A huge misconception is traveling is expensive. While you can spend a lot with a big budget, you can also do quite a bit with less too. 

That’s especially true for people who only have a little bit to put away each month, namely students. 

Between classes and work there often isn’t much time in a college or university career for hitting the road. But, with spring breaks, winter holidays, and summer vacations, students can give themselves a little bit of time off to enjoy some time traveling. 

If you’re a student and want to save for travel, this is the post for you. We’re going to share a few essential tips that can help you put some money in the bank to fund your future road trips. 

Realize you can do it

This is more of a mental tip than a practical one, but it’s key. It’s important to realize you don’t need a ton of money to travel and you can do it with a small budget. So get into the mindset that you can spend time exploring the world and prepare yourself to do it!

Create a travel account

Ok, now that you’re ready to start saving you need a place to put your money. Try creating a separate savings account just for your travel fund. Many banks will allow you to have secondary savings accounts that you can quickly deposit money between from your checking account. Use this to your advantage and create an account that’s just for your travels. 

Put away a little bit every month

One great way to save money for travel is to stockpile cash over time. Start with a little bit each week, like $10 or make a slightly larger monthly contribution. You can use automation to pull small amounts of your checking account each week and deposit it into your travel account. Or use a tool like Digit to save for travel separately. 

See where you can cut costs

This is the not so fun part. First, create a budget and see where you can save. Even a few dollars every week can add up. Look where you’re spending lots of money and see where you can find cheaper alternatives. That might mean making a couple of lattes in your dorm or keeping track of the best happy hour deals, but those savings can help fund your travels.

Make some extra income on the side

With school, you’ve already got a lot going on, and most people also have a job on top of that but look to places where you can make some extra money without sacrificing a lot of hours. A lot of people will turn to the gig economy looking at online opportunities for work or even selling your used stuff and other items on sites like eBay for a profit. 

You can do it!

At the end of the day, travel is an option for you. Get in the right mindset, make a plan, and follow it — from there you’ll be well on your way to seeing the world.