For many of us, adventure is what keeps us vibrant. Our experiences are what define us. Testing the limits of what we know as possible or experiencing something truly magnificent reminds us that life is precious. But far too often, that most fantastic of adventures -- you know, the once-in-a-lifetime adventure you'd always dreamed of -- is just out of reach. Why do you think that is? Why do most of us never go on the one adventure that would change our lives forever? You guessed it -- money.
But is money actually the problem? Isn't the way we spend money the real problem? If you have money to spend on coffee, cable TV, eating at restaurants, a nice car, or on more living area than you really need, then you have enough money to spend on a life-altering adventure experience. It's your choice. Would you rather take in the view at the top of Mount Aconcagua or drink a soy latte every day? Would you rather raft down the Drangme Chhu River in Bhutan or have an extra room in your house that you never go into? Could you live with trading in your Lexus for a Ford if it meant that you could take that trip to Antarctica you've always dreamed about?
So, you see, a lack of money doesn't stop us from experiencing our dream experiences. It is our messed-up priorities that actually stop us. So if adventure is a priority in your life, it would be worthwhile to do some adventure travel planning:
- You can start by using a travel expense sheet to estimate travel costs specific to your dream adventure travel experience.
- You should never go into debt for an adventure travel experience! The purpose of adventure is to enhance your life with positive experiences, not drag you down deeper into a pit of despair. Again -- never go into debt for your travels!
- Once you know how much your dream adventure will cost you, decide when you would like to go by. Knowing when you are going to go will give you an idea of how much you will need to save each month to pay for your expenses.
- When you know how much you will need to save every month, you will know how much you will need to cut from your monthly expenses. It's easy when you set your priorities. For instance, let's say you need to save $200 per month to go to Nepal in two years and you would much rather go to Nepal than waste your time watching television. Well, then reduce or eliminate your cable TV expense to help pay for your Nepal trip. Go through each of your recurring expenses and do the same. Use a budget worksheet to help you think of everything.