Things I Stopped Buying So I Could Travel More (And I Don’t Miss Them At All)

Your Wallet Reflects Your Priorities

I used to think I couldn’t afford to travel. It’s just so expensive. The plane tickets, accommodation, food, I just can’t afford it all. Maybe one day when I have more money and am more financially stable when I’m rich, when I have all my debt paid off and have fewer expenses. 

One day.

Then, one day, I looked around and realised my money was going places—just not to places I actually wanted to go. I was going over my budget and bank statements and realized I was spending so much money per week on smoking, on fast foods, on clothes, on rent, on things I didn’t need or want. I did some life reevaluating and realized “ I actually don’t want any of this shit. I want it because ‘people’ tell me it’ll make me happier, it’ll help me feel better, it’ll make me more grown up, and so many bad excuses. None of it actually helped the real course of my struggling mental health though. I was going through one of the worst times of my life, a recently single mum of 5 kids, including a small baby, and my life was falling apart. The worst part? I was in standby mode, watching it all crumble while my brain caught up to the shitstorm it just went through.

I needed to catch up both mentally and financially, and fast, or me and my kids were going to drown. 

I started with a full financial stocktake and an honest plan and goal list for what ‘I’ actually wanted out of life and what was best for my kids. 

After going over my budget and bank statements with a fine tooth comb, I learnt some things.

It was going to impulse buys. Fast fashion. App subscriptions I forgot I had. Fancy candles I never lit. That cute little wall decoration at the discount store down the road. Things that I couldn’t even remember buying

So I stopped. Not all at once, and not without the occasional slip-up (hello, stationery aisle). But I made a conscious choice: If it’s not helping me get closer to a boarding gate, it’s not worth it.

Here are the things I stopped buying to save money for travel—and no, I don’t miss them. Not when I’m watching my kids laugh in the ocean or waking up in a new city with a map and a coffee.

1. Trendy Clothes I Didn’t Love

I used to buy new clothes every time I felt bored, stressed, or like I “had nothing to wear.” It was a quick dopamine hit—a way to feel put-together, even if only for a moment. But the truth? Most of those outfits sat in my wardrobe, tags still on, or only worn once before I moved on to the next thing.

Now? I stick to pieces I love, wear often, and feel great in. I invest in quality over quantity, and I no longer buy clothes just for the sake of buying something new. I rewear outfits, remix my basics, and proudly wear the same dress in multiple photos—because those photos are about the memories, not the outfit.

Letting go of fast fashion habits freed up both space and cash—and honestly, travel looks way better on me than a cluttered wardrobe ever did.

No more buying into trends that only last a season. Travel photos look better with timeless pieces anyway—and let’s be real, no one cares what you’re wearing when you’re eating gelato in Rome.

2. App Subscriptions I Forgot Existed

You know the ones: the meditation app you used for two days. The premium photo filter. That kids game that charges $7.99/month to feed a virtual cat.

I did a full audit of my app store subscriptions and cut everything I wasn’t actively using. I now save over $40 a month from that alone.

Pro tip: Set a calendar reminder to review your subscriptions every 3 months. It adds up fast.

3. Convenience Snacks and Drinks

Buying a $4 drink here, a $3 snack there? It doesn’t feel like much, but when I tracked it, I was spending over $100/month on little things I didn’t need.

Now I bring snacks, make coffee at home, and save takeout for actual meals or planned treats.

That random iced latte loses its sparkle real quick when you compare it to sipping cocktails on a beach in Fiji.

4. Cheap Decor I Didn’t Need

I used to browse Kmart or Target for fun, and somehow I’d always come home with something: a new throw pillow, a seasonal candle, another storage basket for… things I never used.

Turns out, my house doesn’t need to be Pinterest-perfect to feel like home. I kept the pieces I love and stopped buying things just to fill space. That money? It’s now filling my travel fund instead.

No, if I want to bu8y something, it has to have an actual purpose and be something we actually need or will use. Today for example I plan on heading to Target for a new backpack to carry on. That is the only thing I am allowed to leave with. It is something I am needing before the weekend so it is a must at this stage. 

5. Toys My Kids Didn’t Ask For

This one stung a little at first. I used to grab toys or cheap treats “just because.” I wanted to give my kids joy in the moment, especially when I felt guilty for working long hours or stressed about everything else going on in our lives. It felt like a quick win—instant smiles, a temporary boost.

But over time, the toys piled up. Most were forgotten within days, tossed in a corner, or broken before the week was out. And what I realized is this:

They remember experiences, not stuff.

I still buy the kids presents, but now it’s only birthdays and Christmas with the exception of if they had a really bad day or a celebration. They are also getting older ( how do I have 3 teenagers) and are getting to the age where they understand they can either have a new PlayStation OR another trip to Melbourne, but they can’t have both. 

6. Fast Food Just Because I Was Tired

I’m not here to say I never eat takeout. I do. But I stopped using it as my default for exhaustion. Now I prepare simple stuff for busy nights, and when we do get takeout, it’s a treat—not a habit.

I also budget for it instead of letting impulse buying win as I know myself and know I will end up eating takeaway at some stage so instead of trying to fight with myself when I know I will lose, I just expect it for what it is and move on. 

Even two skipped UberEats nights a week adds up to $160/month. That’s a return flight if you’re smart with deals.

7. Impulse Buys (My Kryptonite)

I stopped going into stores just to browse—no more “just looking” strolls that turned into $80 impulse buys. I deleted shopping apps off my phone and avoided the middle aisles of stores where temptation loves to live.

I unsubscribed from tempting sales emails and even muted social media accounts that made me feel like I needed more “stuff” to keep up.

And I started asking myself one powerful question every time I picked something up: Would I rather have this… or more money for our trip?

When I framed my spending in terms of plane tickets, family memories, and ocean sunsets, the answer became a lot easier. And honestly? I don’t even remember the things I said no to—but I remember every adventure they helped fund.

Nine times out of ten, travel wins.

8. Rent Reality Check: I Moved to Save My Future

When the place I was renting was sold, the new owner doubled the rent almost overnight. $700 a week as a single mum? It just wasn’t possible.

So I made a decision that changed everything: I packed up and moved back home.

It wasn’t easy. It meant letting go of pride, adjusting routines, and leaning into long-term goals instead of short-term comfort. But that one choice slashed my living costs and gave me the breathing room to rebuild, save, and dream big again.

Sometimes, frugality isn’t just about skipping lattes. It’s about making bold, strategic choices that honor your bigger vision.

🚀 Final Thoughts: Freedom Is Worth More Than Stuff

Every dollar has a destination.

These little changes didn’t make me feel deprived. They made me feel in control.

Now I’m not saying you shouldn’t buy any of these things ever again, obviously, there will be times when you need some of these things, which is why I now budget for them instead of impulse buying. Knowing I have a fast food budget means I can buy dinner every now and again without the guilt because I know that I not only budgeted for it, but I’m still also saving towards my actual goals of travelling more with the kids. 

Because every candle I didn’t buy, every lunch I packed, every unnecessary thing I walked away from…

…brought me and my kids closer to a new experience, a new city, a new chapter.

Freedom > stuff. Always.

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