Face your fear and work out how much it is going to cost you to fund your gap year. We're talking food, accommodation, flights and all that.One thing to remember when you're working this out is that some Gap Year destinations cost more than others, so do a bit of research into the costs of the places you want to visit.
The Working Holiday
If you get yourself some paid work abroad, you don't need to save up as much money before you go. It can also seriously take the strain off your finances whilst you're travelling and help fund a gap year that's longer, better and filled with more of the things you want to do!
Budgeting
Doing little bits to save money here and there can make real difference to your money saving efforts, for example taking your lunch to work rather than buying it. You could also work out a monthly budget, giving yourself a certain amount of money to spend a week and putting the rest of the money in a separate saving account where you can't get at it!
Sponsorship/ Fundraising
If you plan to do volunteering on your trip then you can use sponsorship as a way to get the money together - you might be surprised at how willing people are to help you out:
- Ask your family, friends and work colleagues to sponsor you and to pass on the message to other people they think might sponsor you.
- Take part in a big event, such as a marathon or half marathon and get sponsored for that
- Sell cakes at work, get rid of your old stuff at a boot sale, wash cars and so on.
- Write a letter to your company's big boss to say what your doing and see if the company will sponsor you. Big companies like to get the good publicity that volunteering brings - it has been known in the past for them to double your final total.
The fundraising opportunities are endless, so get creative and you'll raise the cash you need to fund a gap year in no time! You'll soon been away chasing your dream.
