If You Want to Travel... Travel! 10 Ways to Leave Sooner Rather Than Later

You're not alone - after all, how many of us can say we've got more money than we have commitments? If you've been thinking about going travelling but keep putting it off then this one's for you...

1. This is obvious but vital: decide you really want to go. If it's a big trip you're planning and deep down you don’t really want to give up your every day life and go travelling, then let it go now. Do something else. Someone once said 'those that aren't doing what they want to do don't really want to do it.'
2. On the other hand, if you want to travel then talk about it. Yep, just talking about it to everyone you come into contact with will make it seem real, plus it’ll spur you on to put your plans into action. (Just don’t tell your colleagues before your boss if you're leaving your job to do it!)
3. Next, take action! All the talking in the world isn't going to make it happen of course. Research. Get quotes for the flights/tours, whatever it is you want to do. Talk to people who have already gone. Look in chat rooms online if you don’t know anybody who’s already done it.
4. Work out what you really need money-wise to live on for the next three months and then put everything else, yes that's everything else, into a savings account. It sounds simple because it is but if you want to travel then you'll stick to it.
5. Don't pay rent. If you can move back to your parents, lodge with a friend or do something else where you don’t have to pay rent for three months, do it. If you couch surf with friends in the lead up before you go you'll be AMAZED at how much money you can accumulate in this small amount of time. Plus, nice friends do things like cook you meals and provide wine if they know you’re coming to stay! If you hop around from friend to friend you’ll never outstay your welcome anywhere.
6. Start a ‘£2 (or $5) Pot’ and put it in full view where ever it is that you’re staying. Add to it whenever you've got change on your person. Ask friends and family to do the same – again, you’ll be amazed at how many people don’t care about donating the odd buck or two to your travel fund. You can’t buy much in the western world with this amount but you can in many countries across the world that you might be heading to.
7. Do car boot sales and sell anything else you don’t need on Ebay. If you normally pass over this suggestion when reading articles about saving/accumulating money for your travels, then please don't - it definitely pays off. Have a really good clear out. Be ruthless and you’ll make more money to go towards your trip. Put the change in your pot and add the larger sums to your would-be-rent stash in that savings account of yours.
8. When it comes to finally booking your ticket, haggle with travel agents but don’t leave it too long. See How to Get the Cheapest International Flights for more on this. Once you’re satisfied with the itinerary, the terms and the price just book it. The price will only go up if you leave it any longer. Also purchase insurance, visas and other essential travel items at this point.
9. Hand in your notice with one month to go. There’s no need to mention it until then. Do so with nothing but respect and admiration for your boss and company. Explain it’s a personal ambition that you’ve always wanted to fulfill and leave on good terms.
10. Have fun with the planning! The lead up to a trip is so exciting – talk about it to death until you have only hard-core friends left! Enjoy every second. Be scared, be nervous, be excited, be courageous and just go for it. If you want to travel...travel! It's all on you.

If you have a bit more cash (or perhaps a perverse sense of adventure), do it in just one month’s time. Work backwards: Hand in your notice then, if renting, take your deposit/bond from your landlord and book your flights with it. Take that month’s pay cheque (your last) and buy essentials such as insurance and visas. Book your first few nights accommodation and use the rest to do fun stuff in your chosen destination while looking for work to fund the rest of your trip.

So crazy it might just work...