When I turned 20, traveling was a faraway dream that seemed impossible, made worse by the start of social media platforms like Instagram, where I would constantly watch other people live my dream. I was working at the Midwest department store Meijer making $7.40/hour. The only person I knew who traveled was my aunt, who sent me postcards from her trips throughout my childhood.

I grew up in a small rural town in mid-Michigan with a population of about 2,000 people. Half of our community were lake houses from 'rich' families from down south, while the locals struggled with education, addiction, petty theft, and just about everything else. There were no suburban-lined streets, just cracks in the pavement from broken hopes and dreams. My parents had recently divorced, filed for bankruptcy, and lost our house. My mom was living in and out of sketchy motels between arrests, and my dad had moved in with my 85-year-old grandparents to help with their care. We were all trying our best, but a life outside the walls of a small town is hard to climb.

Fast forward to today, I'm 31. I've got 49 countries and 50+ countries under my belt. When people tell me they wish they could do what I do, I want to shake them and scream,"JUST F*CKING DO IT." Because truly, if I did it, you can, too.

Sure, travel is my job now. But ages 21-28, I traveled all over the country and world with nothing more than determination and a few hundred dollars at a time.

If you're like I was, a young 20-something with dreams of a wider world, this blog is for you. You can do it. It just takes a little bit of courage.

How to Travel in Your 20s

1. Prioritize Travel in Your Budget

If you want to travel, treat it like a bill. Even if it’s just $20 a week, consistently setting money aside makes spontaneous getaways much more realistic. Open a separate travel savings account and name it something exciting (like “Summer Iceland Fund” or “Escape the 9–5 Trip”) to stay motivated. I use an app called Oportun, which tracks your bank account and expected bill pay dates, and pulls a sum out of your checking every day into a savings fund. Sometimes it's as little as twenty cents, but every day matters. If you bank account is low, it won't pull any money.

Even if you are making minimum wage, there are ways to cut back on your expenses and save. Next time a friend asks you out for drinks, think to yourself...do I want to spend the money on drinks now or would I rather save it for drinks on a patio in Italy? The choice is yours.

Here are a few of my money budget rules when saving for travel:

• Only one subscription streaming service at a time (Netflix, Peacock, Hulu, etc.)
• Limit eating out to twice/month
• Lattes are expensive. Switch to Americano with cream. Just think, cappuccinos in Europe are cheaper AND better
• Track monthly spending on a excel sheet
• Groceries no more than $50/week per person
• When eating out, no alcoholic drinks, appetizers, or desserts
• Cancel delivery apps. No Doordash, etc.

I know... it doesn't sound fun. I didn't say this was easy!

2. Be Flexible with Destinations and Dates

Want to find ridiculously cheap flights or lodging? Flexibility is your best friend. Instead of choosing a destination first, search for deals and let them guide your plans. My first solo trip was to Hawaii at 21 when I found a $380 round-trip plane ticket. I slept on someone's couch and someone else's porch while I was there. The entire vacation was roughly $500 for one week.

I've flown to Iceland for $300, Colombia for $380, and Europe for $240. I never spent more than $680 on a round-trip plane ticket anywhere in the world for my first 10 years of traveling. Deals are out there...find them and book them! ALL flights are fully refundable for the first 24 hours. Book it, and cancel it later if needed.

3. Embrace Road Trips & Local Adventures

You don’t have to fly across the world to have an epic travel experience. This travel blog started mainly as a Michigan-based travel blog, showcasing things to do/see around the Great Lakes. I was probably the least qualified person to start a travel blog when Shalee Wanders launched in 2014...let's call it manifesting. At the time, I was only traveling around the Great Lakes, which for me was still a big deal. Travel doesn't have to be across the world, throw your tent in the back of your car and find a free campsite for the weekend.

4. Learn How to Travel Hack

Learning to travel hack was my golden ticket. There are two types of travelers in this world:

"I can go anywhere in the world for $2,000."

"I can't go anywhere in the world for $2,00.0"

The latter are lazy travelers. And it's TOTALLY okay to be one of those...if you have the budget. I can be a lazy traveler these days because I can afford to be. But when you are on a budget in your 20s, many times you can't.

Travel hacking is the act of finding insanely discounted deals & flights, and also learning to earn points & miles for hotels and flights without spending money.

When I first started traveling in my 20s, I booked with budget airlines and through budget third-party platforms like Skyscanner & Kayak. I couldn't have been more WRONG. The key to travel hacking is:

1. Be loyal to a SINGLE airline. If you are in the states, look at which airline most frequently flies out of your closest airport. You'll want to choose either United, Delta, or American Airlines (I am with United)
2. Get the airline credit card, which helps you earn status and miles faster. ONLY do this if you can handle a credit card. Airline credit cards have extremely high interest rates. So do NOT get one unless you can handle one.

It might be hard to commit to in the beginning, with Spirit Airlines having a ticket that is $50 less than your airline ticket, but trust me. Loyalty pays off in the long run. I'm flying back from Kenya in a few weeks on business class with United, which costs me $0 since I used my PlusPoints. I get 8 free checked bags with them, free first class upgrades on domestic flights, and never have to pay for seating for myself and anyone under my reservation. I haven't had to pay for a checked bag or seat in over 5 years.

Plus, when you look at budget airlines, sure, they might be $100 cheaper, but add in the $30 bag fee each way and seat selection cost, and boom, pretty soon the budget airline turned out to be more expensive. That's how they get you!

5. Stay for Free (Yes, Really)

There are creative ways to cut your biggest travel expense—accommodation. Consider:

• Couchsurfing (free stays with locals) - I've done this dozens of times, and couchsurfing was fairly popular ten years ago. It still exists but I think the popularity has gone down. I hope to see it gain traction again!

• TrustedHousesitters (free lodging in exchange for pet/house sitting)

• Work exchanges through platforms like Workaway or WWOOF

• Volunteering for hostels or nonprofits in exchange for a bed

6. Choose Budget-Friendly Destinations

Some destinations will drain your wallet. Others will stretch your dollar. Places like Central America, Eastern Europe, Southeast Asia, and parts of the U.S. Midwest or South can offer rich experiences for a fraction of the cost of places like Paris or Iceland.

Do your research on daily costs (food, transport, activities) before booking a trip.

7. Work Multiple Jobs

I worked 2-3 jobs through college and most of the 20s, and it was the ONLY reason I could afford to travel. One job would pay my bills, and the other job was my travel fund. In addition to those jobs, this blog was my side hustle on nights and weekends. I knew one day it would be my ticket to a full-time travel job, but when you don't have the means or funds to quit a full-time job and make it happen, you have to work harder for it. It sucks, but it's the truth. There are a lot of people in this industry who got here by having a s/o who made enough to support their quest as a blogger. Some of us don't have that option, but you sure as hell can still make it happen! You can't let excuses win.

When it comes down to traveling in your 20s on you'd budget you have to be two things: motivated and disciplined. If you don't have the drive to hustle and make it happen...it never will.

8. Say No to Debt—Yes to Smart Spending

It’s tempting to swipe your way through travel, but avoid high-interest debt just to get on a plane. Instead:

• Travel off-season. NEVER go to Italy in July or Mexico in March.

• Cook your own meals. It's really fun to explore local supermarkets!

• Use public transport. Metro and buses are your best friends.

• Look for free walking tours and city passes. Almost all major cities offer free walking tours (just bring a tip for the guide!)

• Enjoy outdoor activities like hiking.

You can still have an amazing time without constantly reaching for your wallet.

9. Work Remotely or Travel Hack with PTO

If you’re lucky enough to have a remote or hybrid job, take advantage of the flexibility by working from new places. I can't tell you how many people I know that work remotely and say "I wish I could do what you do" and I want scream at the top of my lungs out of frustration. If you have a remote job, you have the perfect setup already. Just fucking book the ticket.

Even if you have a traditional job, learn to travel hack your PTO by pairing weekends with holidays or taking red-eye flights. Don’t wait for the perfect time—just start squeezing in short trips whenever you can. When I started traveling, I'd be in Kentucky at 8pm and have work the next day at 8am. Some twenty-somethings stay up until 4am at the bars, while others stay up until 4am driving back from random weekend trips.

How to Travel in Your 20s

So when it comes to traveling in your 20s, you need to do these things:

1. Ignore everyone that says you can't
2. Book the damn plane ticket
3. Be smart with your money
4. Let people call you crazy

When I was in my 20s with big dreams and a tight wallet, everyone in my life thought I was crazy. I was told "you can't travel until retirement" by an annoying amount of people. Now, those same people are constantly telling me how proud they are of me. I say it was easy...it just took a lot of dreaming and a little bit of courage.

Do it. Book the flight.

More of my best travel budget blogs: 

How to Book Cheap Flights

Are Airline Credit Cards Worth It?

United Airlines vs American Airlines vs Delta Airlines Mileage Programs

How to Make Money While Traveling