Comments

  1. It all comes down to choices, absolutely! I’m trying to expand my sources of income and cut down on my daily expenses (oh how I love my coffee, though…) so I can do more than a road trip per year.

    1. Coffee is a difficult one for me too! I love treating myself to a takeaway coffee! But if it comes to choosing between them, travel wins every time. It’s hard to discipline yourself but it’s worth it in the end!

  2. This totally mirrors my views and how I choose to live my life. I have friends on similar wages who wonder how I afford to travel so much, but they have cars, mortgages, children, new clothes, a make-up addiction, subscription TV, gym membership, and a social life! I have travel 🙂

  3. Great penny-pinching tips! I need to start implementing a bit more restraint when it comes to nights out and shopping but this has given me some serious motivation!

  4. I can totally relate to all of this, so it’s quite refreshing to read a post from someone who feels the same way as I do. I’m constantly being called “rich” and having assumptions made about me, simply because I live my life in a way where I spend smartly and am able to prioritize travel above everything else. Much of it really does come down to where you decided to spend, and what you sacrifice.

    1. Yes so true. I guess we’re all guilty of judging others to an extent but it does make me laugh when people think I’m rich! I’m the opposite of rich, I just make my money stretch further!

  5. *A LITTLE LOUDER FOR THE PEOPLE IN THE BACK*
    Haha, in all seriousness, thank you for writing this article. What you said about making a choice is so important, and something people who don’t live this lifestyle don’t ever consider. It’s hard to reason with people (especially family members) who can’t wrap their brain around frequent travel, and it unfortunately comes with a lot of judgement. Jokes on them though – we’ve seen way more of the world.

  6. Thanks for sharing! It’s all about priorities. My husband and I are the same way. We save our money to travel. We don’t buy nice cars, we don’t buy fancy dinners. We do our best to travel as light and as frugally as possible so that we can squeeze another trip in later in the year. Keep doing what you’re doing!

  7. So many people I’ve spoken to about this seem to expect you to have some sort of secret formula to having more money to travel, when there’s not. I’m exactly the same as you – spend less on other things and get the best deals so you can travel more! It’s all about priorities, like you said.

    1. This is so true! And some people have even said things like ‘Oh you’re so lucky’ or ‘you always fall on your feet’…but it’s got nothing to do with luck. It’s got everything to do with hard work, saving and making choices!

  8. Yep, I totally agree, it’s all about priorities. I have one friend who constantly gripes about how I can travel so much, while she and her husband spent a fortune on their wedding — enough to pay for 2-3 trips at least. None of us get to have it all, we all have to make choices. Granted, not everyone can afford travel even if they scrimp and save, but it’s becoming cheaper and more accessible every day for people who really want it.

    1. Yes, it just depends on what is important to you. A big fancy wedding, great…a nice car, great…a big house, great…but we can’t have it all and as you said it just depends on what you really want. I’m glad to choose travel though…I love it! 🙂

  9. Yes! It really is about the sacrifices. I thought you explained being able to afford travel so perfectly. I just wrote a similar blog post and it’s so interesting comparing notes. I definitely think there’s some overlap. Love your blog!

  10. Yes yes so much yes to this! My husband and I quit our jobs last year to travel and everyone keeps asking how we paid for it and my biggest answer is we don’t have kids! Like you said, people make choices. No one asks why people have kids and given how expensive they are maybe they should! 🙂

  11. This is great! I completely feel you (and many commenters here) about why others feel the need to question anyone’s lifestyle, but then again travel is one of those things. Yep it takes money. But more than that it takes courage. 👍😊

  12. HALLELUJAH!! Someone has finally said it. I needed this article for my own sanity and to send it to every single person who is always so concerned about my frequent travelling as if they are paying for my trips. I could not agree with you any more because you are so damn right and so on point I was “mhm”-ing reading every single word like I am Beyonce. Thank you for writing this.

    1. Ha! This is one of my favourite comments ever! So happy my blog post had you “mhm”ing like Beyonce! It seems this is both a popular and controversial subject but one I was more than happy to address! Thanks for your lovely comment and happy travels!

  13. Just discovered your amazing blog through Travelettes!
    I can’t agree more with this post. I am ALWAYS asked “How do you afford traveling??” not just in terms of money but also TIME. Most of my friends directly started working after graduation and they did not work while studying. I did the opposite: I worked while studying and was able to save money for traveling after graduation. It is the best time to do so because once you start working (office job particularly), you don’t really have holidays.
    I also have an “old” iPhone 4 – it never broke, works perfectly and I have no intention to change it no matter what, even if the trend is to have the last iPhone 17 LOL.

    1. Hi Ji

      Sounds like you had it all planned out perfectly with working while studying! It’s so true, you just have to prioritise what you want. Personally, not having the latest smartphone doesn’t bother me too much, neither does not having a fancy car. To other people those things are important and that’s fine. But for me, travel is the most important thing as it brings me so much happiness, so I prioritise it over everything else!

      Thanks for your lovely comment! Happy travels 🙂

      Zara

  14. Pity people’s nosiness caused you to have to put finger to keyboard. But I enjoyed reading your thoughts/reasons and totally agree. I like to travel too and find people raise their eyebrows when I go so I dont tell them. It is, after all, none of their business and if they cant be happy for me then do I need to tell them. I love reading about your jaunts and learning about different countries through your eyes. May you have many more and I look forward to reading your blogs. xx

    1. Thank you Jean. That is so lovely of you to say. Really appreciate you reading my blog 🙂 I agree that it is not really any one’s business but sometimes you just have to address these things. Hopefully makes people think. xx

    1. People always say to me that I’m always going away – I’m single, no children, minimal outgoings, which they never stop to consider. Instead, I shop about for travel deals, house sit when I can and often eat ‘in’ when traveling….make for cheap but afford exploration 🙂

      1. There are always ways to travel on a budget if you are prepared to put in the hard work to look for the good deals and house sit instead of staying in 5-star luxury hotels! Thanks for the comment and happy travels 🙂

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