Save For A Gap Year After High School

May 7

How to Save for a Gap Year After High School | MoneyMode

The Money Class You Never Got in School

How to Save for a Gap Year After High School

Taking a gap year doesn’t mean falling behind—it means gaining experience, clarity, and growth that college or full-time work can’t always give you. Whether you want to backpack across Europe, volunteer in South America, or road trip across the U.S., here’s how to fund your gap year (without asking your parents).

1. Set a Real Budget

Estimate your total cost: airfare, hostels, food, activities, and insurance. Then break it into monthly chunks.

“ChatGPT, create a sample 3-month travel budget for Thailand with $3,000 total.”

Flights: $600–$1,200
Housing: Hostels, work-stay, or couchsurfing
Food: Street food + groceries
Extras: Tours, insurance, WiFi SIM

2. Open a Separate Savings Account

Keep your gap year money in its own high-yield savings account. Name it “Gap Year Adventure” in your banking app to stay motivated.

3. Work (and Track Every Dollar)

Babysit. Tutor. Walk dogs. Work retail. Deliver food. Don’t just earn—track. Set a weekly savings goal and use a Google Sheet or YNAB to measure it.

4. Sell What You Don’t Use

That old console? Your extra sneakers? Sell on:

Facebook Marketplace
Depop
eBay

Every $50 puts you a flight closer to Bali.

5. Gamify Your Spending

Challenge yourself: “No fast food for 2 weeks = $40 saved.” Use ChatGPT to generate one:

“Make me a 30-day no-spend challenge to save $150.”

6. Ask for Travel Fund Gifts

Tell friends and family: “Instead of gifts this year, I’m saving for a gap year.” Bonus: make a visual tracker in Canva or Notion and send them updates.

7. Buy Smart Gear Once

Spend on things that last. These are affiliate-ready Amazon picks—just add your tag:

Final Thought

Your gap year is your launchpad—into independence, curiosity, and growth. Saving is step one. Stick with the plan. Use your tools. Ask smart questions. And keep your eye on the reason why you’re doing this.

You’re in MoneyMode now. Go build the year you’ll never forget.

Samantha Stultz