Money is universal. We need it to survive. Food, water, shelter and clothing are the basic necessities of life. Without those, we will perish. But what happens when life gets hard and the funds start to dry up? Do you give up or work harder? Do you create goals to live the life you want or do you sink into a pity party, thinking that the cards have been dealt and there is nothing you can do?
Personally, I have done both. I did not grow up in a financially wealthy family. I am from a small town in rural NE New Mexico. Ranches and farms were the basis of our economy. Both my dad's worked primarily in retail/grocery stores. We didn't have a lot, but we did travel. My step dad, Celso, took us camping in Red River many times throughout my childhood. I still remember the smell of sliced potatoes, slathered in butter and chopped onion, wrapped in foil over the hot flames on a grill. I know you know what smell I am talking about! Those are some of my favorite childhood memories.
One time we took a trip to see all the tallest bridges from NM to Colorado. My step dad really wanted to do that and I remember his excitement. I remember it was windy and I had a sourpuss face in all my pictures, because I was a tormented pre-teen, full of angst. But, I remember so clearly being excited when we crossed the border into Colorado and there was a sign that said, "Welcome to Colorful Colorado." It didn't cost much to do those things that left me with great memories many years later. You don't need a lot of money to travel. You DO need desire and passion to want to see the world. See the forests, the oceans, the mountains, the national parks.
The world belongs to everyone! I think the thing that surprises me the most, is how friendly and helpful people are when I am traveling. It doesn't matter if I am in the USA or overseas. Mexicans, in Playa Del Carmen, are awesome! So kind! Generally, people are good. I love meeting people, which is ironic because I was such a recluse for so many years. I was a loner, but never felt alone while traveling, even though I was traveling alone! I think the excitement of being somewhere new is really my drug. I love it!
So how do you see the world if funds are tight? Maybe you have children or student loan debt, or hospital bills. It seems everything is piling up and you can't take a vacation. I get that. I have been there. Personally, I am a saver. I pay myself first, EVERY month. I am a true follower of Dave Ramsey and Clark Howard, and as a result I can travel more than average. But it wasn't always that way. I traveled light in the past.
When I was in Asia, I shared bungalows with people I didn't really know, but it saved money! You can rent hotels with kitchenettes and save that way! Food is a big part of the traveling budget, but you can cook it yourself. The most important thing is to create a budget and stick to it. If you do that very thing, you will save money, which means you will have more for another adventure. And believe me, it can get addicting! My number one advice to you is to create a budget, not just for travel, but for life. My monthly budget always includes travel. Maybe I will use it that month, or apply it to the future. But, it is my passion and goal to see the world, so I have to plan for it. I am not rich, but I am enriched. And that is a good place to be!
More than anything, I want everyone to explore. I hope I ignite a fire in you to think about where you are and where you want to be. Close your eyes right now. Picture yourself someplace you have always wanted to go. The smells, the sounds, the people. Do you hear laughter, or crying. Traffic or silence. Is it snowing or are the waves crashing. Now, open your eyes. Why have you not gone? What is holding you back? If it's money, remember, you do not have to be rich to travel. I can help you. I can teach you. This isn't about my business. This is about my desire for you to go someplace new. If you are afraid to go alone...well, guess what! You have a travel partner in me. Let's go!
#storymakerstravel #letsgo #travelmore #explore #travel #travelagentlife #dontneedtoberichtotravel
