Dreaming to travel the world one day? How would that even be possible, since many of us can barely afford one vacation per year? Well, it’s all about the planning. Check out this article for a few travel tips that don’t require breaking the bank.

When it comes to New Year’s Resolutions, a lot of people write down “travel more," but few of them manage to actually reach their goal. Months go by, other priorities arise, and they end up pushing it off until “someday when I have more money." They feel like traveling costs way too much and they’re not able to afford it. However, it doesn’t have to be like this. You don’t have to struggle to save enough so that you can take a two-week vacation to your dream destination. There are plenty of ways to enjoy traveling that don’t come with an intimidating price tag attached.

Traveling was always one of my greatest pleasures, but I didn’t get to enjoy it much until I finally realized that I don’t have to take one big, relaxing vacation once a year to fulfill my travel cravings. Weekend escapes work just as well. On the same note, it’s not about staying in a fancy hotel and splurging on food and souvenirs. It’s about interacting with the locals and experiencing a new culture. Being more frugal about my travel habits and thinking ahead allowed me to afford to escape more often. Here are three travel tips I’ve picked up on along the years.

1. Get Your Finances Right

Affordable traveling starts before embarking on your adventure. In order to afford all the wonderful trips you planned for 2015, you need to start saving as soon as possible. Draft a budget, cut down on expenses, give up some unnecessary luxuries from your life. Even small lifestyle changes can have a big impact on your savings account – like brown-bagging your lunch to work instead of eating out or brewing coffee at home instead of hitting Starbucks every morning.

Also, apply for a credit card with travel rewards. You get benefits for each dollar you spend, typically in the form of redeemable points, which you can then use for to pay for your flight or accommodation. If you use it as your primary card, a rewards credit card can easily help you afford that vacation sooner. University credit cards are generally pretty generous when it comes to travel rewards. Harvard Card, for instance, offers rewards valid toward any commercial flight, hotel, cruise, or car rental. For more advice on how to find credit cards with great travel rewards, take a look here.

2. Look For Cheap Accommodation

You don’t need to stay in a four star hotel in order to truly enjoy your trip. Hostels are a great option for travelers on a budget. Rooms are generally dormitory-style with all the facilities shared, but they’re much cheaper. You can browse hostels at great prices here.

If you want to keep your travel costs even lower, consider signing up for sites like CouchSurfing, Hospitality Club, or Global Freeloaders. They provide the best way to stay with someone who lives where you’re going for free. A local will give you a place to rest your head and will be an invaluable resource when it comes to local information. You can also go the home exchange route, but this only works if you’re a homeowner. For more information on how this would work, take a look here.

3. Decide on a Daily Budget

Once you get to your destination, stick to a daily budget to avoid overspending. Start by deciding what your priorities are. For example, do you really want to visit all those museums, or maybe just check a couple off the list? Or do you need to eat out at a restaurant the whole time or can you get by with street food? As a side note, street food is a rather inexpensive option and a great way to try authentic local cuisine. Also, never eat in a tourist area. Prices here tend to be higher because tourists generally don't mind spending more money on vacation and are more unaware of what local prices actually are.

Only spend cash to finance your priorities, and forget about additional costs like souvenirs for all your friends and family. They likely have enough snow globes and refrigerator magnets already. When it comes to transportation, do what the locals do: take local buses or trains. Taxis can be expensive. Look into tourism cards as well. You will end up saving money because you get free transportation around the city and free entry into museums, attractions, and tours. When you get a Madrid Card, for instance, you gain entry to all the top attractions around the city and save time with priority access so you don't need to waste time waiting in a queue.

It’s possible to travel without a lot of money. As long as you’re not too picky about your accommodation and you strive to find the best deals available, you don’t need a massive travel budget to enjoy yourself. Consider these travel tips and make the best of your days off in 2015. This year, you’re really doing it.