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“I don’t need an article telling me that I should travel, I need the funds to travel.”

Listen darling, before you complain about not having the money to travel, but have a new car, flat screen, or are going on the same six weekenders you went to in college, re-evaluate your lifestyle. They say “travel is the only thing you buy that actually makes you richer,” so here are some tips on how to save money and re-direct your investment. After all, traveling is just that—an investment in bettering yourself.

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1. Set a financial goal and timeline.

Write it down, add it to your calendar, and check your progress periodically. Discuss it with family and friends for support. Treat it like a weight loss/gain goal or an academic/career goal.

2. Take 15% (or x – amount) from your paycheck and put it straight into a new travel savings account.

Mint.com lets you combine your bank accounts and manage your budget by category on one platform.

3. Pick something that you purchase daily and could live without… and live without it.

Spending $4 for Starbucks 365 days per year comes out to $1,460. That’s a round-trip flight to Europe! Over-achiever? Pick two things.

4. Save money by not purchasing brand names.

Do you really need another Tory Burch purse? Another pair of Raybans? Another cologne? Every time you are tempted to buy something, take the exact cost and put it into your travel savings account.

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5. For several months: no big weekends.

A weekend trip to San Francisco, a weekend trip to Las Vegas, a weekend at Coachella, plus 12 weekends of bar hopping in Santa Monica can sustain you for two months in Southeast Asia.

6. When you get invited to go out, estimate how much you would have spent on drinks and add it to you travel savings account.

Wine and Netflix doesn’t sound that bad anyways.

7. Ask for gift cards related to travel for your birthday, graduation, and Christmas.

Heck, the Easter Bunny might throw in a few bucks towards your trip, or Grandma may have some air mileage she’s not going to use.

8. Do a “job on the side” which strictly funds your travel goal.

Something like baby-sitting, photography, freelance work, tutoring, yard-work, or driving for Lyft and Uber are all good ideas.

9. Save your pennies.

Put commissions, tips, bonuses, and tax returns straight into your travel savings account.

10. Make real sacrifices.

Move in with your parents or get a roommate to cut your rent in half. Endure it for a few months and the money you save will be totally worth it.

11. Shorten your commute to work.

Save money on gas by riding your bike, walking, or taking public transport! This is great for both your body and your wallet.

12. Try a crowd funding website.

Once you’ve saved up a little and have tangible results, try crowd funding your travels with a website like Trevolta so family and friends can pitch in to help you finance the rest of your voyage.

To finance travel by yourself in your 20s is an absolutely phenomenal feeling. With a little discipline and organization, you too can make your “dreams” into “goals.”

This TRAVELBREAK original article by Stephanie Be has been published by Thought Catalog with over 8k shares! Thanks guys!