK – Fly when no one else wants to fly (weekends, nights, early mornings) and you’ll find substantially cheaper airfares. It may be more inconvenient but it will be cheaper.

If you can’t redeem miles for free flights (or you’ve used them already), here are some other ways to lower the cost of plane tickets:

1) FLY OFF-PEAK – Fly when no one else wants to fly (weekends, nights, early mornings) and you’ll find substantially cheaper airfares. It may be more inconvenient but it will be cheaper.

2) BE FLEXIBLE – The difference of a day can mean the difference of hundreds of dollars. Be flexible in the days and times you want to travel and save money.

...ways to lower the cost of plane tickets:

3) FIND SMALLER AIRPORTS – Smaller airports have lower taxes and fees (a big contributor to airfare prices). Try to find less popular airports to fly into.

...ways to lower the cost of plane tickets:

3) FIND SMALLER AIRPORTS – Smaller airports have lower taxes and fees (a big contributor to airfare prices). Try to find less popular airports to fly into.

4) FIND ALTERNATIVE ROUTING – Going direct is the easiest, but not often the cheapest, way to travel. Look for non-direct flights and consider an airport other than your final destination. It might cost $900 to fly to Paris but $600 to Dublin. Instead, take a cheap flight from Dublin to Paris for $60 and save $240 dollars.

Find The Free

#7

Every city has free attractions

and activities. Finding them can

introduce you to things to do and

interesting cultural experiences

that will fill your day without

emptying your wallet.

Here’s how to find free activities:1) LOCAL TOURISM BOARDS – Local tourism offices keep a list of all the happenings of a destination and are prime resources.

Here’s how to find free activities:1) LOCAL TOURISM BOARDS – Local tourism offices keep a list of all the happenings of a destination and are prime resources.

2) GOOGLE “FREE THINGS TO DO IN X” – The Internet always helps.

Here’s how to find free activities:1) LOCAL TOURISM BOARDS – Local tourism offices keep a list of all the happenings of a destination and are prime resources.

2) GOOGLE “FREE THINGS TO DO IN X” – The Internet always helps.

3) ASK HOSTELS (even if you aren’t staying there) – Hostels deal with travelers on a budget all the time and are excellent resources for finding inexpensive events.

Avoid Hotels

#8

Hotels are the most expensive type of accommodation. Here are some alternatives:

1) HOME EXCHANGE – Home exchanges have been around for a long time and are just like they sound — for a set amount of time, you exchange homes with a family from another country.

Hotels are the most expensive type of accommodation. Here are some alternatives:

1) HOME EXCHANGE – Home exchanges have been around for a long time and are just like they sound — for a set amount of time, you exchange homes with a family from another country.

2) HOUSE SITTING – If swapping homes isn’t your thing, consider house-sitting as an alternative. In exchange for watching and maintaining someone’s home while they are on holiday, you’ll get a free place to stay. House-sitting jobs tend to be best for people who can stay for at least a couple of weeks, though there are occasionally short term stints.

...more alternatives to expensive hotels:

3) APARTMENT RENTALS – Rent an apartment (or room) from a local. It’s much cheaper than a hotel and lets you explore a local neighborhood, ask a local for questions, get your own space, and enjoy a kitchen for cooking meals.

...more alternatives to expensive hotels:

3) APARTMENT RENTALS – Rent an apartment (or room) from a local. It’s much cheaper than a hotel and lets you explore a local neighborhood, ask a local for questions, get your own space, and enjoy a kitchen for cooking meals.

4) FARM STAYS – Farm stays allow you to stay on working farms and enjoy a number of organized outdoor activities. Facilities range from basic camping to luxury rooms depending on the farm, but in general it’s like you’re staying at a bed and breakfast.

...more alternatives to expensive hotels:

5) MONASTERY STAYS – Accommodation in monasteries is often very spartan, containing no more than a bed and desk, with simple meals prepared by the monks and nuns. While many monasteries cost at least $50 USD a night per person (many have dorms for half that price), most simply ask for donations or are free.

...more alternatives to expensive hotels:

5) MONASTERY STAYS – Accommodation in monasteries is often very spartan, containing no more than a bed and desk, with simple meals prepared by the monks and nuns. While many monasteries cost at least $50 USD a night per person (many have dorms for half that price), most simply ask for donations or are free.

6) HOSTELS – This is the cheapest form of paid accommodation out there! Nothing beats a dorm room!

#9 Use a Hospitality

Network

Hospitality networks allow

you to stay with locals who open

their home to you.

Not only is this a great way to

save but you also get to interact

with a local who can show you

where to go, what to do, and

teach you about the culture.

One of the best ways to save money on accommodation is by not paying for it.

www.couchsurfing.org

www.servas.org

www.bewelcome.org

www.hospitalityclub.org

The best hospitality sites are:

Take Public

Transportation

#10

Avoid taxis or tourist buses

and take local transportation. This

not only saves you money but also

lets you see how people travel in

your destination. It’s the most

economical way to travel.

Use City Tourism

Cards

#11

If you are planning to see a lot of museums and attractions, city tourism cards will

end up saving you upwards of hundreds of dollars. They can be bought at local

tourism offices, airports, or online. They also come with free public transportation.

G CITY

Save Money

on Food

#12

Your most frequent day-to-day expense doesn’t need to eat

into your entire budget.

There are many ways to eat cheap and well at the same time:

1) BUFFETS – While they don’t always serve the best meals, buffets offer great value for your money, especially since they are all-you-can-eat. You can fill up on one meal for the entire day.

There are many ways to eat cheap and well at the same time:

1) BUFFETS – While they don’t always serve the best meals, buffets offer great value for your money, especially since they are all-you-can-eat. You can fill up on one meal for the entire day.

2) STREET FOOD/OUTDOOR VENDORS – In most places around the world, the streets are lined with food stalls and areas where food is cooked openly on the street. These places are a great way to experience the local cuisine. Small stands that sell hot dogs, sandwiches, and the like are also great places to get a cheap and quick meal. While in Sweden, I lived off these — I could get a sausage for about $4 USD.

...ways to eat cheap and well at the same time:

3) LUNCH SPECIALS – Many restaurants, especially in Europe, offer lunch specials where items on the dinner menu are offered at a huge discount. I usually tend to eat my “nice” meal during lunch because lunch specials and plates of the day cost 30–40% less than what I might pay at dinner.

...ways to eat cheap and well at the same time:

3) LUNCH SPECIALS – Many restaurants, especially in Europe, offer lunch specials where items on the dinner menu are offered at a huge discount. I usually tend to eat my “nice” meal during lunch because lunch specials and plates of the day cost 30–40% less than what I might pay at dinner.

4) NO SODA – At $2 dollars a pop, two or three a day can really add up over the course of a long-term trip. Stick to water.

...ways to eat cheap and well at the same time:

5) REFILL WATER BOTTLES – You need to stay hydrated, but buying a bottle of water (or three) a day is not only environmentally wasteful — it also makes foolish budget travel sense. Carry a refillable bottle with you instead and just drink the tap water.

doesn’t need to be expensive. If you travel like how you live at home, you’ll never overpay on the road. Do what the locals do and you’ll have a cheaper and

more culturally rich experience.

TRAVEL

Budget travel is about FINDING VALUE and ignoring mainstream resorts, hotels, and restaurants. It’s about traveling

OUTSIDE THE MAINSTREAM expectations and traveling

how locals live.

Any destination can be traveled to on a budget. Use these tips to

EXPLORE THE WORLD CHEAPER, BETTER, & LONGER…no matter where you want to go

or for how long.

So GO, as Mark Twain said:

“Explore. Dream. Discover.”

✈

If you want more tips on how to turn your dream trip into a reality, check out my book:“HOW TO TRAVEL THE WORLD ON $50 A DAY”

Nomadic Matt is an American

travel expert, author, and blogger.

His blog, receives more than

600,000 unique visits a month.

His writing has been featured

in the The New York Times,

CNN, National Geographic,

The Huffington Post, and

The Guardian.

NomadicMatt.com