Can you afford it?
When I was planning my trip to America I felt like a bit of a spendthrift. I mean, how many ordinary people get to go to the USA, and especially at this point in time when so many are struggling to make ends meet? It seems somehow less extravagant to say ‘I’m going to Turkey’, but I guess that’s because we are part of Europe and it’s ‘just next door’.
The reality is that the flight to the USA was very reasonable, and having checked again and again they seem to be pretty much the same, month in, month out. The actual cost, including insurance and taxes, was way less than £500 – and I have spent that on a package trip to Barcelona before now.
Of course that wasn’t the only cost, and I managed to barter some freebies to make it affordable for me. I have a friend who does not have a car currently. I offered her the use of my car for the three weeks I was away if she could take me to and from the airport. I saved the parking fees and she paid the petrol in return for the car loan. She was over the moon with the deal!
I bartered accomodation in the USA with an American friend who has just had her return visit here. Staying with someone severely cuts the costs. All the stories you hear about everything being very much cheaper in the USA is entirely true – we ate our main meal out most days and paid less than $5 in many of the cases, and never more than $10. I didn’t take very much spending money, less than £200 for the three weeks. My spending money came from not drinking lattes out every day before I went! Every time I didn’t have one I saved the money in a pot. And I made sandwiches at home for lunches instead of buying one from the deli. Another large saving.
It’s the same with everything in life. We can just assume we can’t afford it, or we can work to make it happen, compromising where we can, bartering and sharing. Remember that in your Internet business too. Use free information where you can, join a good quality membership site for a small monthly fee and download as much content and tutoring as you need.
I use Keith Alston’s Resale Rights for You as I find his content very good value and there is so much choice. He is always very willing to help you out and will add content requested if there is something in particular you require. Pop over and have a look, and remember, work to make your dreams happen – you can do it!
Enjoy the journey.
More From mandyallen
Hi Mandy,
You know i feel expense isn`t expense if you spend your money on the right things in life and don`t get into debt doing it, and as you pointed out i think in business, you have to be that bit more reserved with your cashflow in order to stay in business!
As for Keiths membership site i am in the near future going to join up, i just cancelled my membership with resale rights fortune, as i found quite a lot of their material outdated or files would be missing from the downloads, anyway i hope you are well Mandy?
Ed.
Hi Ed, yes, being frugal is a good way forward, but not to cut out the things you really need to make it happen, that’s the key.
Enjoy the journey.
Mandy
Hi Mandy
Totally agree with you. Abundance starts with a state of mind. From a slight shift in perspective that, which, we at times think is non attainable can very easily be ours.
Currently, myself, rather than scrimping for bed & breakfasts stays in my mini weekend holidays, I found out that for reasonably the same price per night, I can rent 2 bed apartments, with kitchen, living room, satellite, DVD player, pool, etc. This coming Bank holiday, for example, I found a place in South Devon with all of the above for just £50 per night. It just took a slight shift in perspective and look outside the box. Granted, I will have to cook my own breakfast. But, hey I enjoy the freedom.
Like Tim Ferris in his great book The 4 – Hour Workweek asks “How has being “realistic” … kept you from the life you want?”
Realistic by whose means? I ask.
All the best.
Keep your post coming.
Cris
Hi Cris, thanks for your comments. Yes, I agree about our state of mind and how we can manifest the things we want. Thanks for visiting.
Enjoy the journey.
Mandy
Hello Mandy,
Another great post and a must read for everyone, not just people involved in internet marketing. I’m actually just addressing my own excessive spending and lack of accounting. I used excuses of being so busy but one reason I’ve been so busy is because I’ve been spending too much, both in my business and personal life, and had to spend a lot of time juggling things to make ends meet (and mostly failing) and eventually came to the realisation I just had to get on top of things. Many, many people get into a rut with spending more than they can afford, and I think you demonstrated with your post how you can think things through and afford the things you really want to do by a little thought and willpower. Its not always easy but then you appreciate the good things in life more if they take a little effort to achieve.
I bet you’re cutting out the latte’s already in order to get out to the states again soon, great country.
Cheers
Dave
Hi Dave, yes indeed, a second visit is planned for September and I can save a heck of a lot with those and home made cheese sarnies!
Enjoy the journey.
Mandy
This is a great post, I stumbled across your article while looking for music lyrics. Thanks for sharing, I’ll be sure to come back.
Thanks for your comment, Lyndsley.
Enjoy the journey.
Mandy
Hi Mandy,
Yes I finally get to comment on you page. This afternoon when I brought up foxfire it did an automatic update and ta-dah it worked. My IE is not working to get to your site yet and I looked for update, but there are none. So, I can’t figure that out.
This a very relative post with the economy and all. The reason that things are cheaper in the states is actually a couple things. First there are a bunch of people here and the overall cost to chain stores buying things is cheaper and they can sell for less. The second is because your taxes in Europe are so high, also in Canada. Those are your good old socialist governments with VAT and Health Care.
But you’d better get back here soon because our Democrat Progressives are in power at this time and have pushed Health Care through even though 72% of Americans did not want it. We get to pay in for four years before it is available….how is that for creative financing. There is also talk of a VAT tax so all cost will go up if it actual passes.
Your being frugal to save for your spending money was great. So many people now a days just use that plastic. Lynne and I are getting away from that bad habit and are pushing to pay off all of our bills and operate with cash when Lynne retires. All we have to do is have the cash before we buy something.
Hope to get to actually meet you on your next visit. The location you were at is around 21 or 22 hours drive from where we live right now, but only a few hours from our place in Arkansas.
Thanks for the post and listening to me gripe.
Jay
Hi Jay, thanks for persevering! I too would love to meet up when I come over in September. Let me know where you will be living by then.
Enjoy the journey.
Mandy
Hi Mandy…Great post about a common worldwide problem with finances. I gave up credit cards years ago and use cash or debit cards. I am feeling a lot freer than any of my sisters and most of my friends.
Being able to buy whatever new gadget you think you cannot live without or your kids really, really want, is a disastrous habit that is bringing down a lot of people in the USA and probably all over the world.
I realize that worldwide cycles that seem like disasters are common, but overspending and running up bills you cannot afford to pay just to get some new “virtual toys” you can live without is very destructive to budgets and family values.
That’s my American opinion on a serious subject. Your gentle discussion about saving for your trip might just stimulate new attitudes here and there. Good job!
Pat
Hi Pat, nice to see you here again. Sadly I still have credit cards, but like Jay and Lynne am trying to pay them off and give them up!
Enjoy the journey.
Mandy
Hi Mandy,
It is so easy to spend on what really are unessential items, in today’s throw away society. That’s the reason so many people are locked in debt, they have a “must have” attitude, no matter whether they can afford it or not.
With a little thought and research you can do most things you want for a reasonable cost.
Regards,
Bill
Hi Bill, yes, I agree, there are ways to achieve our dreams if we look hard enough.
Enjoy the journey.
Mandy
Hi Mandy,
In answer to your title I say, “yes!” It’s a matter of what you’re working towards, then reallocating funds and being creative. Sounds like things are lining up for your visit in September — how exciting.
I continue to “work to make my dreams happen.” Thank you for the encouragement
Hi Kim, thank you for visiting. Glad to hear you not only have dreams but believe in your ability to create them for yourself. It is a great achievement to accomplish a dream, be proud.
Enjoy the journey.
Mandy
Hi Mandy,
It’s okay to treat ourselves every once in a while. Remember, all work & no play makes Mandy a dull little girl.
I’m glad you enjoyed yourself & was able to negotiate such great deals.
Best regards,
George Nieves
Hi George, thanks for visiting. Yes, we can all seal those deals if we try hard enough and know it can happen!
Enjoy the journey.
Mandy
Hi Mandy, One of my key motivators to succeed online is simply to travel anywhere I’ve a mind to go. So far I’ve traveled the reaches of cyber-space from my desk and one day I’ll see a blue ocean before me instead of this screen. I just hope that I’m still alive when it happens.
Thanks for the link to Keith’s cool RR membership. I loved the Animoto video. Steve D.
Hi Steve, thanks for visiting. Yes, the thought of being able to do what we want to is indeed a great motivator! I’m certain you will get where you want to be much sooner than you think!
Enjoy the journey.
Mandy
Hi Mandy, I’m so pleased that you had a good time. I’d like to do the same one day but health issues make it rather difficult at the moment, not only that but my wife makes me eat her sandwiches every day as it is ha ha.
As you know i’m still playing catch up, but i do intend to look into Keith’s resale site. I know what an excellent fella he is and can be sure that he has created the site with the same ethos.
Respect and Regards to you Mandy
Barry
Keep eating those sarnies, Barry, they’re saving you money! And Keith’s site is really great.
Enjoy the journey.
Mandy
Hi Mandy!
So where did y’all eat?? Less than 5.00? Goodness I can’t even get a half a lunch for that! Maybe it’s because I am in Southern Cali. I know things are way expensive out here.
We’ve been living on cash for a few years now. We had to cut back the spending, but it’s well worth it!
So glad you got to come spend time in the US. And Jay has it right, ya better get back here quick!!
Take care!!
Lisa~
P.S. Someday I would love to cross the pond and see how y’all are doing!!
Hi Lisa, yes, my friend hails from California and said how very expensive it is there. Ok was very low cost, seriously. I’ll be back in September, and if you make it over here give me a shout!
Enjoy the journey.
Mandy
Hi Mandy,
I can totally relate to your blog post here. I am glad you had a good friend to take you to the airport and I hope your car was in one piece when you got back (lol). My wife and I have always looked for ways of doing things like vacations on the cheap. If you are able to be a little creative it is amazing what you can do for very little money.
We also would like to take a trip to your part of the world someday in the hopefully near future, but only if you can hook us up with a place to stay, cheap transportation, etc… OK, I had better stop before I wear out my welcome before I have even arrived!
Take care,
Mark
Hi Mark, nice to see you. It’s interesting you saying about ‘arranging’ your holiday basics for you as I am currently working on a project that partially involved doing just that for people! You would love England, I am sure. There is so much to see here. If Norfolk is on your list of ‘must see’ places give me a shout, there ‘s always a warm welcome for friends.
Enjoy the journey.
Mandy
Funny, I live here in the US, and I never have seen an article with someone explaining their trip here before. I always see people posting about wanting to go to Jamaica or something. Did you see anything while you were here?
Brandon Connell recently posted..Someone stomped my raviolis
Hi Brandon, thanks for visiting. I stayed in the Ozark Mountains for a while and loved the area, I visited the Wichita mountains and the Indian reserve museum there, went to Meers Store, but didn’t do any traditional ‘sights’ I guess. In September I return for a month and the plan is to drive from Oklahoma to Las Vegas, seeing the Grand Canyon, Hoover Dam, the Petroglyphs and anything else we might find along the way. The USA is a great place to explore!
Enjoy the journey.
Mandy
I love travelling, but its definitely expensive. I’d imagine that its a little easier coming from Europe to the U.S. since the Euro has a good conversion rate right now.
Hi Laura, thanks for visiting. Yes, the euro is probably a muh better bet right now!
Enjoy the journey.
Mandy