The popular movie The Bucket List inspired many people to consider what might be on their own buckets lists. Many people, if asked, would share that travel is on the list – and most of the time that travel involves a journey to some faraway place that they dream of visiting. Problem is many people put off their bucket list dreams and often never attain them. If you have a bucket list that includes a trip to Asia, Europe or even Thailand, what is stopping for you actually doing it? Time and money are the typical barriers. Here are some tips to make your bucket-list journey a reality.
Set a date – if you really want to go to France, Egypt or even China, time to set a date and get real about your dream. Research the best time of year to visit your dream location. Then set the date about 18 months in advance, because your next step is …
Save small, incremental amounts of money – if you set your date 1.5 year away, you have ample time to save the money you need to achieve your dream vacation. You need only start with a budget and then divide that by the number of weeks it will take to save enough money. If it’s $20 a week, and you don’t feel like you can spare that much, then dig deeper. What are some small expenses where you really waste money. For example, do you really need a mocha every morning for $3.50 a cup? Make your coffee at home and put that $3.50 a day into your jar. Do you have a subscription to a service you don’t use like NetFliks? Eliminate the subscription and only rent DVDs when you actually intend to watch a movie. Use the savings toward your account. Other examples exist, but the best way to drill down on needless expenses is to keep a money journal for two weeks and then eliminate those wasteful expenses.
Spending money – next, find a mason jar and start dumping your spare change into it every day. Those pennies, nickels, dimes and quarters can add up to some terrific spending money for your dream trip. Before you know it you could have several hundred dollars for tours, food and souvenirs.
Find an accountability partner – find a friend who wants to go with you that you can encourage each other to stay on track with the goal. Check in with that friend each week. Encourage your friend to save their money with you. Get them to create their own spending-money jar. Remind them to dump their change too.
Find a reliable travel agent – and finally, get a travel agent who can set up a travel trust for you. Put your money away where you cannot get to it, so you stay on track and meet your bucket-list goal. Your travel agent can also help you find the ideal package to make your dream a reality.
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