KNOW WHEN TO SAVE AND WHEN TO SPLURGE

There’s no point travelling if you’re going to just eat bread, sit drinkless in bars and wander around window shopping the city. Half, if not all the joys of experiencing another culture or country for what it is comes with tasting the local cuisine, downing the tip top wine and the once in a lifetime experiences and opportunities on offer. Unfortunately most of the things that bring with them special and exciting feels generally come with pretty high costs. There’s going to be a wonderful and unique line up of various splurge-worthy things to do while on the move- you’ll just have to sift through, work out what’s personally worth it and budget it in.

In my opinion, here’s some do’s and don’ts of spending your savings on the move:

DO Use the money you’ve saved eating from eating at supermarkets on a splurge at one of Italy’s finest mama & papas. Enjoy the crazy-priced pasta for everything it is and really taste the culture. Food is as much about travel as the destination. Set aside a little money for at least ONE sit down meal at a decent restaurant and taste the local cuisine of each destination.

DON’T waste money (& suitcase space) buying every single item that you think you have to have. You’ve managed to live and do okay without it up until ten minutes ago – look, like & move along.

DO Throw your money out the window & follow it. For a view like no other skydiving over a city is an incredible way to absorb or be absorbed by the sights. Although costs of adventure sports are high – the once off’s are well worth it and an experience not to be missed. From skydiving over the Algarve in Portugal to diving in the Maldives there’s going to be ample opportunities to splash your cash for a quick thrill. You’ll just need to fish out and prioritize on the ones worth doing.

DON’T feel the need to see, do, taste, hear and touch every single thing on offer. Why bother heading into the rock museum in Creetown, Scotland ‘because it’s on the list’ if a rock is just a rock and you really couldn’t care less.

DO treat yourself. You’re here to experience the country for everything it is and in doing so you are exposed to the local wonders and specialties that come with it. If you’ve always wanted something jade- letting go of a sizeable chunk at the local Jade Market in China is not a waste. One of the best OMG-splurges I’ve made was on a diamond ring in Alaska – the hub in which many gems come from. I was at the end of my Inside passage cruise & about to head back home so I convinced and reasoned with myself that it was a better idea to spend all the money I had now so to avoid having to exchange currencies on my way back. (Because that would have been SUCH a difficult 3minutes out of my life at the currency exchange counter). I HAVE ZERO REGRETS & although now missing a diamond (& it no longer being splurge-worthy enough to fix) the ring is currently residing on my finger as I type. Don’t feel bad, or um and ah – If you really want it, are going to love it and it will mark the monumental trip you’ve had – splurge.

DON’T pick accommodation SOLEY on price. Often more than not you’ll find yourself wishing you had spent the extra $2 or $50 it was going to cost you at the hostel with wifi or the hotel smack bang in the middle of the cities nightlife. Think about quality, services and location. Why opt for the $20pn hostel when it’s going to cost you $15 to get to the attraction next door to the $30pn hostel. Catch my drift? One of the worst saves I ever made was opting to cut out accommodation costs all together & spend the weekend sleeping in the car we’d hired. –WORDS OF WISDOM: This in actual fact is not the brightest idea. Read more about this experience here.

When have you saved of splurged? And was it worth it? I’d love to hear from YOU! Comment below or like / share the post JClick here to read some of my best money saving tips for backpacking!