impulsive
pull back
indulge
make room
stick to
live outside of my means
side hustle
splurge
disposable income
shop around
Last year, I spent weeks traveling through Portugal, Japan, and Mexico. I generally love exploring new places, but I also know that if I don’t plan carefully, my trip can become a financial mess.Before I booked anything, I calculated my monthly
— the money left after rent, bills, and other essentials — to see what I could realistically spend on travel. I also took a small
(in addition to my main job) for two months, so I could travel without stress.Once I arrived in Lisbon, I promised myself to
budget. Still, it was so tempting to
in getting some cute stuff and experiences, especially when I saw rooftop restaurants with ocean views! To avoid
decisions, I tried to
more (compare prices and options) before buying tours rm the guys off the street. For example, in Japan I checked several rail-pass combinations and local train fares before choosing what was actually worth it.In Kyoto, I have to say I did
on a beautiful matcha set (it was worth more than my entire mug collection at home!). Normally, I wouldn’t do that — but I had planned one special purchase from Japan, so I didn’t feel that guilty. The key difference here was my intention: I wasn’t trying to
(spend more than I can afford and pretend it’s fine). Instead, I had already decided to
for something meaningful- by eating not so fancy meals on other days, for example!While traveling through these countries, I also decided to
on taxis, and I walked more instead. That decision actually improved the trip: I discovered quiet streets in Porto, small bakeries in Tokyo, and local markets in Oaxaca — all without blowing my budget.In the end, I learned that traveling abroad doesn’t mean never enjoying yourself. It means choosing what matters, planning realistically, and spending in a way that supports both your trip and your peace. ❤️