After being stuck inside for the better part of a year, tons of people are looking for their next getaway, but with the job market and economy on shaky ground finding a way to afford a vacation could seem harder than ever — that’s where we come in.

Rather than racking up interest trying to pay for a piece of paradise, or taking on a second job or side hustle, focus on finding ways to keep the money you already earn. I’ve got a few tips to help you save, and you’d be surprised how far these simple steps can take you.

Eat Your Own Food

This might sound obvious, but most people don’t ever stop to think about the amount of money they’re tossing out the door by ordering takeout day after day. Let’s run a hypothetical: 

Let’s say you eat McDonalds for lunch Monday through Friday (something quick and easy during the work week). Each day, you get the same struggle meal: a double cheeseburger, small fries, and a large drink (basically the cheapest meal you can get). That’s about $4.50 a day and $22.50 for the week — not to mention 4,100 calories for the week. If you keep this pattern up for three months, that’s $270 — and this is lunch on the cheap side. If you’re using a delivery app like DoorDash or Favor, you could easily be spending in the thousands in the same amount of time. That’s money that could be better used getting you on a plane. If you’re trying to save up for a vacation, eating at home just makes sense. You’re saving money, you’re eating cleaner, and best of all if you eat smart at home, you’ll be taking that vacation with bangin new bod. 

Make Your Own Coffee

I know, tough. This one should be fairly easy, given that Starbucks has shown us on multiple occasions that they’re not particularly concerned with the lives of Black people, but this is a pretty simple way to put back some cash to help cover some vacation costs. Best of all, this doesn’t mean that you have to miss out on your favorite cup of focus juice. Many mainstream coffee brands have their brew available in stores — oftentimes, priced less per cup. Keep in mind, this won’t be the piece of the puzzle that pays for the big parts of your vacation, but it can be the piece that pays for admission to an exciting attraction.

Stop the Streams

We’re past the days of cutting the cable, but all that did for most folks is kick the can down the road. Now, instead of paying one company $45 each month, you’re looking at paying for Netflix ($16), HBONow ($15), Hulu ($13), Amazon Prime ($13), and likely an additional $9.99 for one music streaming service or another. Trust me when I say that you can live without some of these for a while. Take some time and actually consider how much attention you give to each individual service. Is there something that’s worn out its welcome? Is there an option that offers discounts for bundling services? Trim the fat and put that money aside for some real entertainment.

Wear You Own Clothes

You’ve been in quarantine, and practically everything has been closed for most of the year — do you really need to buy new outfits? Probably not. Keep your coins and appreciate the ensemble you’ve amassed already. Chances are, you have clothes in your closet right now that you haven’t worn in ages. Has Marie Kondo taught you nothing?! Not only can you save money by not buying new clothes, you can also make money by selling the clothes you don’t like. If it makes you feel better, all of your outfits are new outfits to the people you’re bound to bump into on your next vacation.

Where are you planning to go for your next getaway? If you’re still looking for adventure ideas, check out some awesome destinations we’ve found, or consider taking a cruise.