16 Simple Ways To Save Money For Your Travel Fund

What’s the number one limiting factor in taking the trip of your dreams? Chances are, it’s either being able to take the time off or a lack of funds in your bank account.

Well, I can definitely help you solve one of those problems! There are so many simple tweaks you can make in your life today to save more and grow that travel fund at a more furious pace.

The first step is to take a step back and evaluate where your money is going. If you want to take that trip, you must commit to reaching your travel goals. Realize that you might need to cut back on some of your spending and/or make some lifestyle changes to attain that goal. Remember, every little bit counts!

I’ve done all of these things in the past, and it’s allowed me to travel to Europe with over $10,000 of spending money in hand. Follow these tips and watch your travel savings grow in no time!

This post may contain affiliate links. You won’t be paying a cent more, but in the event of a sale, the small affiliate commission I receive will help keep this blog running/pumping out useful and free content. Thanks a lot!

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1. Get on some sort of cash-back program.

I use ​Rakuten​ for all my online shopping needs. If you’re not using Rakuten (or ​Capital One Shopping), you’re leaving money on the table—plain and simple.

This cash-back powerhouse is a must for online shopping. They have 2x or even 3x cash back during major shopping periods like Christmas, New Year’s, Black Friday, and holiday weekends. The cash-back rates vary by store, and you’ll even get personalized “For You” offers that show all of your favorite stores in one place.

The more you use Rakuten, the smarter it gets. The homepage curates a list of your most frequented or favorite stores, and at least 3-5 of them will often have 8-15% cash back at some point. It’s random, but it’s worth checking regularly!

For example, as I write this, I’m seeing Sephora at 10% back, Adidas at 8% back, Celebrity Cruises at 10% back, etc. And if you’re into meal kits, I’ve seen cash back as high as 60%—quite frequently too!

But here’s the real pro tip: Rakuten now lets you cash out to Amex Membership Rewards (MR) points instead of cash. If you’re saving up credit card points for flights, hotels, or other travel perks, this is a no-brainer.

👉 NEW USER DEAL ALERT! ​Join with this link and get a $30 bonus on Rakuten.

2. Pack your lunch to work/school.

If an average lunch meal costs $12-15 USD, then you’re spending $60-75 every week M-F. By making your own lunches, you’ll easily save $200+ per month. Why spend money eating out here when you could be saving that money to eat out in Italy, Greece, or Bali?

3. Shop for groceries on sale or in-season.

Make this a habit and you’ll be surprised by how much you can cut down on your weekly grocery bill (some stores will tell you at the bottom of your receipt). Personally, 75% of all my groceries are “on sale”.

I don’t mean that Manager’s Special meat that’s turning grey and has a weird smell. I mean products that the store is running a promotion on. I’m always looking for promotional prices when I grocery shop. $5.99 for that box of cereal? No thanks, I think I’ll wait til they’re 2 for $5 next week.

Why would I pay full price when perhaps in a week, I know there could be a promotion on the item? It pains me to buy grocery items at full price. In fact, I typically choose what to meal prep based on what items are on sale that week.

To make this even easier, I rely on supermarket shopping apps that let me browse weekly ads and sale items before I even step foot in the store. Here are a few go-to apps depending on what stores are close to you:

• Sprouts: Great for coupon clipping and weekly ads.
• Safeway/Vons: Their “Just for U” deals let you save even more money at checkout.
• Kroger: Their app highlights weekly deals and even lets you clip digital coupons.
• Walmart: Easy to browse rollbacks and savings on everyday items.
• Target: Great for checking out their weekly ad and Cartwheel deals.
• Aldi: Their app shows what’s in season and on sale, so you can plan ahead.

4. Use coupons.

I’m not telling you to scour the web or dig through newspapers for manufacturer’s coupons. A lot of stores today have shopping apps with e-coupons built in. Some examples include the apps I noted above: Safeway, Sprouts, Target, etc.

If you’re going to be shopping anyway, take that extra step to see if you can save any additional money. Apps like Ibotta or Swagbucks are also useful to have for real cash back on groceries and other everyday stores.

5. Skip the coffee shop; make your own coffee instead.

Obvious, I know. But I figure I’d mention it and include some numbers. It was said in some article that workweek coffee habits equate to over $1,000 a year.

Well, I’ve got news for you. Gone are the days when everyone obsesses over Starbucks’ $3 coffees. We’ve taken coffee (and its prices) to the next level. Coffee from artisanal coffee roasting shops can cost $5 or more per cup.

We’re spending so much more on coffee on average these days! Don’t be a victim of this practice. Make your own coffee or take advantage of the free coffee at your workplace. A small daily win, but when you look at it from an annual perspective, it’s a mindblowing amount of money.

6. Pick up more work hours.

This one isn’t for everyone, but if you’re really determined to save for a trip—and you can swing it without burning out—it’s a great way to rack up extra dollars. 

When you work more temporarily, two things happen: you make more money and have less free time to go out spending that money!

This is a double whammy of a win. Feeling overwhelmed by how much you’re working? Remember, this is only temporary and your sacrifice will be well worth it once you’re on the beach soaking life in.

7. Start a side gig.

Help out your network of friends/family and make some cash doing it. Maybe you know someone who is going to be out of town at some point. Do they need petsitting or housesitting services? Ask around; chances are, they’ll be open to it if they trust you to take care of the things they cherish (as opposed to a complete stranger through an app).

If you don’t have a network or if this is too awkward, look into side gig services such as Wag, Postmates, Lyft, or TaskRabbit.

You can also check job boards like Craigslist to see if there are any temp jobs available, such as catering events, being part of a wait staff, bartending, ushering, etc.

8. Cut out the subscription services.

We’re talking about Spotify, Hulu, Netflix, Audible, gym memberships you aren’t using, etc.

Do you really need a paid Spotify account when the free one also works extremely well? Or maybe you can join a friend’s family plan instead.

Ditch the monthly media subscriptions and get a library card instead—most libraries let you rent ebooks and audiobooks, as well as stream movies and TV shows.

Do you go to a boutique fitness studio that costs an arm and a leg? How about downgrading to a basic gym just for a short while, just until you save up enough money to fund your trip?

9. Cut out the monthly beauty appointments.

Many of us are guilty of spending a hefty chunk of change on monthly maintenance or beauty appointments. This means this is a great way to save a substantial amount of money! 

This includes the nail bar, salon, waxing studio, tanning bed, eyelash studio, massage parlor, etc.

If each of these services averages $50 and you cut out two per month, that’s already over $300 you’ve saved in 3 months alone. Such easy money! Paint your own nails, skip the haircut for a few months, blow-dry/style your own hair, go with your natural lashes for a few months.

10. Leverage travel rewards credit cards.

If you’re serious about saving for travel, a travel rewards credit card like the Chase Sapphire Preferred or Chase Sapphire Reserve is a great way to do it.

These cards are game-changers for frequent travelers. Not only do you earn points on everyday purchases (like groceries and dining), but you also get bonus points for travel-related expenses.

Plus, the lucrative sign-up bonuses alone can often cover a couple of roundtrip flights or a few nights at a hotel.

The Chase Sapphire Preferred, often considered a really good card for beginners to the world of travel hacking, offers a generous sign-up bonus (usually around 60,000 points after meeting the spending requirement), and points are worth 25% more when redeemed for travel through the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal.

The Chase Sapphire Reserve takes it up a notch with perks like airport lounge access, a $300 annual travel credit, and points worth 50% more for travel redemptions.

Just remember to pay off your balance in full each month to avoid interest charges. Used wisely, these cards can help you save significantly on flights, hotels, and more—putting you closer to your travel goals without cutting back on your daily life.

11. Open a travel savings account.

Having a dedicated savings account will actually help you save more because it will help you visualize your goal. If your travel savings are mushed in there with your normal savings or your checking account, it can be hard to see how you’re tracking to your goal.

I have a travel-specific savings account through my online savings bank (Ally) and I love being able to watch it grow throughout the weeks.

12. Automate your savings.

One of the easiest and most effective ways to save for travel is to automate it. If you get paid biweekly (or even monthly), set up an automatic transfer to move a portion of your paycheck directly into a dedicated travel savings account.

Start with whatever amount feels comfortable—even if it’s just 10 or 20% per paycheck. The key is consistency.

Why does this work? Because it removes the temptation to spend that money on everyday things. Out of sight, out of mind! Over time, those small transfers add up, and before you know it, you’ll have a solid travel fund growing in the background.

If you’re not sure how much to save, start small and gradually increase the amount as you get used to living without that extra cash. And if you get a raise, bonus, or tax refund, consider funneling a portion of that into your travel fund too.

13. Try a “No Spend” week.

A No Spend challenge is an awesome way to turn the money-saving chore into a game. This is where you try your hardest for a week to not spend a single dime on anything.

Having said that, a no-spend period might actually include some spending on necessary items, such as gas or groceries. And that’s allowed.

The objective really is to eliminate any extra spending during this time frame (clothes, eating out, coffee, movie tickets, etc).

Personally, I find it easiest to save money during the workweek. I always pack my lunch and enjoy the coffee my work provides. 

Don’t think you’ll survive a no-spend week? Try a no-spend weekend or even a no-spend day. Every little bit counts, just start somewhere.

14. Sell your unwanted stuff online.

This is a great way to declutter your home while saving some serious cash. We all have way too much stuff lying around. Got that pair of boots you’re no longer into? That dress you only wore once at that wedding? That stupid bike that’s now sitting in your garage collecting spiderwebs? Sell it!

It’s highly likely that someone on this Earth will want it. You can check out online communities like Poshmark, Depop, Craigslist, and Facebook Marketplace or buy-sell-trade shops such as Buffalo Exchange or Crossroads Trading Co.

I personally use Poshmark when I want cash for my stuff and sell clothing at Crossroads Trading Co. when I want store credit to shop for secondhand vacay outfits.

You might even have valuable stuff that they’ll want at pawn shops.

Another option– hold a garage sale. One man’s junk is another man’s treasure, believe it.

15. Sign up for cash rewards.

Swagbucks will reward members with free gift cards and cash for the everyday things they already do. They sometimes offer huge bonuses for completing one of their special offers (such as signing up for food subscription services that you can cancel later on– I’m guilty of doing this plenty of times). And to top it all off, the rewards don’t suck.

I always exchange my Swagbucks for Amazon gift cards. At this point, I’ve gotten about $1,300 worth of them. I’ll then use the Amazon gift cards to buy necessities instead of using my cash (cash that could be saved for travel!).

16. Borrow items from friends and family

Need to go on a ski trip or camping trip but don’t have the appropriate gear? Need a new dress or suit for that formal party and have nothing to wear? Ask around to see if you can borrow these items instead of buying them or paying to rent them.

This one is so obvious, but we tend to forget that we can rely on people to help us.

Be reasonable with this one, not mooch-like!

17. Buy used items

No, you really don’t need a brand-new coffee table. You just need a coffee table.

Buying used isn’t just good for your wallet—it’s good for the planet, too. Instead of feeding into the demand for new production (which uses up resources and creates waste), you’re giving perfectly good items a second life.

There are so many resources out there to buy used gear: Craigslist, eBay, Facebook Marketplace, Gumtree, Varage Sale, Decluttr. And no, that doesn’t mean you’re getting old, crusty stuff!

A lot of people sell new or lightly used items simply because they’re doing what you’re doing—downsizing to make some extra cash! When people move, they also tend to sell a lot of their nice things.

When I’m looking to change up my wardrobe, I love shopping at thrift stores. Not only do I avoid contributing to fast fashion waste, but I also score great deals—like paying under $5 for a Zara sweater or under $7 for a pair of Doc Martens.

We’ve gotten a brand new Patagonia coat for $20 (it retailed for over $100) and even a Herman Miller office chair for $200!

It’s a win for me and the environment.

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I hope these tips have inspired you to take some steps toward saving for your trip. Once you begin to see your savings MULTIPLY, you can begin planning your epic adventure! If you’re looking for even more ways to save, check out my advanced saving tips here.

Read More:

• 12 Advanced Ways to Save Money When You Think You Are Too Poor To Travel
• Top 10 Wallet Essentials: What’s In My Wallet When I Travel
• Where I Find The Best Travel Deals And Discounts
• 10 Things You’ll Need To Prepare Before Any Trip

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