With fall break looming and Christmas fast approaching, dreams of traveling over break have begun. Ski trips and backpacking plans are what I’m hoping for during break, but as a student there’s always the concern of cost in the back of my mind.

Luckily, travel guru Matthew Kepnes, aka “Nomadic Matt,” has offered some advice for for traveling on limited resources in his blog post “The Ultimate Guide to Traveling When You Have No Money.” His constant reminder to those wishing to travel is: “You do not need to be rich to travel.”

Kepnes offers a variety of ideas for saving money to travel. However, first and foremost is that travel needs to be your first priority if it is going to be a reality. Many people find that they do not have “enough” to travel, but this will always be true if travel is not what you are primarily saving for.

Personally, I found saving for travel to be challenging; there will always be rent to pay, groceries to buy, etc. However, when you really make plans to travel and commit, it is much easier to save. For example, I traveled in Berlin for a month last summer, and I was very nervous about having enough money for the trip. The friend I went with and I both decided to buy our plane tickets as soon as we had the money; that way would be committed to the trip and have incentive to save. After that the saving was much simpler. Of course, it meant saying no to some extraneous and impulsive spending, but in the long run I didn’t even have to give up too many creature comforts.

Moreover, there are many ways to travel that are virtually free, and though they may seem intimidating, they are not impossible. One of these options is to work abroad. Though this may not be practical for a short trip over break, it has potential as a summer plan. You can find a list of suggested jobs in Kepnes’ blog post, as well as several websites for finding work abroad.

One of the most popular jobs abroad for Americans is teaching English, especially in Asian countries. Usually the only requirement is being fluent in English, though sometimes TESL certification is wanted. Kepnes noted that, “The world is yearning for teachers and this is a job in high demand — many companies in Asia will even pay for your flight over.”

Another great idea, if you have a credit card and can be responsible, is racking up miles on a card to earn free flights. Furthermore, if you’re looking to save on housing while traveling, couch surfing, hostels and house sitting can be great options. CouchSurfing.org is a group that connects travelers with locals who are willing to give them a bed for free. I know this can sound sketchy, but I’ve had friends who have tried it successfully and saved quite a bit of money.

Plus, if you have access to a kitchen, cooking your own meals can save a lot of money. Eating out is definitely an indulgence and part of the experience of traveling, but it doesn’t mean you have to for every meal.

These are just a few useful tips and tricks for traveling on a limited budget. Personally, I would highly recommend taking any opportunity you have to travel in college. It’s a great time to explore because you’re not tied to a job or to a certain location, and breaks during the year and in the summer present the perfect opportunity for trips.

I have studied abroad and traveled in Europe with friends, and the experiences I have had are priceless. Traveling, especially in foreign countries, can help you move outside your limits and learn about new languages and cultures. It can broaden your world view and your perspective.

I, for one, will definitely be planning trips for breaks. And Iowa State even offers a variety of trips in the states and abroad. You can check out some of these options with Study Abroad and Alternative Breaks. Why not get out and explore when you have the chance? If you want to travel, make it a priority and start planning.