Tips on Saving for a Trip

Last Updated: Dec. 05, 2008

Based on the Contiki Forums Topic Personal Loan or Hard Saving..?

Save on Tour Costs and Flights

  • Shop around for the best deals for airfares etc You would be amazed at how much prices can vary. Get quotes and do your sums and book early for the most inexpencive tickets, also departing/arriving between Tues-Thursday will cut the ticket cost.
  • Try and not go in peak season (from June till the end of August & December/school holidays)
  • Check for deals from both Contiki and travel agents.

Tips on Cutting Down Costs In Order to Save

  • Cut back on going out…movies,pizza,drinks anything you can think of – a night at home with a DVD and friends is a lot cheaper (and sometimes more fun) than a night out at a club.
  • Make a weekly or monthly budget (depending on when you get paid). Work out how much you think your trip will cost including spending money and then work out how much you need to save per week, and stick to it.
  • Bring your lunch to work and don’t eat out.
  • Cut down on little luxuries (for example: Starbucks – only one or 2 small cups a week, saves loads of money).
  • Buy Generic
  • Everytime you see something you would like to buy. Stop and ask yourself is it a want or a need. If its a want you can do without it. If its clothing which is your weakness ask yourself if this item can match with 5 different things you have in your wardrobe if it doesnt it is not a smart purchase.
  • Saving is hard work! Reward yourself when you reach big milestones (ie your first $2000 etc) otherwise you will get bored very quickly.

Getting Money Together

  • Pay extra on those credit cards you can always use them for the trip as well
  • If your vacation time happens to fall around a paid day off take advantage of it.
  • If you have a birthday, christmas, graduation or other event coming up ask for cash for your trip instead of presents – it’s a big help.
  • Get a high % payback savings account to gain interest or an investment bank account where u can out money in but only take it out if u go into the bank. Put anything extra in your bank account after you get your paycheck into your savings.
  • Try not to take out a loan – suck it up and save save save! – If you want to get a loan ask your parents and swear to them that you will pay them back monthly payments its easier to pay your parents back with no interest than to pay a bank. Parents are usually more lenient if you are late. Make sure you can, will and do pay them back though!
  • Anything you haven’t used in over a year, sell it on ebay.

Add a Comment Comments (28)

  1. i like the tip on the photo in the wallet or phone it was good.
    Ive got myself a big money box and any spare change ive been puttin it in there so by july 09 comes i wil hav more spending money. And for xmas and bdays comin up and u dont want 2 spend much i wait 4 sales that hav 20% or sumthing then i buy the present u savin a bit of money then.

    And selling things on ebay is gr8t coz wat money u get from the sale ,if u need sumthing like a camera bag u buy it wit the money u just made on ebay.

    hefhef posted 12 days ago Flag as Inappropriate

  2. My big spend is my mobile phone, so I have made my wallpaper a picture of my contiki brochure! Now I think twice about those 500 texts and phone calls I make!! It’s a bit like the pic in your wallet idea, but it does wonders. Happy saving :)

    Default_avatarAfton posted 29 days ago Flag as Inappropriate

  3. I have been saving since about march this year from my pay. I have a budget for each month because i get paid monthly.. so i have cutting out some of the other expenses that i don’t really need.. by doing this i have saved lots to put in my savings account with great interest.. and i am going to the US in may next year.. so i think saving is the best thing you can do and plus you don’t owe anything at the end of your trip (except maybe if you used credit cards on your trip).. So i think it is worth saving..

    Default_avatarkate1987 posted on Nov. 02, 2008 Flag as Inappropriate

  4. I have to admit I waste a lot of money at Gloria Jeans/Starbucks/McCafe. I go about twice, sometimes four times a week! I’m going to stop doing that now and see how much money I actually save. Only 8 months to go!

    Default_avatarlucy_goosey posted on Nov. 01, 2008 Flag as Inappropriate

  5. Great tips! Wish I read this before my upcoming holiday!

    Default_avatarRebecca posted on Oct. 20, 2008 Flag as Inappropriate

  6. These are good tips. I always wait until the last minute to try and save and tell myself I can afford it all. This time I’m doing it right. I’m planning on going to Europe in the summer of 2009, still 9 months away, but I’m going to start the saving mindset NOW!

    tjgrz11tjgrz11 posted on Oct. 16, 2008 Flag as Inappropriate

  7. WOW I LURVE the idea about putting a photo in your wallet. I’m going to do that now. I’m starting to get into the right mind-frame with WANTS VS NEEDS - I’ve also changed my views on eating and am learning to be more healthy and making eating more for nutrition rather than a “fun activity” so I’m getting in great shape AND saving!

    TazzyTazzy posted on Oct. 08, 2008 Flag as Inappropriate

  8. A great way to save is to get the best deal on your airfares… so be prepared early and keep a watch of prices.
    I went to a couple of travel fairs and expos – and got an airfare about $500 cheaper than I’d budgetted for – awesome bonus! 500 more dollars to spend on pasta, wine, designer knock-offs and a nice hotel room occasionally.

    Default_avatarExplorer1097999 posted on Sep. 28, 2008 Flag as Inappropriate

  9. Take advantage of direct debits – set up your payroll or your banking so that when your pay goes in, it is distributed to where it needs to go. I’ve got a few linked accounts – some money goes to savings, some goes direct to rent, some goes to my bills (phone, car insurance, health fund etc), and the balance is there for me to spend. I don’t ever see the money, so I can’t spend it! It’s also less things to worry about – all my bills are getting paid without me having to think about it.

    Default_avatarExplorer1097999 posted on Sep. 28, 2008 Flag as Inappropriate

  10. My personal favourite: On pay day put about 80 percent of your paycheck into your savings account. Leave yourself however much you think you need for the week e.g fifty for petrol. If you have a savings account like mine, it’ll cost you to take money out of it, so it’s a good incentive. When shopping, think about something for an hour before buying it, by that time you’ll find you probably won’t want it anymore.

    Default_avatarExplorer1085990 posted on Sep. 21, 2008 Flag as Inappropriate

  11. Hey! great advice! i have 2mths to go untill i head over and have been cutting down on everything! I am lucky however and have saved up all of my holidays from work and so get 3mths paid leave!

    Default_avatarshan28 posted on Aug. 21, 2008 Flag as Inappropriate

  12. these tips are great, i’m planning on moving to london next year and i thought why on earth am i moving straight into the workforce again, so i decided on doing a contiki (European Contrast), its gunna be so worth the scrimping and saving even though i might not see it at the time.
    i’m glad i have my savings account so that if i want to access the money i have to go into the bank or go to a computer to transfer funds.

    Good Luck to everyone is who’s saving for a experience of a lifetime :)

    Sophh BeeSophh Bee posted on Aug. 18, 2008 Flag as Inappropriate

  13. we’re here for a good time not a long time. If that means saving a little each pay day to have a once in a lifetime experince overseas it is so worth it. 20 years down the track we wont remember all the money we spent on coffee’s n lunchs but we will remember the great times we had on our contiki tours!!

    Default_avatarH posted on Jul. 27, 2008 Flag as Inappropriate

  14. I love the tip about putting a picture in your wallet! I’m a big impulse buyer but now whenever I go to spend money I’ve got a little reminder of what I could be spending it on instead! Thanks for that one

    Default_avatarNikki posted on Jun. 26, 2008 Flag as Inappropriate

  15. Thanks for the great tips. I am going to use them all and save save save. It will be awhile before I go and I have already had a bit in savings but the more the better seeing as I want to do two tours!
    I am going to put a little pic of somethign american in my wallet with CONTIKI written on it so everytime I go to get the bank or credit card I can see it and think SPLURGE NOW or SPEND IN USA???

    TazzieDevil83TazzieDevil83 posted on Jun. 19, 2008 Flag as Inappropriate

  16. I can’t tell you how important it is to save early! My trip was a last minute thing and I’ve only had 6 months to save, which if I’d stuck to my budget would’ve been enough…now with 7 weeks to go I’m stressing about not having enough money to eat lol…it’ll work out but don’t rely on money promised by other people either – they can fall through

    Kitty KatKitty Kat posted on Jun. 12, 2008 Flag as Inappropriate

  17. My Aunt always said, spend half save half. So i set up a seperate account from where pay gets deposited- then on pay day half my wages automatically get put into the other account to save. And if i cant see the money or cant use eftpos to get to it- i realy get to save. Some weeks i spend more than others- but im still saving half… And it feels great to get a bank statement each month and see how much i’ve saved without even trying.

    Default_avatarJasmine posted on Apr. 30, 2008 Flag as Inappropriate

  18. I am off to UK and hopefully Europe depending how much I can save in December 08 and January 09. As it will be cold I am scrimping on heating and investing in some warm clothes as winter creeps into Australia. Hoping to use the winter to prepare to be chilled.

    Default_avatarExplorer1097933 posted on Apr. 26, 2008 Flag as Inappropriate

  19. I did my first contiki in 2001 when I didn’t even have a full time job! It took me 18 months of hard saving on a part time wage to get on the plane and it was worth every sat night I spent in to get there!I guess you have to work out what’s more important!Going out every Sat night or going on the holiday of your dreams!My advice is do whatever it takes to save as much $ as you can cuz this is a once in a lifetime experience!

    Default_avatarPrincessvixen posted on Apr. 12, 2008 Flag as Inappropriate

  20. thanks for the article… i am going to take all your advice about budgeting before the trip.. i am thinking of going on a contiki trip in 2009 so i better start saving now… thanks again!

    Default_avatarkate1987 posted on Apr. 06, 2008 Flag as Inappropriate

  21. I’ve saved a lot on reducing the amount of times i eat out and spending money at the bars! good luck saving!!!

    Default_avatarAnita posted on Mar. 30, 2008 Flag as Inappropriate

  22. I’ve been saving up for quite a while now, but I’ve found a simple way of managing my weekly spending budget. I worked out how much money I needed each week to cover things like my train ticket to work and my must-have morning coffee and the occasional lunch out with work. So now at the start of every week I make sure I have that much cash in my wallet. It means I’m not pulling out my EFT card all the time and I can keep an eye on how much money I’m spending. Works a charm!

    Default_avatarSuzyQ posted on Mar. 22, 2008 Flag as Inappropriate

  23. I agree. I was one to always go to the Clubs/bars a few times a week. My 2008 resolution was to not go to a club until i could pay off my flight. Well i didn’t quite actually quit going, however i reduced my going out big time and i saved big $$ to pay off my trip 3 months before it even departs.. Now i am back to the clubs lol. ( its never fair to ask a parent for $$, be an adult an pay it off on your own)

    Default_avatarBrandon66 posted on Mar. 19, 2008 Flag as Inappropriate

  24. Wow… great advice and I actually feel proud of myself now, since I’m already doing a lot of the things mentioned in this article. Yay! I would also suggest an un-openable money tin (well only openable with drastic measures anyway lol), as even only months of saving small change can add up to a few hundred $!

    SallySally posted on Mar. 19, 2008 Flag as Inappropriate

  25. I have only just started dreaming for my trip, and im broke as broke could be.I need all the help i can get with saving tips as i dont want to get into debit with my bank again.You gave me some great ideas on how to save even more.Thanks a bunch and i hope to book a tour soon.

    Default_avatarExplorer1091925 posted on Mar. 04, 2008 Flag as Inappropriate

  26. I work at an airport and eating at the restaurants there can cost $10-20 a day or more… so I know if I start bringing my lunch to work I’ll have money save in no time. I’m also use the money I’m getting back from my income tax return to help pay for my trip.

    AlouiseAlouise posted on Mar. 04, 2008 Flag as Inappropriate

  27. Great tip!! I started a second job on the weekends, working in a restaurant. I don’t have as much free time anymore, but it has paid for my tour, and airfare. I’ll be on the European Whirl Tour September 2008!!!

    Binky1904Binky1904 posted on Feb. 12, 2008 Flag as Inappropriate

  28. great article.
    suck it up and save save save!!

    Default_avatarExplorer1083105 posted on Feb. 07, 2008 Flag as Inappropriate

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