Why 'I can't afford it' doesn't wash with me.

I Can’t Afford It

One of the biggest barriers people put between themselves and what they want is “I can’t afford it.” This applies to anything - travelling, buying a house, a car, getting married. The reality is, most working people can afford what they put their minds to, but they have to be willing to make some sacrifices.

The world has changed a lot since I bought my first house, but even back then, I struggled. I worked three jobs just to pay the bills: my full-time gig as a shift manager at a high street burger joint (gruelling, long, unsociable hours and badly paid), a Sunday job in my dad’s shop also badly paid, and evenings in a double glazing call centre - soul destroying. Was it fun? Hell no. I could seldom afford treats, and even if I wanted a night out, I was probably working or catching up on sleep!

But was it worth it? Absolutely. Buying a house so young is part of what allowed me to retire early, despite never having a high-paid job. I learned early on the value of money and how hard I had to work for it. Even now, I rarely splurge.

The Instant Gratification Trap

Today, we live in an on-demand society where we’re conditioned to believe we should have it all right now. But that mentality keeps you trapped in a cycle of working 9-5 just to scrape by, with regular “treats” to make life more bearable.

Sure, instant gratification is nice. But you know what’s better? Watching your savings grow and seeing your dream become a reality. You don’t have to sacrifice everything - just a little discipline can make a huge difference.

Start with Smart Saving

First, open a high-interest savings account. I personally rate Nationwide and Chip (at time of writing):

• Nationwide Their Flex Regular Saver: 6.5% interest, plus potential bonuses (I got a £100 bonus last year and £50 so far this year after their Virgin Money takeover!). You can only save £200 per month but if you have extra you can save that elsewhere.

• Chip Their Cash ISA: 4.32% AER, and their instant access account pays 3.5%. With my referral link, you can get an extra 1% interest for 90 days if you deposit £1,000.

Choose an account where it’s not too easy to withdraw money unless you’re a disciplined saver. Now, let’s look at where you can make easy savings.

Simple Ways to Save Money (Without Missing Out!)

🍵 Cut Back on Takeaway Coffees

• The average Brit buys 3 takeaway coffees per week at £3.40 each.

• Reduce this to once a week and save £530 per year.

🍽️ Reduce Takeaways

• Brits spend an average of £43 per week on food delivery apps.

• Cut this in half and save £1,118 per year.

🍞 Meal Prep Instead of Buying Lunch

• If you buy lunch daily, it costs around £6 per day.

• Prepping lunch 3 days a week saves you £18 per week = £936 per year.

🎉 Reduce Nights Out

• A night out now costs around £80.

• If you go weekly, that’s over £4,000 per year.

• Cut it in half and save £2,000+!

🏋️ Cancel an Unused Gym Membership

• The average gym membership costs £40 per month.

• 67% of members barely use their gym or go less than once per week!

• Cancel and save £480 per year.

💼 Shop with a List

• Impulse buys and food waste add up to £10 per week.

• Sticking to a list saves £520 per year and is better for the environment.

🏡 Rent Out a Room

• If you own a home, you can rent a furnished room tax-free up to £7,500 per year.

• That’s £144 per week tax-free income!

• If you rent out a room for £120 per week, that’s £6,240 per year.

The Bigger Picture

Without rental income, these simple changes can save you £5,584 per year. With rental income, you’re looking at £11,824 saved in a year. Add interest on top, and you’ve built a solid travel fund with minimal hardship!

It doesn’t stop there. Once you develop a saver mindset, it becomes easy to trim the fat elsewhere - fewer hairdresser visits, DIY manicures, shopping second-hand. If you start a side hustle that you can do remotely, you’re setting yourself up for financial freedom on the road.

How Much Do You Actually Need to Travel?

Would you believe me if I told you our annual budget is £12,000? That includes our winter marina costs (£2,000-£3,000). We know people who live even more frugally. Travel doesn’t have to be expensive - it just requires smart spending.

If you can work while travelling (and you;re welcome to ask me how), your savings will go even further. So next time you say, “I can’t afford it,” ask yourself - actually, can you?