Trimming to Travel When You’re Short on Cash

When your bank balance is low, travel can seem out of reach. But you don’t need to kill your wanderlust just because money’s tight.

These are the unglamorous hacks I use to keep exploring despite financial constraints. This isn’t about deprivation; it’s about feeding your soul without emptying your wallet.

While my content typically resonates with employed Gen-Xers who have disposable income, many of us face life transitions that impact our finances. For me, it’s currently being unemployed, which means being extra mindful with my money.

For some, traveling might need to take a backseat temporarily. However, I’m pretty hardcore about travel, so I do what I have to do to continue exploring. Living in Europe has its advantages, but prices have increased everywhere. When we moved here over a decade ago, 10 eggs cost less than a dollar; now you’d be hard-pressed to find them for under $3.

All of us need ways to stretch our money to do the things we love. Here are my top money saving hacks so you can continue to travel:

1. Stay Local

Living in Europe is certainly an advantage, but there are countless cities and towns in my tiny country of the Netherlands I’ve yet to explore.

Travel isn’t about distance—it’s about exploring, learning and appreciating. Visit a new neighborhood in your city that you’ve driven past hundreds of times. The cost to walk around? A beautiful $0. You might discover something amazing in your own backyard.

2. Reduce Your Lifestyle Expenses

I do my own hair and nails, saving about $60 per month. Last year, we decided not to buy anything non-essential. If my pants rip, I sew them—which makes me appreciate what I already have and become more mindful about future purchases.

We’re more than 4 months into our “no buy” challenge and haven’t spent more than basic necessities and a €12 mop handle (for my German mop system that I’ve had for 6 years—totally worth it!).

3. Stop Overbuying Essentials

I used to be the queen of “buy one, get one.”  I’d justify it thinking we’d always need items like toothpaste. The reality? If you buy one, you’ll use less.

Try it—buy one tube of toothpaste and watch how long it lasts. You’ll become mindful of how much you actually waste. I’ve tracked our spending over the last quarter and we’ve saved over $900 by focusing on essentials and buying only what we need.

4. Use What You Already Have

Food is essential, but you don’t need every ingredient a recipe calls for. I’m trying to eat healthier by incorporating more vegetables, choosing cheaper options like carrots.

Recently, I saw a recipe on YouTube that called for brown sugar. Instead of running to the store, I googled substitutions and found honey would work. My carrots were delicious! This got me thinking about other ingredients already in my pantry that could replace one-time purchases.

5. Know Your Non-Negotiables

I’ll freely admit that I am a hotel snob. I hate carpet and shower curtains, which means I’m selective about accommodations, regardless of how cheap they might be.

These non-negotiables impact my trips, but I’m not willing to compromise. I do thorough research, check photos from other travelers on sites like TripAdvisor, and might shorten a 7-day trip to 5 days so I can stay somewhere that meets my standards.

What are your travel non-negotiables?

6. Save Where You Can

Regarding food, we’ve changed where we shop. Recently, I’ve rediscovered my love for Aldi and Lidl.

I abandoned name-brand foods years ago (industry secret: many major brands and store brands are manufactured by the same company—exactly the same product, just 30% cheaper). Our biggest change is buying only what’s on sale. This might mean eating more chicken than seafood some weeks, but it keeps variety in our meals with new vegetables and fruits to try.

The best part? We’re saving $35-45 per week with just this switch. It all adds up toward our travel fund.

7. Don’t Be All-or-Nothing

Some of our best trips have been short stays. We went to Istanbul for a long weekend and had an incredible experience.

We redeemed credit card points for flights, stayed at a small boutique hotel with free breakfast and primarily ate street food for lunch and local spots for dinner. Through thorough research, we navigated public transport and saw amazing sites that most tourists miss—either free or less than $20 for two people.

We spent less than $300 for our long weekend getaway and now I can’t wait to return for a longer visit.  Check out my Istanbul walking video.

The Mindset That Matters

Let’s be honest—being broke sucks, but never leaving home sucks more. Travel isn’t a luxury; it’s a mindset.

Whether you’re exploring two towns over or stretching euros across Istanbul, what matters is that you’re still curious, still living. The world doesn’t pause because our bank balance is lower than we’d like.

Use these hacks, adapt them to your lifestyle. The best stories often come from trips you didn’t spend thousands on. I’ll take street food in a new city over restaurant meals at home any day. What about you?

What are your favorite money-saving travel hacks? Share in the comments below!

Thanks for reading, and until next time, remember: our story is far from over—keep Enjoying the Journey! ✨

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