Cruise vacations are increasing in popularity for a number of good reasons. Although it’s popular among couples and families, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t go solo. People nowadays do it and you will be meeting new friends.

To help you make the ultimate cruise vacation come true, here are a few tips to get you going:

1. Set a goal and work towards it

Give yourself a specific amount and a deadline. Saving up for your dream trip is more achievable if you are more specific about it. Do you want to go see the exotic places of Southeast Asia? Or is your dream to explore Europe with your spouse? How much do you think are you going to spend? What’s the best time to go?

2. Track your spending

When you’re saving for a big trip, every dollar matters. Keeping track of every dollar that you spend may seem hard but if you do it, you’ll have a much clearer picture of your spending habits. You can start by keeping a journal of your expenses and reviewing it weekly to see if there are unnecessary things you pay for that you can cut back.

3. Create a travel fund account

Opening a separate account for your travels is another way to motivate yourself to save more. Seeing your savings grow week after week will inspire you work towards your target amount.

4. Keep the change

Whenever you break a note, make it a habit to save loose change and keep them in jar somewhere in the house. Once you’ve established this habit, you’ll be surprise how much you can save at the end of each month.

5. Earn extra cash

Saving is great but if you really want to hit your money goal, getting a side gig or selling stuff you don’t use is probably the best way to save more money. There are plenty of ways to make extra money – hold a garage sale, open an eBay store, or take a freelance job.

Is a cruise vacation in your bucket list? Let us know in the comments.