How To Make Money Traveling (7 Proven Ways)

How To Make Money Traveling (7 Proven Ways)

by | Money, Travel

Make Money TravelingWhether you’re wanting to make money traveling full-time in an RV or traveling full-time Internationally by plane, being able to earn an income is essential.

With today’s technology, the possibilities of making money online is almost endless.

However, many are still so skeptical about whether they can really make money online so they can travel full-time. I get it! Especially when college and careers are pushed on us almost our entire lives.

We are trained to think that we need to get a job, work 9-5, commute to and from, and that’s just the way everyone is supposed to do it.

Well, I believe things are changing for the better. People are wanting freedom from the mundane 9-5 commuting jobs so they can travel full-time.

This current generation who grew up with technology are opening doors to a whole new “work environment”. People are demanding more at home jobs, more freedom with their schedules, and they desire the ability to travel and explore while making money online.

Through so much research and desire myself to earn in income from home, here are 7 proven ways you can make money to travel the world.

9 Top Reason You Should Consider Full-Time RV Living
How To Start Your Full-time RV Living Journey

1. Find a Remote Job and make money traveling

This is exactly what I did, after I started my own business.

I started my own travel agency and affiliated with Avoya Travel as my host agency. Then, when there became a Remote Employee position available within the company, I applied.

I applied for two positions. One I was denied, and the other took 3 weeks of interviews before being hired.

Due to becoming an employee, I could not affiliate my Travel Agency with them. So, I chose to liquidate my business and work as an employee. After all, all I wanted was a job so I could work from home. Therefore, I took the steps to make it happen.

Maybe you have a job now that could allow you to work from home. It wouldn’t hurt to ask and investigate it. A lot of companies now are opening Remote Employee departments.

I suggest looking at Indeed (for example) to search of positions.

If you have a company in mind that you are interested in working for, check out their career page and see if they offer remote positions.

2. Start your own online business to make money

Before I became a Remote Employee for Avoya, as I said, I owned my own Travel Agency. It was great because Avoya Travel provides Leads for their Agents that affiliate with them. If you’d like more info on Starting your own Travel Agency, check it out at Joinavoya.com.

Maybe selling Travel from home isn’t your ideal, that’s okay. There are so many other types of businesses you can start!

Think about your strengths or maybe what you went to school for. You could be a Virtual Fitness Coach and start online personal training sessions.

Maybe you’re an Accountant or Book-keeper? You can start your own business by offering your services.

These are just a couple of ideas to get you started in brainstorming.

3. Start a blog to make money while traveling

I know, blogging is probably the number one that people say you can earn an income doing and they’re right!

If you choose to start a blog, you can earn income from Advertisements, Sponsorships, and affiliated marketing.

I have been blogging since September of 2018. This is when I purchased the Course from Heather and Pete Reese, Blogging Blastoff. Before I took their course, I read blog post after blog post on how to write and start a blog. I got to a point where I just felt stuck and lost in the blogging world.

I knew I needed to invest in a training, and through months of contemplation and getting serious about wanting to blog, I purchased their course. After all, I wanted to make money and have the freedom to travel in our RV or purchase a plane ticket.

It was the Best Decision I made in my blogging career.

They cover so much material including all the different ways to earn an income, how to promote your blog and how to write your blogs to appeal to your audience. Heather and Pete also cover how to pitch brands for sponsorships, tips for SEO, Pinterest, and all the other Social Media Platforms to get your name out there.

If you’re interested in starting a blog and serious about making money to travel, then you can start by taking their 5-day email course. After that, you’ll be set to enter the Blogging Blastoff course. If you would like to start the Free 5-day email course, here is my affiliate link.-> BLOGGING BLASTOFF Free 5 Day Email Course

4. Affiliate Marketing

There is a huge potential to earn an income at home by affiliate marketing. All you do is take someone else’s product, market it, and when someone purchases the product or service from your affiliate link, you then earn a commission. You can do this with or without a website.

Many Bloggers who have websites are also Affiliate Marketers. They write blog posts as reviews for a specific product or service, market it, and earn commissions. I am one of those bloggers, however, I have learned that it really takes time and understanding your audience.

Affiliate marketing is a beast, which is why I loved taking the course my Michelle Schroeder, “Making Sense of Affiliate Marketing”. Her course is a lifesaver when it comes to understanding who your audience is, how to locate the right products to market, and how to market them. She goes over so much and is so helpful.

She averages now over $50,000 a month with Affiliate Marketing Products.

YES, THAT NUMBER IS RIGHT, $50,000 A MONTH!!!

If she can make money traveling, so can you!

Ask yourself, what would you do if you were able to make that kind of money?

If you’re interested in taking her course and learning exactly how she does it and how you can too, here is my affiliate link for her course -> Making Sense of Affiliate Marketing by Michelle Schroeder

5. Drop-Shipping

Many people are making thousands, if not millions, by owning a drop shipping website. These sites are usually found on Shopify. They are great if you’re wanting to earn money online and travel the world.

Drop Shipping is similar to starting your own business if you had tangible products to sell. However, this system is a supply management method where you do not keep the goods you are selling in house, but instead you transfer all customers ordered to a manufacture who distributes the product for you.

6. Freelance Writer

If you love to write, but the idea of having a blog is just not your cup of tea, then maybe becoming a Freelance Writer is for you. There are so many online blogs and magazines that are looking for writers to help them with their content. The best part is they are wanting to pay you to write for them. This gives you that opportiunity to make money traveling because as a Freelancer, you work when you want.

You can also check out websites like Upwork, Freelancer, or People per Hour to find jobs. You can even start a business, build a website, and with time can really make money online. There are some Freelancer writers making $30-100K a year. All depends on you!

7. Virtual Assistant and Make money Traveling

This one is very similar to Freelance writing, but instead of writing blog posts or articles you are helping others with their daily tasks. This is something I have always been so good at. I enjoy helping others be successful because in turn, that made me successful.

If that sounds like you, you can become a virtual assistant by being hired with a company, or you can freelance. If you really are wanting a free schedule, then freelancing is the way to go. Usually companies have set schedules and times they need you to work.

As a Virtual Assistant, the tasks you can help with are endless, so I would narrow down a just a few tasks that you are good at and market those. For Example, If you’re great at scheduling, keeping up with emails, and proofreading material then let your prospects know.

Some websites to check out are

–Upwork.com
–Taskseveryday.com
–Peopleperhour.com
–Indeed.com

So, I know there are a ton of articles stating what you can do from home to earn an income. While there are many other options, these top 7 are legit ways you can leave the 9-5 job and travel by RV on the road or international and make money traveling.

I don’t want to overwhelm you, because starting anything and trying to make money online is overwhelming enough. Pick one that works for you and run with it.

I do have to say it will take some work. Not one of these options is going to get you rich quick, so if that’s what you are looking for then starting a blog or business just isn’t for you and that’s okay.

For me, finding that Remote Job was my goal, then I work on my blog on the side. Maybe that’s the route for you as well. There are many companies looking for remote employees.

So, if you’re willing to put in the time, want to set your own schedule and travel the world, then you will succeed!

pin for later 🙂

5 Tips on Creating the Perfect Budget

5 Tips on Creating the Perfect Budget

by | Budgeting, Finances, Minimalism | 4 comments

Creating the perfect budget doesn’t have to be intimidating or overwhelming. But first, what is a budget?

A budget is just creating a plan for your money. Kind of like how you create a plan to write a paper or create a plan for a day of fun. A budget is similar.

Now, if you don’t know how to budget or the thought of a budget causes you to stress, I am here to tell you to not worry! Budgeting can actually help you relieve stress!

It’s all about taking it step by step. Just like when you plan your day, you start with a section of the day like the morning and then move on to the afternoon and evening. Budgeting is the same concept and it must be broken down into sections and taken one step at a time.

There are many different apps to help you, or if you enjoy writing things down, check out these budget planners.


Step 1: Look at your Monthly Income

Take a look at your paychecks and see how much you bring in every month. If you get paid Bi-weekly, then add 2 paychecks together. If you get paid every week, then usually that is 4 paychecks that need to be added together. By knowing what you make on average every month will help you become aware of what you can afford.

However, if you wait tables, bartend, or live on commissions, look at your deposits on your bank statements and average a least three months.

Step 2: Subtract your monthly expenses

Monthly expenses are usually the following:

  • Mortgage
  • Car/Gas
  • Insurance
  • Utilities (electric, water, gas)
  • Food
  • Credit Cards and/or Loan payments
  • Phone/Internet/Cable/Netflix or other programs
  • Memberships
  • Savings (Pay yourself)
  • Miscellaneous

Look at your bank statements from the past couple of months. Take all your expenses and add up your purchases by category. Categories can include bills, food, extracurricular activities, etc.

Once you’ve categorized all your expenses and added them all together, next subtract the total from your monthly income.

Is the number negative or positive? If it’s negative, it’s time to prioritize and cut back. If it’s positive, you did well last month, but you should still create a budget because you might be able to put more money towards savings or debt.

Step 3: Check your calendar and due dates

Now that you know how much your average income is every month, and how much your bills and expenses are, now it is time to check those due dates. It is important to know when your bills are due every month, this will help you make sure you have the money in your account, so you never miss a payment.

For example; if your rent is due on the first and your car is due on the 20th, write it on your calendar and budget spreadsheet. Then, you will want to make sure that the paycheck you receive before those due dates will cover those bills.

Tip: Always try and make your due dates for bills are spread out through the month instead of all being due on the first or all on the 15th.

Example:

Type of Bill Due Due Date Every Month Amount
Mortgage 1st $$$$
Car Payment 10th $$$
Insurance (Car, House, etc.) 15th $$$
Phone/Internet 20th $$
Groceries 5th & 20th (2x a month) $$$
And so on….. ……… ………
Step 4: Break it down and Create a plan

Okay, so now that you know your monthly income, you know the amount you spend on your bills, and you know when all your bills are due. Now is the time to break it down and create a plan. You can create that plan by working paycheck to paycheck or you could work it monthly. Whatever works best for you.

For Me, I know how much I make every month and I get paid bi-weekly. Therefore, I work by paycheck every two weeks, and the total amount I make covers all the bills for a month.

So first, I take what I currently have in my account, then I mark down my next payday. Once I know what and when I will get paid next, I then take all the bills that are due after that payday and before the next payday and subtract what is due.

For Example:

Take your current amount in account left over from the previous month: $100

Next paydays in January:

4th: $1000
18th: $1000

Bills/Expenses due between the paydays of the 4th and the 18th:

Bill/Expense Due Date Amount Due
Groceries 5th $200
Cell Phone 10th $300
Insurance 11th $190
Credit Card 12th $100
Loan (Student/Personal) 15th $110
Savings 15th $50
Total Due 4th – 17th $950

 (Total paid on the 4th) $1000 + (previous month remaining) $100 = $1,100

Total amount due in bills after the 4th but before the 18th = $950

$1,100 available – $950 bills = $150 remaining

Move on to next payday-> Payday January 18th: $1000 

Remaining after previous payday and bill paid = $150

Calculate what is due from Jan. 18th payday to Feb 1st payday.

Bill/Expense Due Date Amount Due
Groceries 18th $200
Car Payment 20th $200
Cable/Internet 25th $150
Utilities 25th $100
Total Due 18th – 31st   $650

       (Total paid on the 18th) $1000 + (remaining from last month) $150 = Total available $1,150

Total due from the 18th until next payday on Feb. 1st is: $650

$1,150 available – $650 bills = $500 Remaining

And so on…. Work paycheck by paycheck. If you find yourself with not enough money to pay your bills in between paydays, that is ok! Just cut back on some expenses. Work out paying just the necessities only.

If you still don’t have enough, take from your savings to cover it until you can get to a point by working this method where your amount from the previous paycheck can overlap to cover the expenses. Also, once you get to the point where you always have the money available to pay and have extra, pay yourself back

5. Work your plan and revisit it every paycheck or more.

After every paycheck is deposited in my account I check my budget. After every bill is paid, I check my budget and mark it off. I re-budget, and if I have extra money or need more money towards something that has come up, I move money around and cut back on non-necessity purchases. This has helped me never go NSF in my account.

Related Posts:

This is the exact method of budgeting I use and have used for over two years now. I have completely paid off two loans, one was over $6000 in 5 months and the other I had over $2000 left to pay and paid it sooner than expected.

By working paycheck to paycheck and being conscious of where my money was being spent every week, I have been able to have more money left over after bills to pay off debt faster. I cut out the expenses of eating out and instead started to meal plan before grocery shopping to prevent overspending on food. I have canceled memberships such as gym and massage envy to save money.

If I can do it, you can too! You can pay off the debt, save more, and live without stressing about money again. Budgeting does help relieve the stress because knowing what you spend money helps prevent you from overspending. If you spend $200 eating out every month and it has caused you to go NSF (non-sufficient funds) in your account, you can now say no or at least budget a certain amount for eating out monthly without going over.

Don’t be afraid to budget for those fun things like going out or purchasing a new outfit. But, make sure the necessary bills are always paid first.

I hope this helps to see another way to create a budget. It’s truly helped me overcome a lot of financial bumps and as I said helped pay and continuing to help me pay off the debt.

Pin to Save for Later

How to take control of your finances while living in an RV

How to take control of your finances while living in an RV

by | Finances, Minimalism, RV Tips | 6 comments

Oh… Finances! We all have them. Money is universal and some are completely unaware on how to truly manage it. According to an article written by CNBC, 78% of Americans live paycheck to paycheck, 56% are in way over their heads with debt, and 56% save $100 or less a month.

Those numbers are surprisingly high, but with everything becoming more expensive it is understandable. Our incomes are having a difficult time keeping up with rising prices and many people often live above their means to keep up with social society.

Matthew and I weren’t living above our means, but we also weren’t living below either. So, we began our journey of getting out of debt, learning to live below our means, and started to take control of our finances. We saw that a couple of years of making sacrifices by not going out as much and living in an RV with a small loan payment was going to help us get out of debt.

Our goal is to one day pay for everything with cash, and never have another loan or credit card to pay back. We want to take amazing vacations without going into debt, save for retirement, give to others freely and live financially free.

So, we have done an extreme amount of research and are really digging deep to understand finances, how to best pay off debt, and make our financial dreams a reality. These are the 6 tips that have been helping us take control!

Step 1: Create a budget!

When you create a budget this forces you to look at your monthly income, your monthly bills, and where you spend your money. It also allows you to consciously “trim the fat” meaning stop spending money on all the miscellaneous things that you don’t really need or can substitute for cheaper alternatives. I wrote a blog called “Why it is important to create a budget”, you should read it if you’re still questioning why a budget is a necessity.

Step 2: Stop spending money!

Seriously, cut the “fat” as they say. When you start budgeting, you begin to see all the unnecessary purchases as I said before. Purchases may include eating out, coffee runs, or unused memberships. The extra money you save by cutting out the extra expenses will allow you more money to pay off the debt and save. Which brings me to step three.

Step 3: Save an emergency fund!

Having an emergency fund is so important. Try saving at least $1000 to have just in case you need to go to the doctor, or you need maintenance on your car or RV. This prevents you from placing those expenses on your credit card. Once you have that emergency fund saved, now is time to focus on step 4.

Step 4: Pay off the debt!

Once you can create a budget and see where your monthly income is being spent, then trimming the unnecessary spending habits, this will give you some room to put more money towards debt payments. So, check your balances for all the credit cards, loans both personal and student, cars, and mortgages as well as the interest rates! Pay off the smallest loan first while making the minimum on the rest. Then take the amount of money you used to pay off one loan to pay off the next smallest one and keep going until it’s all paid. This is also called the “Snowball effect”.

Depending on the amount of debt and income you bring in, it could take years, but it is so worth it! Getting rid of that debt is going to bring freedom for you and your finances. If you dream of taking those bucket list travel trips, having no debt will allow you to save more for those once in a lifetime experience.

Related Posts:

 

Step 5: Stop using credit!

Instead really try to develop that habit of paying cash only. If you can’t pay for it outright, then choose to save for the purchase until you can pay cash. When you use credit you not only increase your debt, but you will also end up paying interest on that purchase.

Step 6: Stick to the plan!

This is extremely important! You can do the budget, check your loan and interest amounts, and create a pay off plan but unless you stick to it, it won’t become a reality. Again, getting out of debt can take years. That means for some that can be years of living with a budget and living below your means. Don’t forget to continuously check the budget, adjust as needed, and focus on paying off the loans.

There you have it! 6 steps and tips on how to get control of your finances. This is a personal decision that is going to take strategy and implementation. You can do it! You don’t have to live every month paycheck to paycheck and you can pay for a house or car with cash instead of credit. It is completely doable with patience and persistence.

If you have a spouse, run through these steps together and work together on your finances. It’s important for couples to be on the same page.

We are excited for the day when Matthew and I are completely debt free and saving for our retirement and vacations. It is a dream that I know will become a reality! Stay tuned to our monthly blogs in the sections “goal setting”. Every month we talk about our monthly goals and our journey to a debt free life. You can sign up below for our monthly newsletter to stay updated!

Stay Motivated! You can take control of your finances!


References: Dickler, J. (2017, August 30). Most Americans live paycheck to paycheck. Retrieved from https://www.cnbc.com/2017/08/24/most-americans-live-paycheck-to-paycheck.html

Why Creating A Budget Is So Important!

Why Creating A Budget Is So Important!

by | Budgeting, Finances, Minimalism | 3 comments

Do you feel like you’re always living paycheck to paycheck? Often find yourself with overdraft fees?  How about owing money on loans and credit cards? Is your savings account consisting of less than 3 months of living or maybe you don’t have savings at all?

If you answered YES, to any one of those questions then creating a budget should be top priority. When creating a budget, it really allows you to dig deep into your spending habits. Breaking down how much you spend opens your eyes to the reality of where your money is going and maybe why your paycheck seems to disappear.

Just being honest here, I use to not budget at all. For years I lived paycheck to paycheck, and when I wanted something that I didn’t have the cash for it was put on the credit card or taken out of my savings. I would think, “oh, I’ll just pay that off next month”. Then that balance on the credit card continued to grow because I couldn’t pay more than my minimum payment.

If you’re living this way, like I was, it’s time to start budgeting.


5 reasons why creating a budget is so important, no matter your income!

 

1. Helps you understand your spending habits

When you understand and see where your money is being spent, most of the time you start to see the random expenses on things you don’t really need. So, take a look at your card charges and receipts. Some items to start looking for are maybe coffee runs, eating out or on random subscriptions and memberships that you don’t use.

Often times, we don’t even realize how much we spend on things that are not a necessity until we create a budget. I like to call this “Blind Spending”, I don’t even know if this is a real term, but let’s go with it! Which leads me to our second reason.

2. Helps see where you can cut spending!

Seeing the truth of where your money goes allows you to consciously think twice before eating out and it helps you cut out the things that are not a necessity.

For example, if you’re a coffee lover and grab a coffee at Starbucks or local café more than once a week that is at least $5 a cup.   It is much cheaper to make coffee at home. If you have a gym membership or any other type of membership but you find yourself going only on occasion or not at all, time to reevaluate where that money can be spent.

When you begin to cut your spending, you start to have more money to pay off debt and more money to put away into a savings account. If you don’t have a savings account, I highly recommend you open one soon.

 

3. Helps you pay off debt!

By understanding what you spend money on and reevaluating items that aren’t a necessity, this allows for more money to be used towards paying off those credit cards and loans.

Paying off debt should have high priority because the longer that debt sits, the more interest accrues. Whether it’s student loans, personal, mortgages, vehicles, or credit cards. The more interest that is accrued the more money you’re paying. So, the quicker you can pay off the debt, the quicker you will free up money from your paychecks. Trust me, this takes time but is completely attainable.

4. Helps you Save more money.

Who doesn’t want to save more money? Saving money for personal reasons, emergency funds, or even travel is a delight. Being able to say yes to that beach trip because you saved to go on vacation instead of buying that Coffee latte every week is such a reward. When you budget, you are able to dedicate amounts monthly to put away while still making sure your important bills are paid.

Check out our related post: 10 simple ways to save more in 2019.

 

5. Helps you give more

Giving to Charity, Family, or Churches is a really nice way to give back. When you budget, just like savings, it enables you to set aside money specifically to help others. Give more than you receive and good will come back to you.

So in conclusion, now you know why it’s important and what a budget can do to help you financially, but you might be asking “how do I budget?” or “Where do I start?” Maybe, you are asking this because you’ve never budgeted, or your checks are different every time because you bartend/wait tables. We know how that is!

Currently, my husband bartends, therefore, we understand the fluctuation of income. One week you’re making $600 and the next you make $300. It’s not easy. However, even with the changing income you can still create a budget and work towards any goals you have like paying off credit cards and student loans.

To do this, we suggest taking the average amount made from 3 months. This will help you see on average what you accumulate, and budget accordingly. If you have a set amount you make per month, start by taking a look at your bank account statements to look at your purchases.

As I mentioned, creating a budget no matter your income is important because whether you average $2k a month or $10K a month it’s good to know your spending habits. Sometimes the more you make, the more you spend. I have known people who make $10k a month that still lived paycheck to paycheck. Therefore, it doesn’t matter how much you make, living off a budget is important.

When I first started Budgeting I created my own in excel spreadsheet. I did this because I had taken a class on excel in college, so I knew my way around the basics. I have been using my excel budgeter for over a year now. It has helped so much, but one thing I wish I had was the ability to see and edit on my phone.

So, I just recently found this service called Every Dollar by Dave Ramsey. I just signed up for it and giving it a try. So far, I am liking it, but not ready to really review it or not. If you would like to check it out here is a link www.everydollar.com (this is not an affiliated link, I do not get a commission).

Since I have been budgeting, Matthew and I have been able to pay off the IRS, save to purchase our RV and Truck, and now in January, we will be getting rid of my smallest personal loan. We are working towards a debt free life, so we can have more money to give and more to travel.

So, no matter where you are in life or how much you make a month, it is never too late to start budgeting, get out of debt, and save more money.

Related Posts: 10 Simple Ways To Save More In 2019


SIGN UP FOR OUR NEWSLETTER!

Stay up to date and get notified for new blog posts and much more! No spam, we promise!

10 Simple Ways to Save More

10 Simple Ways to Save More

by | Finances, Minimalism | 10 comments

Saving money is so important! Since I was a little girl I would challenge myself to work and save as much as I could. It was like a game for me and when I met my savings goal, I won. I guess you could say I’ve always been a goal setter and enjoyed the feeling of achievement.

At a young age, I also understood that if I wanted to purchase something like a new TV or new clothes, I had to save up for it. I worked little side jobs and helped out at home to make extra cash to reach my goals. I even had the old lemonade stand at the community pool during the summer to make extra money.

However, saving is more than just getting enough to buy that big-ticket item, it should also be an emergency fund. As I got older I understood that having at least 3 months of living in your savings account is important, for those just in case moments. I say at least 3 months, but really 6 months of living is the ideal amount to have in a savings account. You never know when you might lose your job (been there), or something unexpected happens that you will need that nest egg. This amount of money could take a while to accumulate, but it’s never too late to start saving.

Here are my top and favorite ways that have helped us save extra money.

1. Create a savings plan

Most importantly, write down your plan! I believe, when you write something down it takes the idea in your mind and physically makes it a goal. Creating a plan can easily be done by thinking of the amount you would like to have and dividing it by the number of months or weeks you want to save that money by. Ask yourself:

  1. How much do I want to save?
  2. What is my deadline to have this amount in savings?
  3. How am I going to accomplish this savings goal?

For Example: If you want to save an extra $2500 in the full 12 months of 2019, that is about $208 a month you will need to save. Break it down, even more, that is $48 a week, or $6.85 a day. That $6.85 is a simple coffee usually purchased at Starbucks or local cafe. I personally like to work paycheck by paycheck. First I take out my bills that are a necessity like RV payment, Insurance, Truck Payment etc, then what is left over I put the savings goal amount away. Also, don’t forget to check your savings account interest rates. You can earn on the money you put away in the account itself. Below you can download free 52-week savings plan to get you started!

<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://exploringnewsights.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/52-Week-Savings-Plan.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Click Here to Download - Free 52 Week Savings Plan</a></p>
2. Create a budget!

This is just as important as creating a savings plan. When you develop a budget, you set aside specific amounts of money to put towards each one of your bills. When you budget, you know exactly where your money is going, and this will help you figure out what you can cut down on to allow more money to be put into savings.

Related Posts:

 

3. Cancel your cable/Satellite. 

I know, this one may be tough especially for the sports fans, but with all the other possibilities to watch T.V. nowadays it is completely doable. We have Netflix, Hulu, and we share an Amazon prime account with family. You can also get an antenna that will pick up local channels. The one in our RV works amazing, but if you don’t live in an RV you can get one like this HDTV Antenna on Amazon.

We watch live football games and popular shows like The Voice and American Idol on the local channels with our Antenna. Cable is expensive and I would rather pay $9 or $10 a month for Netflix and Hulu than spend $70 or more on cable when I only end up watching certain channels and shows.

 

4. Stop buying and start selling. 

Let’s face it, we all accumulate a lot of stuff and sometimes even multiples of one item. My husband and I just completely downsized to live in an RV. We realized all the items we truly didn’t need and could go without. We sold and made an extra $1000 in 2018 before moving in the RV. Items like clothes, jewelry, shoes, and furniture or decor items that are just sitting in the garage or taking up space can easily be sold on the Facebook Marketplace, garage sales, or even by word of mouth. I also gathered a lot of clothes that I just haven’t worn in 6 or more months to sell at Plato’s Closet. That money made was put directly into our savings.

 

5. Meal Plan and grocery lists! 

Before going to the grocery store, create a couple weeks of meals. This can take some time, which is why we love and use the $5 meal planning service. This service is the best thing ever! Plus, everyone is busy nowadays so to have your meals planned for you, can save you hours of time, as well as, money! Also, only purchase the items needed to make the meals and try not to go grocery shopping while you’re hungry. Just a simple tip to keep from overspending on snacks or foods that are not on the list.

When it comes to groceries don’t forget the rewards programs. We have and use the Kroger app/reward card! We love Kroger, and it helps us save on groceries and gas. I am sure Tom Thumb, HEB, or local grocery store has a similar rewards program for savings. If they do, use them! Not only do we save on groceries, but we also get points that we use to save on gas.

What about saving on groceries you’ve already purchased? To save even more, download the Ibotta app. This app lets you get cash back on groceries and much more after purchasing, by simply taking a pic of your receipt and uploading it to the app.

6. Couponing!

There is no shame in heading to the check out line with 20+ coupons for items you know you are going to use to save money. Kroger, for example, has an app that you can link to your savings card. In this app, they provide weekly coupons that you can add to your saving card alternate ID to save even more money. Another great plus with the $5 dollar meal plan is they provide great coupons with your service! Meal plans and coupons, that is a win, win! 

 

7. Stop eating out! 

This kind of goes with the Meal plan and grocery list, but trust me, I know how tempting it can be to not cook and instead drive through that burger joint. If you enjoy a night out with friends or date night, I have found that budgeting for “entertainment” helps prevent the overspending on eating or going out.

 

8. Stop using your credit cards!

Instead, pay cash. If you owe on your credit card work on paying them off. Credit cards accrue interest, meaning if you have a balance you’re paying more money than you actually spent. So, by not using credit cards you’re eliminating the ability to accrue interest. If you do use a credit card to build credit, pay it off every month and research the best reward programs.

 

9. Check your Insurance policy.

Insurance policies are usually 6 months. Don’t be afraid to take a couple hours to shop around for the lowest prices when your policy is ready to be renewed. When Matthew and I purchased our Truck, we called many insurance companies for quotes instead of going directly with our current company. You may or may not be surprised if another insurance company could lower your rates and save you money.

 

10. Work out at home.

Nowadays, there are some many youtube channels and videos that are dedicated to home workouts. Having a gym membership isn’t a necessity. Matthew and I have P90X and Insanity DVD sets. We rotate the DVDs, as well as, watch youtube videos and even Amazon Prime workout videos. You can also go and enjoy the outdoors by taking a hike, going for walk, or a bike ride; whichever type of cardio outside you enjoy.

 

There it is! I wanted to keep this short, and really highlight the top 10 ways that we have found to save more money. The ability to save money has benefited me in life to buy things I desired as well giving me the ability to pay a medical bill when I got sick or helped out family members.

Also, having savings releases stress. Money is one of the number one things people stress about, but having savings will help eliminate that stress. Knowing that if you lose your job, but you have 3 to 6 months worth saved to live off of is freeing.

So get out there and start saving! You can do it!

What are some great savings tips that you use? Comment below and don’t forget to follow us!


Sign up today for our monthly newsletter!

You have Successfully Subscribed!

By Signing up, you are subscribing to receive Exploring New Sights email newsletters. You may unsubscribe at any time. For more information, please review our Privacy Policy. 

Pin It on Pinterest