Prospective gappers start off with good intentions when it comes to budgeting and saving. But the more research you do into your trip, the more places you will dream of visiting, and the more activities you will want to experience. This inevitably requires more moola. Your gap year shouldn’t be about incurring debt before you’ve had your first vodka redbull at Freshers’ Week. Your mind should purely be open to having fun and amazing experiences, and not having to worry about paying for your next meal. The f-Team has therefore prepared a few tips and suggestions for you to save pennies and budget for your spectacular year!

1. Work - it’s a ‘means to an end’

You may be itching to fly off to your wow destination, but it may be worth working for a few months, particularly if you’re living at home and don’t have many living expenses to pay for. You might think that a few months’ pay isn’t going to make much difference, but £1000 or more might mean that you can afford to go away for longer, enjoy some more expensive experiences that you thought you weren’t going to be able to afford, or fit in another flight on your route. For instance, if your employer paid around £5 per hour, then working 37.5 (full time!) hours a week would give you approx. £140 per week after tax. Working for 6 months would give you £3400 minus your expenses over those months. There are plenty of employers who pay at least £5. Check out local supermarkets (some pay triple rate on bank holidays, and double on Sundays!), local call centres, banks, bars and restaurants, or cleaning companies if you don’t mind donning some marigolds. Also, temping agencies and your local jobcentre may have some longer term jobs which pay better and may provide some useful training!

2. Stop buying unnecessary things

£10 here and there might not seem extravagant, but when you think what that can buy you abroad, suddenly saving seems so much more worth it! Temptation to buy that new MP3 player or those fabulous Jimmy Choos may set in when you’re stuck in a job you hate (probably your first job too), trying to save for the trip of a lifetime that seems 10 years away when in fact its only 2 months. Such purchases seem so justifiable. Well they’re NOT! You can buy expensive material items at any time in your life. What you can’t do for the rest of your life is live in a hut on one of the world’s most idyllic beaches for a month, partying until the sun comes up, skydiving, safaris, protecting endangered species etc. Remember to put up posters on your wall, or a world map, to remind you that this is all worth it, and material items are not essential in your life right now! If the temptation is that strong, put a picture in your purse or wallet to remind you.

3. Create a budget

Yawn, you might think, but this is actually really important. It’s also great practice for university, your first graduate job, repaying student loans, and setting up a business. Once you get into it, managing and taking control of your finances can be fun and addictive. Gapyear.com have created a really useful money planner for anyone who feels a bit lost in the gappers’ financial jungle! Click on this link to view the money planner: http://www.gapyear.com/downloads/money_planner.pdf. Obviously, the budget you design will vary depending on where you are going, whether your accommodation is paid for, and the reasons why you are going abroad e.g. participating in a gap year scheme or independent travel with lots of partying.

4. Whistle while you work while you’re abroad!

That little word ‘work’ keeps popping up, but this could be a nice alternative to working before you go away. You will need to check whether a working visa is required by the country you are hoping to visit, but working whilst travelling is a great way to make new friends, gain a variety of work experience, and it means that you get to stay away for longer. Ask friends who may already be over there whether they know of any good employers, read books that specialise in working abroad…

5. Fundraising

If you opt to participate in a gap year scheme that helps communities or protects endangered species, then these organisations will give you lots of advice and support with fundraising. Projects vary in cost, but the average project costs around £3000. Alternatively, if you have decided to go it alone and travel on a round-the-world ticket with flexibility in mind, then it’s likely you’ll be on your own when it comes to raising the money. Here are some ideas to raise the cash:

• Car boot sales – post notes through neighbours’ doors asking for a bin bag full of old stuff that you can sell to raise money for your ‘educational’ tour of the world.
• Ebay – get crafty and make something to sell via your online store. Sell your second hand A level books online.
• Got a skill? Advertise private tuition in your local neighbourhood e.g. homework help for younger children, dance lessons, music lessons
• Babysitting
• Organise a themed night with a raffle – use all your contacts to get great prizes for free, and ask friends for favours e.g. wine connoisseurs can provide a mini wine tasting course, a magician can entertain the crowds, your friend who can really cook can provide the nibbles.