Going on a trip is super exciting – but funding? Not so much. This is especially true if it’s a solo or group trip right out of high school or during college, when you probably don’t yet have a steady source of disposable income.
You don’t need to say goodbye to your life savings (or max out your credit cards!) to have a great time with your friends or explore your next destination. With a little extra prep, you can raise extra cash to fund the trip or take with you on the go.
Let’s take a closer look at a few ways to make money for a trip without investing too much time or effort, so you can have these tricks up your sleeve the next time you’re craving an adventure!
5 Easy Ways to Raise Money for Your Next Trip
The following suggestions are all excellent ways to help you save enough money for your next school trip or solo backpacking expedition. They’re optimal for short-term funding, but you can scale up your operation and carry them out as a side gig, too!
1. Shoe Drive Fundraiser
A shoe drive is a simple, effective way of fundraising for a trip. All you have to do is reach out to your community through flyers, social media, or word of mouth, gather the shoes in collection bags, and give Funds2Orgs a call to come pick them up. You’ll get paid based on the final weight of the shoes, and you get to give new, used and gently worn shoes in your community a new home. It’s a win-win!
One of the greatest things about a shoe drive is how quickly it can come together. If the date is fast approaching and you’re wondering how to make extra money for a trip on short notice, this is the method you should use.
2. Dog Walking
Walking your neighborhood dogs is a pretty simple way to make money for a trip. This kind of service is always in demand, and you’ll get a few thousand more steps in daily, which is a wonderful health bonus.
Just make sure to accept only the number of dogs you’re sure you can control and keep track of at each walking appointment, so you don’t get overwhelmed.
3. Tutor, Give Lessons, or Teach a Class
If you have a special skill or are studying something people would like to learn, like coding, for example, it’s worth it to check your local community center to see if they need tutors. These classes can be a great source of income, help you keep your knowledge fresh, and create a circle of like-minded individuals you otherwise wouldn’t have met.
Aside from putting yourself out there, there’s very little preparation you need to do for this gig, and you can continue with it after your trip, as well.
4. Classic Crowdfunding
There’s a good reason that crowdfunding sites like GoFundMe are still around – for some people, they work, and work well. Choose a platform with minimal to no fees to maximize your profit potential.
To make crowdfunding work, you’ll need an actual crowd. That means it’ll be important to boost your fundraiser through social media, word of mouth, and other marketing channels to get as much exposure as possible.
5. Upcycling Thrifted Fashion
This final way to raise money for a trip requires a little more involvement and elbow grease. You’ll need to follow these steps:
- Raid your local thrift store.
- Find good-quality items for cheap.
- Upcycle them using a sewing machine and your innovation.
- Sell them on second-hand fashion websites.
Just keep in mind that you’ll need to clean, iron, and mend many items. Also, shipping them will require careful handling and packaging, which could be time-consuming.
Why Shoe Drive Fundraisers Are the Way to Go
As you can see, among the simplest, most straightforward fundraising ideas. Shoe drives present the least amount of friction between you and your goals.
Aside from letting people know about the drive and gathering the shoes in collection bags, there’s not much else you need to do. But you can check out our guide on how to host the best shoe drive fundraiser ever. Go on, get some fun ideas that will maximize your yield!
You can count on Funds2Orgs to give you the best results for your effort. Moreover, you help provide inventory for many small entrepreneurs in developing countries who sell the shoes to earn a living. Win-win for everyone!
Fund Your Next Trip the Right Way!
Planning a trip when you don’t know how you’ll make enough money to afford it can be stressful. But it shouldn’t take the joy out of the experience. Even if you’re still a student or need a little extra help funding your trip, you can choose any combination of the methods we explored above to maximize your earnings without getting in the way of your current priorities.
Get started with a Funds2Orgs shoe drive today and get your ducks in a row for your next trip!
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