5 Hacks To Saving For Last-Minute Travel

Closet Purge

One of the quickest ways to make money is by doing a closet purge. Be honest with yourself about whether you'll really ever rewear that dress you bought five years ago. If the answer is "probably not," put it in a pile with other gently used clothes that are taking up valuable closet space. Trade them in for cash at your nearest consignment shop. My favorites are Plato's Closet and Clothing Mentor. These stores give you money on the spot, rather than issuing payment after your items sale. Last month, I made nearly $400 by getting rid of a ton of clothes I no longer use. That goes a long way toward a vacation fund.

Bonus tip: If you're really ambitious, you could host a virtual garage sale by posting home décor, appliances, and electronics to sites like craigslist.com. Items generally go quick and the profit adds up more than you might think.

Savings Apps

Savings apps are a painless way to pile up money toward a trip. Thus far, the Acorns app has funded two of my trips. It rounds up spare change, invests money in $5 increments into a portfolio, and can be configured to make automatic deposits into a special savings account on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis. You'd be surprised how much you can save in a month or two with this app.

Digit is also a great app for saving. It uses algorithms to determine your bank deposits and spending habits. From this information, the app makes small withdrawals you "won't notice." The app only withdraws when it sees that you have it to spare, and offers a no overdraft guarantee to customers. I like that Digit lets you customize goals within the app to help you save for things like rent, bills, or vacations.

Work Your Hobby

Have a hobby that you love? Monetize it to make extra money for vacation. Sites like Etsy make it easy for creatives to design and sell unique items on the fly.

Even if you're not quite ready to take your talents to the web, pitching products and services to friends and loved ones will still earn you extra cash. My sister has an eye for fashion and loves organization. This translates into awesome opportunities for her to get paid to organize closets and other spaces throughout the home. Whether you enjoy cleaning, cooking, painting, or teaching, there's a way to monetize it. Nothing to it but to do it.

Freelance

Sites like Upwork make it easy to sign up for freelance gigs that translate into moola. Fortune 500 companies and small businesses alike use Upwork to hire talent for short-term tasks, recurring projects, and full-time contract work.

With over 100 freelancer categories, Upwork has work opportunities that match your skill set. Just sign up on the site, place bids for work, and watch the money pile up.

An alternative to Upwork is applying directly to companies for freelance opportunities in your perspective field. Think of brands that mesh well with your skill set, then apply to work with them through their site or by sending an email with a pitch. It might just result in an awesome side hustle you enjoy.

Drive

If you own a reliable vehicle, and meet a few other qualifications, you could be well on your way to being a Lyft driver. You'll love the flexibility of controlling when you work and how long you work. There's no limit on how much extra cash you could make by dedicating a few weekends to giving rides. Drivers are allowed to keep the entire amount of their tips and can work during peak hours for increased money. I'd say that's a win.