saving at home, living rich in europe

[RudeRy]

Ok, I know I want be living rich on my next trip...but I still find it hard to save money here (Florida, USA). Just wondering, for some ideas...how does everyone scrimp and save to have money for their trip? Any thrifty ideas? It sounds cheesy, but every bit of info goes a long way...

[MuvverRussia]

At the moment it seems that the Inland Revenue are doing a fair bit of saving for me . On a more serious note, set up a savings account and transfer as much as you can each month to it. Also you could cut down on luxury goods, e.g. Starbucks, alcohol etc and save the money that you'd have otherwise spent.

By 'living rich' what do you exactly mean? With the way the USD is going at the moment you'll need at least USD70 or so per day excluding travel for a basic trip.

[joe]

Muvver, I plan on taking $6500 for 3mos. which is approx. $72USD per day. I already have already purchased my plane tickets, rail pass and travel insurance. Does this amt. sound doable?

MuvverRussia said:

At the moment it seems that the Inland Revenue are doing a fair bit of saving for me . On a more serious note, set up a savings account and transfer as much as you can each month to it. Also you could cut down on luxury goods, e.g. Starbucks, alcohol etc and save the money that you'd have otherwise spent.

By 'living rich' what do you exactly mean? With the way the USD is going at the moment you'll need at least USD70 or so per day excluding travel for a basic trip.

[Kim]

Cut out Starbucks??

[WillTravel]

That's about 55 Euros per day, but to be on the safe side say 50 Euros. I think you can do it, but it may feel like a squeeze at times, depending if you like to go out at night, visit lots of attractions, etc. I'd suggest going conservative at first to see how your money is holding up.

[RudeRy]

ah!!! no more starbucks! this is madness...hah, you're right though, I need to cut out silly expenses, such as beer and other things...what is everyone else's tips?

[dumbdiety]

Cut out on the beer, lose the weight, want to eat less, less food you buy on your trip. At least, the losing weight/want less food thing happened to me. I'm just guessing on the less food on trip thing...I'd probably gorge myself once I got there...
But really.....dropping Starbucks shouldn't be so bad....I'd only have problems dropping the Dunkin' Donuts coffee!

[WillTravel]

RudeRy said:

ah!!! no more starbucks! this is madness...hah, you're right though, I need to cut out silly expenses, such as beer and other things...what is everyone else's tips?

If you possibly can, try to get another job - part-time, contract, whatever. Every cent you can save will help. And if you have any old junk, you can try and sell it.

[RudeRy]

I have plenty of old stuff, but no idea what will sell and what won't...

[dumbdiety]

RudeRy said:

I have plenty of old stuff, but no idea what will sell and what won't...

ANYTHING will sell to someone on EBay. I've cleaned out all my old crap that way!

[stanncie]

well like someone else suggested getting another job is a very good idea. I picked up 3 extra patients starting in the middle of last year and every cent of that money goes into a saving account. I must say it's worked very well. The hardest thing will be trying not to spend that extra money. But i told myself if you lived fine before this, then you should now. I pretend that that money is nonexistent and never factor it in my budget.

[Nicstar]

One way I've saved is to become driver when we head out at night. Me and my friends can usually spend up to 3 nights out a week, sometimes 4, and when you look at that money: $20 cab fare (This is australian money btw) to meet my mates, another $15 between us to get to the
pub, the money spent on alcohol before we went out, the money out at the pub, then $20 cab fare home, or if I ended up at my lads place, another $20 cab fare home in the morning.

So I drive. And because I say yeah I'll drop you here, you there, I'll pick you up etc etc, everyone has become grateful thus will buy me dinner, or shout my diet coke for the night or similar.

Also, I've agreed to babysit on nights I usually go sing with my friend at the pub. Thats a night that usually costs me all of the above, plus a hangover, but instead I save that money and earn an extra $40 cash to put away!

Once people get used to the fact you're saving they stop hounding you for it! Especially when they realise in 3 weeks you'll be in Paris and they won't! And some of my friends are so keen for me to have a 'big night' with them again, they're planning on shouting all my drinks for me tonight!! Of course I won't say no.... ;D

For me saving is easy if i stop spending on excessive stuff. Single girl with biggest debt being the car payments, well as soon as I stop buying clothes and shoes and makeup and hair products and cds and jewellery and all that stuff, well suddenly the extra money is amazing!

[RudeRy]

nicstar, you're in Oz? awesome, I didn't know...anyways, I'm Florida, I think the best way for me to save is to not go out at all, sad, I know

[Libby]

Cutting out Starbucks is a great idea. Of course, I've never tried a Starbucks as we don't have them here but I agree with the idea. My trips to Tim Hortons have been cut out completly.

I started saving my change and was surprised at how quickly this ads up. Mind you, when you have 1 and 2 dollar coins it ads up quicker than just quarters and dimes. Still, I've saved about $500 in change since last fall.

Movies and other nights out have been cut back too.

[googleygoo]

packing your lunch instead of eating out.