Taking trips is essential as far as I’m concerned. You work 40+ hours a week all year long, and for what? While it’s critical to put food on the table and keep a roof over your head, setting aside time for rest is equally important for your mental and physical health. But it’s not always cheap. So how can you pay for travel?
Knowing you need a vacation and actually taking one are two very different things. The two biggest limiting factors are time and money.
Some people have the time, but no money, and others have the money but no time. To make sure you have the funds you need to take your next trip, here are some interesting ways to get some extra money so you can pay for travel.
Interesting Ways to Pay for Travel
Cash Out Investments
While some people use all their investments for retirement, you can also leverage your earnings on investment accounts to pay for travel. You can finally plan your big African Safari vacation and your trip to see the Great Wall of China.
Depending on the type of investment accounts, you may be hit with a small fee for withdrawal. Ask important questions about this when you pull the money out.
Personal Loan
Sometimes you need a trip before you have all the funds. You can get small personal loans with no credit if you need it. Not only can this help you build your credit score, but it can also give you a much needed break and a means to pay for travel.
Use these small loans for a weekend getaway or longer vacation. With low monthly payments and longer repayment terms, you’ll be able to get rested and restored without waiting 3 more years to get it.
Start a Side Gig
The best side gigs are the ones that help someone solve a problem like, when you need to pay for travel. They are also the ones that leverage the skills and tools you already have on hand.
Starting a side gig can be as easy as taking on a client to do the same thing you do during your day job or it can be something you use a different set of skills for. Here are some of the best side gig ideas to get your brain thinking.
Freelance Services
Sites like Fiverr and Upwork help connect freelancers to potential gigs. Post your profile with your skills and a small sampling of your work so that others can find you. Additionally, you’ll need to learn how to pitch your services and create client contracts. You can find resources for this online.
Sell services like writing, design, editing, voiceovers, and virtual assisting. No matter what your skillset, there is always something to do.
Network and Affiliate Marketing
Find products you love and promote them on your social media channels. You’ll discover that people love an honest review and will often purchase products from people they follow that they know and trust.
By doing this, you can earn a percentage from the sale of each product. In network marketing, you can take it one step further to build a team of raving product fans. Use this extra income to fund your travels.
Drop Shipping Online
For internet marketing savvy individuals, a drop-ship business is a great model. You set up a website, promote it wherever you can, and then start selling.
There are tons of tools you can use to integrate your systems with a direct ship website, so you never need to lift a finger, order, or store products. It allows your customers to order directly from you.
Host a Garage Sale
Are you ready to jump on the minimalist bandwagon or do you just need to purge a few things? Hosting a garage sale will not only help you get rid of things you no longer need or use, but it will also help you earn extra cash.
Set this money aside for the next time you want to take a weekend away or go on a big family trip. Garage sales help you fall clean, spring clean, and everything in between clean.
Work Overtime
This one is probably the most underused tool. Some people get up to 2x their pay when they work overtime. By working just one extra day a week, most people can earn hundreds of more dollars a month.
Use overtime strategically to save up for vacations and other large purchase items. While it may seem counterintuitive to work more to get a break, odds are you have a lot of wasted free time in your day anyway. Why not work more hours and get paid to do something meaningful and get you a dream getaway?
Concluding Thoughts
There are many ways to pay for travel these days. These are just a handful of options to get more money so you can see the world. Living life is more than eating, sleeping, and working. Take your friends and family to exciting new places, make new memories, and enjoy each day.
