Retirement is a phase in life when you finally have the time to pursue your passions and dreams. For many, this can include travelling to new and exciting destinations.
Exploring different cultures, cuisines, and landscapes can be incredibly fulfilling. However, it’s essential that you ensure that your travel adventures don’t leave you in financial difficulties.
In this article, we’ll explore five practical ways to fund your dream travel without risking your financial stability, both during your trip and when you get home.
Ways to Finance Your Travel Plans
In order to travel well as a retiree, it’s important that you get your money matters sorted. By working out how to fund your travels now, you can indulge in an unforgettable trip while shoring up your savings and other finances for when you return to the UK. Here are some ideas to consider:
1. Smart savings strategies
As you approach retirement, consider establishing a dedicated travel fund. Start saving well in advance by setting aside a portion of your income specifically for travel. You can also explore tax-efficient savings options such as Individual Savings Accounts (ISAs) to help your money grow over time.
How much you need to save depends on where you are going. Therefore, you should decide on your travel place, assess the overall possible costs of travelling, and make a savings plan to have the money for your travel costs. You should also have a realistic plan for your trip.
For instance, you can take larger dorm rooms for rent and make your own food. While travelling through flight, you can purchase a round-trip ticket. Lastly, you should remember that you may not save up all the required money for your trip. However, you can manage your travel with what you have.
2. Boost your Income Sources
Source: thebalancemoney.com
Explore opportunities to increase your income during retirement. This might involve taking on part-time work, consulting in your area of expertise, or monetising a hobby or skill. Having a part-time job can help you to earn extra.
However, it can be difficult to another job after working for your main job. However, you can choose part-time creative work that can boost your mental well-being and help you earn extra money. The extra income can be directly allocated to your travel fund.
3. Reduce Your Recurring Costs
If you want to save money for your dream travel, you have to minimize your recurring or regular costs. When you want to spend time on a beach in Portugal, you can not spend a lot of money on maintaining your life in the UK. You have to identify the areas where you can save in your daily life. Minimizing recurring costs will allow you to save some extra money for your travel.
4. Work out your Budget
Dream travel often comes with a hefty price tag, especially if you’re planning a long journey or luxury vacation. By budgeting well in advance, you can work out how much you have to spend on your trip.
This means you have the opportunity to spread the cost over several months or even years, allowing you to plan out the type of travel you dream of gradually without feeling the financial pinch.
5. Clear outstanding debts
Source: lowlandcu.org
Before embarking on your dream travel adventure, it’s wise to prioritise settling any outstanding debts, such as credit card balances or loans. Reducing your financial obligations will not only ease your mind but also free up more of your retirement income for travel expenses.
6. Consider equity release
Equity release is a financial option designed for homeowners aged 55 and over. It allows you to unlock the value tied up in your property without having to sell it. By releasing equity, you can have access to regular payments or even a lump sum to fund your travel dreams. Consult with a financial advisor to explore this option, ensuring it aligns with your long-term financial goals.
7. Get Funding for Your Travel
There are various ways to get funding for your travel. Several big companies sponsor some specific trips that match their organizational goal and brand and completely fund your request.
However, before you try to get crowdfunding for your travel, you have to choose your destination and clearly determine your travel goals and objectives so that people feel interested in funding your request.
You also have to plan a detailed budget for your trip to help potential donors understand how you are going to spend their money. If you are a video blogger or travel writer, you can easily find companies to pay for your trip. However, you have to plan and work hard towards getting those sponsors.
8. Get a Job Overseas
Source: medium.com
If you are passionate about your dream travel and don’t have enough money to afford your trip, you can look for a job overseas. There are different types of jobs that you can try to get abroad. For instance, you can work as a bartender, hostel worker, waiter/ waitress, casino worker, tour guide, dive instructor, part-time worker at a ski resort, yoga instructor, yacht worker, and cruise ship worker.
Cruise ship jobs are formal jobs and you can enjoy living at sea. Even though it will take longer travelling time, you can consider this option if you love travelling by sea. If you are good at English, then you can make money for your travel by teaching English overseas.
If you live in the UK, it would be easier for you to get this job. There are several websites that hire English-speaking people who can teach English virtually. Many Asian companies can even pay for your trip if you have good knowledge and skills to help people learn English.
Dream travel should be an enriching and memorable experience, not a source of financial stress. If you’ve got your heart set on travelling when you retire, it’s worth making plans for this as early as you can.
By looking ahead, you can set aside travel funds without affecting the money you have to live off during your retirement.
