21 Ways to Save For Travel: Unique Ways to Save
What You Need to Know About Saving for Travel:
Saving for travel is easier when you combine small spending shifts with creative ways to earn extra cash
Setting a clear travel budget and automating your savings builds momentum and motivation
There are flexible, low-stress ways to reach your travel goals without sacrificing joy
Create a Travel Budget to Save
Before you do anything else, figure out how much you need to save. You can use saving for travel calculator, or you can just do simple phone math.
If you need to save $600 in four months, your math is $600 divided by 4, which equals $150 per month. If you have a hefty travel budget goal, say, $5,000, but you have a year to save, your travel budget needs to be saving about $420 per month ($5,000 divided by 12 is $416).
Vacation Bank Account
Set up a separate, labeled vacation bank account (think: “Italy 2026” or “Nashville Bachelorette”). This makes it super easy to remind yourself what that money is for and helps you positively anticipate your upcoming trip (more on that later).
Bonus points if you:
Automate your travel savings.
Add a photo of your destination as your phone background.
Let your people know you’re saving so you can say no to plans with confidence.
Ways to Make Extra Money for Vacation
A temporary income boost can go a long way. Here are some ways to pad your travel fund:
1. Tutor
Help kids with homework, adults studying for citizenship tests, or college students.
Try sites like Wyzant or VIPKid.
2. Walk Dogs or Pet-Sit
Try Rover or Wag.
Add a few extra walks to your week and watch the cash add up.
3. Drive or Deliver
Rideshare, Instacart, DoorDash, or Shipt can be flexible side gigs.
Look for sign-up bonuses!
4. Rent Out Parking
Especially helpful if you live near a stadium, venue, or city center, you can do this with apps like SpotHero or go old school and throw a sign in your driveway or yard.
5. Sell Your Crafts or Art
Farmer's markets, local library pop-ups, or even splitting a vendor table with a friend.
Avoid big online platforms if you're just getting started.
6. Secret Shop
Secret shopping is a technique that companies use to get insider information on the quality of customer service and the overall experience. Restaurants, movie theaters, hotels, and retail stores are just some of the examples.
I used to do this all the time in my first non-profit job. I wanted to go out to eat, but didn’t want to break the bank. It works like this: you follow a checklist when you go out to eat, submit a review, and get reimbursed, often with extra cash. You must sign up in advance to do this; you can’t just go into a restaurant and ask the owner for a refund.
7. Sell Your Sh*t (Literally and Figuratively)
If you’re ready to do a purge of your stuff, there are so many ways to make a bit of extra money from things like clothes, furniture, games, and more. While there are websites like eBay and Poshmark, don’t rule out more local options like NextDoor, Facebook marketplace, or a neighborhood yard sale.
There’s also a... unique market for your stool donations. You read that right. Up to $1,000/month if you qualify. Google it.
Unique Ways to Save Money Without Cutting Fun
I don’t believe in restriction or getting rid of fun. When it comes to unique ways to save money for travel, there are small tweaks you can make to help you save up for your travel goal.
8. Pause Subscriptions
What services can you temporarily pause to save some money? Streaming, beauty boxes, dog treats? Calculate how much could you save if you hit pause for a few months.
9. Temporarily Switch Gyms
Most gyms offer a free trial. Whether its 3 classes free, or the first week free, hopping around can be a great way to save some money and experience new ways to move your body.
10. Cook at Home (For Real)
Challenge yourself to use pantry and freezer staples.
Track what ends up in your compost and stop buying it.
11. Try a Dry Month
Skip alcohol or recreational substances and move that money to your travel fund.
Get Creative with Free Entertainment
12. Free Concerts & Events
Check your city’s event calendar or library pop-ups for free concerts and events. I’m privileged to live in a city that offers free movie nights, crafting events, and more.
13. Support Local Theater
Community and youth productions are often affordable and adorable. I recently went to my first high school musical (not the high school music) and was blown away by the local talent!
14. Visit Museums on Free Days
Many offer free or pay-what-you-can entry once a month.
15. Use Your Membership Perks
Military, educator, and healthcare worker discounts are everywhere, just ask!
Travel Secrets to Save Money Before You Even Book
16. Travel in Shoulder Season
Avoid holidays and school spring breaks or you’ll be battling high prices in addition to crowds. Shoulder season is the time just before or after peak times. For most places, that’s early may (before summer travel season) or mid-Fall (after school starts but before the holiday rush).
17. Be Flexible with Dates
Flights on Wednesdays or Saturdays tend to be cheaper, if there’s a way for you to work remote for a day you can save your PTO and get a deal!
18. Travel Overnight
Save a night of lodging by taking a red-eye or overnight train.
19. Join Loyalty Programs
Airlines, hotels, rideshares, coffee shops all have loyalty programs. For hotels, you usually receive extra perks, such as a complimentary water bottle or extended check-out, just for signing up!
20. Use Cashback + Coupon Tools
Rakuten, Honey, or cashback credit cards are all ways to save on your everyday spending so you can put that savings in your travel fund.
21. Explore Travel Bundles
Costco, Expedia, and airline credit card portals often bundle flights + hotels + car rentals for less.
Bonus: Travel for (Almost) Free
Here are a few more resources to help you travel for free or on the cheap:
Trusted House Sitters. Stay in someone else’s home for free while taking care of their pet. Cozy and budget-friendly.
Hostels. Hostels aren’t just for 20-something backpackers. Many have private rooms, en suite bathrooms, and free breakfast.
Use Public Transit. Both at home and at your destination, save money and see more using public transit. Lots of cities offer free or discounted rides for different populations. My city offers $1 rides for University retirees and seniors.
Travel Hacking. Travel hacking requires time, research, good credit, and planning, but it’s a great way to travel for pennies on the dollar. I have a two-part series all about travel hacking if you’re curious, that you can get right here.
Saving Up for a Vacation Doesn’t Have to Suck
When you combine small shifts in spending with creative ways to earn, saving for a trip feels doable.
Whether you’re dreaming of an anniversary weekend, a solo getaway, or a big international adventure, you deserve it, and there are so many ways to make it happen. And the best part is that you don’t have to restrict yourself from fun or joy to get there.