Budget-less Wanderer

   
     Travel. Just the word can spark excitement. I've been blessed to travel some: Italy, Uzbekistan, Mexico. Traveling makes me feel truly alive, constantly experiencing new things. And I'm sure many of you feel the same way about wandering. 

     However, many of us do not have the money to travel. While there are many ways to travel on a cheap budget, it still costs to explore, especially if you want a back-up fund before leaving. So what does that mean? Do you have to remain stuck at home until you have enough money (and time) to go? 

     While it may seem like this at first, the situation really is not so dire. There are several ways to satisfy your wanderlust until you get the chance to really go explore. How? 

1) Explore your city. You may feel like there's nothing to do or nowhere to go, but typically, that's a deceiving thought. Drive around and get lost for a while. Go to some shops you've never visited before. Eat at a different restaurant than your typical choice. Visit the farmer's market. Is there a conglomerate of cultures in your city? Visit a grocery store that may belong to a certain culture, whether its Hispanic, Hindi, or Asian. You will definitely get a sense of new experiences there. 

2) Take a day-trip. Maybe you really do feel like you've explored every cranny in your city. Or maybe your city is small. In this case, next weekend, hop into your car with a couple of friends and drive to a nearby town or city, preferably one you've never been to before. Exploring a new city can be a lot of fun. Even if it's a small town, these can often be the most interesting. It won't cost a lot if you plan ahead, and you won't regret doing it, either.

3) Read some travel books. I know, it's not the same as actually going to those destinations. However, they can be interesting to read, and the books can contain important information for travelers. Reading could help satisfy your wanderlust until you leave. 

4) Start planning. You know that you can't go for a while yet, but that doesn't mean you can't plan. Create an outlined budget, and set money aside for your trip. Research where you want to go, the route you want to take, the places you want to stay. Estimate how much it will cost, and decide if you need to reserve certain experiences ahead of time. If you can, immerse yourself in the culture. Learn some of the language; eat some of the food; watch some of the movies. There's no way you can totally be prepared for everything when traveling, but the more you study ahead, the better off you'll be. 

     These are just a few things you can do while waiting to travel. I know they don't make up for the actual trip, and I know it may feel agonizingly slow to save up enough money. I'm a broke college student! Yet, this also doesn't mean that we have to put our traveling dreams on hold completely. Lots of ways to have adventure exist right where we live; we just have to purposely look for them.

     What about you? How do you satisfy your travel-bug? Comment below; I'd love to hear from you!