Saving up enough for a great trip or to go traveling can seem like a daunting goal, but there are actually some easy ways to achieve your saving goals almost without breaking a sweat.

1. Get a job in hospitality

A great way to make money while traveling as well as for saving up beforehand, getting a job in hospitality offers flexible hours, low commitment, and of course – tips. Although bar and waiter jobs rarely pay top dollar, it’s always easy to pick up extra hours and it’s also a great area to gain experience and expertise in before you go because it makes it easier to pick up a bar job when you’re actually traveling. It’s also not a high-commitment role and usually doesn’t have a long notice period, so once you’ve saved up enough for your trip it’s not difficult to simply quit and leave. Finally, you’ll meet a lot of people doing a similar thing so you might even make some friends.

2. Freelance work

This is an especially good option if you need to work around an existing job or need to work from home while you’re saving. There are plenty of great freelancing websites out there – Upwork is a great option if you’re good at writing or web design, while sites like PeoplePerHour are great for more varied job options.

3. Cook your own food

It might feel like a drag and it might seem like a small saving each time, but you’d be surprised how much money you can save just by forgoing those trusty takeaways in favor of home-cooked food. Similarly, invest in a reusable coffee cup and stop buying your morning caffeine out every day. Say a coffee costs $3.50 every morning, you’ll end up saving $17.50 a week, which adds up quickly, and the savings are even bigger if you opt for packed lunches and nights in.

4. Sell unwanted clothes and furniture

Especially if you’re planning a long-term trip, you won’t be able to take much with you and it makes you think about what clothes and items you really still want or need. Take the opportunity to thin out your wardrobe and room, take the most aesthetic pictures of the things you want to get rid of, and pop them up on Facebook Marketplace, vinted or DePop – or just sell them to friends and family.

Saving up enough money to travel almost always takes longer than you expect, but if you’re stuck for ideas try these tips and you’ll get there (almost) before you know it.