I can’t believe that my Eurotrip video with my face all over it was already liked by 6,100+ people and has been shared 600+ times. Out of all the 800+ comments and 10 million (lol) messages sent to me, I’ve been asked how much I spent for the 65-day Eurotrip. To be honest, I don’t know the exact amount. I tried jotting all my expenses down but after a while, I realized that it’s useless. What for, right? Besides, I felt guilty seeing all of the money I spent for the trip. To estimate based on the amount I had when I went there to the amount I have now on my bank account, I spent around 350k.

Just to tell you frankly, I don’t feel comfortable disclosing my expenses because some might think that is too much for a 21-yr old lady to spend just for traveling. I know other people will still judge what other people do with their money but eh, whatever. Aside from that, I don’t want you to base your expenses on your future travels with how much I spent. We’re all different individuals and I don’t have any idea about your traveling style. I’m the kind of girl with no arte and pride meaning I don’t mind sleeping in a hostel, asking for a relative to accommodate me, and even asking for a family’s friend for a roof for some nights. I don’t know if you’re like that too so throwing out how much I spent is useless unless you’re like me.

Anyway, yes. I did spend more or less (but probably less) than 350,000 pesos for a 2-month of travel and that is not bad at all. Some even said that their relative/friend spent almost a million for a month of Eurotrip.

I saved a lot because I booked a group tour, stayed with a relative and a family’s friend for a month, and then saved enough money for the 10-country group tour. That means saving a lot for 51 days just for me to spend a lot for that 14-day group tour I joined.

Yes, I had the most amazing wine, pizza, pasta, steak, beer, and memories in my life. Yes, it’s expensive. 

What the hell do you do anyway?

I sacrificed three babies and bathe in the blood of virgins in exchange of this Eurotrip.

LOLJK.

If I were in your shoes, I’d probably doubt someone’s claim that she’s a 21-yr-old self-made, too. I mean, how? You just freaking graduated and you’re in the Philippines working. How did you have almost half a million pesos to finance your travels?

I’m just 21 years old but I’ve been working since I was 12 making Friendster layouts and charging people 300-1000 pesos per layout. I’m not saying that I still have those money on my bank account now and that I’ve been saving for 9 years for this Eurotrip. However, those that I’ve earned back then I immediately used it as a capital for another business: selling contact lenses. I think I was one of the first people who sold contact lenses here and I got my supplies straight from Hong Kong. I did this since I was 13 years old to 14 years old and then moving on to another business which was buying and selling phones. I would buy a phone on OLX (formerly Sulit) and sell it for higher the price I bought it. My parents who I adore so much never, ever gave money to buy new clothes and things that I want when I reached the age of 13 and I am happy they did that! I was never spoiled and I learned how to hustle. When I was 16, I got a big break writing articles for a NZ and US-based companies. That allowed me to earn 17k pesos a month and that is big considering I was just 16. Sadly, back then, I didn’t know how to save money so I just kept on spending my money to eat and eat and eat. I kept that job and other freelance writing work until I graduated college. Aside from that, I sold makeup and did makeup for graduation. Imagine waking up 2 in the morning to do makeup for 20+ students then heading straight to class and then after class, meeting up with makeup buyers then in the evening, work on the articles on queue. Yes, I am that hardworking and I deserve all the things that I have now. 

If you’ve just seen my travel photos and the stuff that I have without knowing me, you would definitely think that I have a sugar daddy or a financer.

…but it you know me and my life, you will be proud of me and you will say that “Hard work really pays off.” You can just go ahead and take a look at those comments from my friends saying they’ve seen me at the bottom and they’re proud where I am now.

Anyway, to answer your question: I work as a Professional Content Writer and Digital Marketer now. I do earn a decent amount per month for me to be able to save and at the same time, give my family a monthly financial contribution. I also have other sidelines such as selling makeup and my kidney. LOLJK.

How long did it take for you to save your Eurotrip fund?

Less than a year. Woah, right? I’m not really sure but I asked UnionBank how much I had when I graduated college last year. They said that I had 80,000 pesos then I asked them again how much I had when I left my last job which was July last year and I only had 35,000 pesos left. I moved to my current job, sold makeup, did makeup, work on freelance writing and in less than a year, I had more than enough funds to cover my Eurotrip.

Oh, okay. So how exactly did you save?

I just like saving and if there’s this hobby, yes, my hobby would be saving. I want to take a look into my bank account and be satisfied that’s why I’m doing everything to be thrifty. I would give you few tips on how I save money.

^{© Header image by my tourmate and wonderful friend, Keri Ferreira (Prague, Czech Republic)}

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• Needs vs. wants

This is actually very self-explanatory. Do you really need that 180 PHP cup of coffee everyday? Like, really need it that you can’t function without that Starbucks blend? I am a fan of dining out every once in a while when there’s an occasion or if I just want to treat my family but I know how to differentiate my needs and wants. When I went to Europe, I bought winter clothes in Baguio which only costs PHP 160 for a coat! Why would I need a branded item when no one would even care? As long as I am warm and happy, I’m good. I am actually still wearing my clothes I bought 5 years ago because I don’t see the need to buy new ones. If you feel like you can live without something, then don’t buy it. It will just make you happy for a while but it will leave a dent on your savings.

• Open a savings account

A different account from your payroll account. I have 2 accounts: savings and payroll both of which from UnionBank. I also have a BPI card to receive some payments and that’s just it. What I do is that everytime my employer sends me money on the payroll account, I go to my bank app on my phone and transfer 80% of it to my savings account. I literally cut my savings card so I cannot withdraw my money in it. Stupid but it works. LOL.

• No credit cards

I don’t have a credit card and neither do I plan to have one anytime soon. I am not a financial guru but I highly discourage spending money that you do not have yet. It feels good to spend your money that is already there instead of enjoying things and having it become a burden after. I’m really not a fan of interest, as well. So please! As much as you possibly can, AVOID CREDIT CARDS!

• Have a sideline

Or a raket, or a gig, or whatever you call that! Being an employee surely pays the bill but let us not kid ourselves and let us admit that traveling is a privilege. You cannot travel when you do not have money so use all your resources to have extra money. I don’t encourage people to spend all their life savings just to travel. Coming back from my Eurotrip, I am happy that I am not yet completely broke and there is still enough saving for me and my family. Find a sideline or a part time job where you are good at! I love selling so I still sell cosmetics and women’s stuff every now and then. At one point, I earned six-digit just by doing this. Start small then work your way up. It doesn’t matter if you are not earning that much with your other job but what’s important is you’re consistent and you have a steady flow of income.

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• Know your worth

I’m talking salary-wise. When I graduated college, I have already been working for years so I know that my skills and experience combined is worth more than just having a minimum salary. I’m not arrogant and I know that as a fresh grad, I have to start at the bottom but I know how to fight for my value and negotiate my salary. My savings is 70% salary and 30% from other businesses so salary is really important if you want to save. Whether you are an employee/freelancer/business person, you have to ask for what you deserve. Charge higher when you know you are selling a product that has a higher quality than your competitors. This ain’t a charity, honey and aside from hustling, you have to think!

• Bring some packed food

When I was in college, I would always bring packed food because my father’s cooking is the best and I love how much I could save. I remember my first week on my first job, my colleagues already started a month before me because I was busy with my thesis thus, I joined them a month after. I had no friends but I still eat with them in the pantry and would devour on my baon. My baon that day was bangus with tomatoes and I can still vividly remember how my colleague looked at my food with disgust while she’s eating her Shakey’s takeout LOL. It was funny and even after that, I would still bring my okra and bagoong packed lunch. HAHAHA she’s a friend now and we already talked about this incident. So yep, bring packed lunch and just microwave it. It’s cleaner, cheaper, and it’s made with love!

• Learn how to love commuting

I love commuting! I swear! Having a car is probably the second last thing on my mind (first one is having a kid) and it’s because I love to commute! MRT, LRT, jeeps, FX, name it! I love it! I’m weird, right? Fun fact: I only tried riding a cab myself around 5x my whole life. I just don’t get the point! It’s like 5x more expensive than jeep and most of the time, you can get there faster using public transpo. Yes, it’s icky and people don’t smell good but suck it in because you will save  a lot when you stop hailing cab everyday just to go 5 blocks down the street.

• Be a cheapskate

…but not that hardcore cheapskate you see on TV where they reuse toilet paper (gross but there’s really an Extreme Cheapskate episode about that!). Be a cheapskate that you don’t treat “friends” just for them to like you or you don’t really need to volunteer paying someone else’s fare when you see them in the same jeepney as you. People know me as a cheapskate and #noshame because they know that I value money. When someone owes me PHP 305.50 gurl better be sure you give me that 5.50 or I’ll put you on my kill list like Arya. LOL. I know there are also some guys who read my blog and if you are courting a girl, stop buying her dinner every single time. It’s not needed! Can’t she freaking pay her own bill? You could save thousands by splitting the bill, my boy.

• Know the value of money

Many people will say that love of money will always be a bad thing. I love money and I am not ashamed. Money is not the root of all evil but it’s with your bad motives and bad spending habit that’s really the root of all evil in this world. I have lost a lot of friends because of money and it’s for the better. I lend money to help them but when it’s time to pay, suddenly, I’m the bad guy. Money will make you happy, trust me. It will not be the be-all and end-all of things but it certainly can make your life better. If you know the value of every single cent you earn, you will be wiser in spending it and you will also learn how to value every drop of sweat it took to earn that amount. Never be ashamed that money is a big deal to you because it is to everyone and it makes the world go round.

Happy saving and wishing you the best on your travels!