MAKING YOUR TRIP HAPPEN

Even though waiting for a trip to arrive can be long and tedious, the best tip you can get is to PLAN AHEAD! Take at least a year before your trip to start planning and saving.

Step one: Set up a pre-authorized debit from your bank account bi-weekly (or whenever you get paid) to start the main saving for your trip. This is something that can be set up at your financial institution, so that the money you are wanting to save for your trip can go out of your sight and stay in an account like a TFSA where you cannot touch it. Living without that $100 per pay cheque is setting you up to save at least $2400 without even thinking about it! If you find that occasionally you are getting a larger pay cheque or maybe have three in one month, remember, you survive without that money normally, so go in to your bank and make a larger contribution to your Eurotrip fund!

Step two: To keep momentum going, have twice or once a month meetings with your fellow travelers. This is a great way to slowly pave the way to a itinerary that everyone will be happy with. It also give you time to get to know each other better. Make sure you are traveling with people you know and feel comfortable around. You’ll need to be able to say you need your space and not offend your fellow traveler, so make sure everyone is on the same page. Also, make sure everyone feels important and included in the plans by dividing the duties. If you know you’re going to three countries and you have three traveler, assign each person a country. You’ll all have a say, but this makes sure the work is evenly divided. This also helps with pre-trip costs as you can each buy ONE travel book and share. Make the meetings fun, plan a history lesson, a language lesson, do a calendar countdown!

Step three: If you live alone or with roomates, figure out if you can get a temporary tenant. If you know you will be away a month, why incur another expense if you can get someone to stay in your place. There are so many websites these days for vacation rentals, plus, you may even find a way to swap places so you can stay somewhere in Europe for free!

Step four: BE FRUGAL!! We all love to shop and go out and spend money, but if you know that you’re planning the trip of a lifetime, you need to cut back. Everytime you want to whip out that debit or credit card remind yourself, “Would I rather be spending that $40 on a shirt I may wear once or twice, OR on renting a vespa for a day in Rome?”. The decision becomes easy once your priorities are in order!!

Step five: Take advantage of your birthdays and Christmases! Your family and friends are quite aware that your holiday is coming up, so instead of the normal gifts ask for money. If you’re not comfortable asking for money, think of the items you need to purchase for your trip and ask for them…. like a backpack, compass, maps, travel books, whatever you need, ask!

It’s easy to save and plan when you put your mind to it! Just make sure you and your travelers are on the same page and are there to support good behaviors towards savings. Be accountable but set realistic goal. Once you’re there, you’ll have forgotten how long it took you to get there because its worth every penny!

Have a great and safe EUROTIP!