When I told my colleagues that I paid for my trip to Turkey trip with my own money, they did not believe me, and they had every reason to not believe me. I was a recent college graduate with a modest salary -- how could I possibly have the money to pay for a trip like this?
Here are some reasons why I can travel often:
Live with your family
What else do I need to say? Free food and free rent. In Asian culture, it is normal for offspring to live with their families before they get married, which is an advantage if you love traveling. It allows you to save all of your income, which provides room to spend on travelling.
Get a job right away
I got a job immediately after entering university. My boss liked my work and hired me to work full time while I was on break from school. I managed to save money every month. The trick is to focus on your goal. If you take a part time job to earn money for traveling, then save it.
Avoid coffee expenses
A cup of coffee from a cafe costs more than 1 liter of milk. Two cups of coffee are equal to a box of 25 bags of green tea. If you love coffee, brew it at home or make a budget on how much you should spend on it per month.
Do not spend all your money on food
A survey by JP Morgan shows that millennials are willing to spend more on food than previous generations. It is good to set a weekly food budget, but it is ok to treat yourself once a while.
Brands do not always matter
Some people enjoy buying brand name items; but, paying for brand names is a surefire way to empty your wallet. However, if the quality is extremely good, the product will last longer, which makes it a worthwhile investment
Be cost conscious at the club
Going to the club in big cities like Jakarta is not cheap. If you open a bottle or reserve a table, it could cost millions of rupiah.
Use public transport
Having a car is a big cost commitment (down payment, gas, regular service and parking). Do not buy a car if you can use public transportation.
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