A psychological approach to funding your travel dreams

LET’S face it — planning a holiday can feel like a daunting task, especially when your budget seems tighter than your jeans after a festive feast.

- ZAMANDOSI CELE

With the rising cost of living, many of us are left dreaming of sandy beaches and mountain hikes while scrolling through social media, watching our friends explore the world and asking: how do they do it?

Your bills are piling up and the high cost of petrol casts long shadows over road trip plans and your dream holiday feels forever out of reach.

The reality check

A recent conversation with a friend abroad reminded me of this sad reality when she extended an irresistible invitation to her bridal party in Thailand.

The excitement bubbled up as I heard her enthusiasm over the phone but as soon as I hung up, reality set in.

I started browsing for flight prices and my heart sank.

R20 000 just for flights?

Who has that kind of cash lying around?

Can I really save enough in six months?

While I contemplated dipping into my stokvel savings, a little voice in my head urged caution.

Surely I can’t be the only one grappling with the high cost of travel.

If you're like most of us, you might feel tempted to decline the invitation and stick to your staycation plans.

But what if I told you that your dream holiday is more attainable than you think?

With a sprinkle of creativity and a dash of discipline, you can turn those travel dreams into reality without breaking the bank.

To tackle this growing concern, I turned to Sonja Steyn, the strategic head of wealth management, financial planning and advice at Momentum.