We live in a pretty much cashless society where we constantly feel the need to spend money on things. Whether it’s a subscription to yet another TV streaming service, a fashion fad or some other item for the home that we don’t really need, we aren’t necessarily as careful with our cash as we should be. We often spend money on things that end up at the back of a cupboard, get forgotten or just aren’t worth what we paid. Which is where travel comes in. While it’s the age old quote “travel is the only thing you buy that makes you richer” we are here to clarify this is most certainly true. Here’s why.

You get to experience new cultures

One of the best things about travelling is that you get to experience a wealth of new cultures. You can see how people all around the world live their lives, go to work and do things. It can really open your eyes to the differences between how things are back home and enable you to realise your privileges back home as well as some refreshing ways of seeing the world. Whether heading to a city in Europe, a remote town or village somewhere such as Peru or Cambodia, or somewhere completely different, it’s guaranteed to be an eye-opener.

You are put out of your comfort zone enabling you to grow as a person

Travelling, while great fun, can be a real test of how you feel and put you out of your comfort zone. Whether you are navigating new streets alone, looking to try and figure out a new language, or finding places to stay and putting together a travel itinerary, it can all be new and perhaps something you haven’t done before. Looking at travel guides before you go can be a help for deciding what to do and making sure you don’t miss out on anything! Travelling can help you to become more independent and know you are capable of handling situations that prior to the trip you might not have thought you could do.

You can try new foods and experiences

Another great thing about travel is that you can discover new experiences and foods that you would never get to otherwise. While you might tuck into an Indian or Chinese meal at home, it’s not the same as being authentic in the actual country surrounded by locals. You can head to proper pizza places in Rome, try escargot in France and tuck into a Pad Thai in Thailand. You can also try things such as skiing, wine tasting or other experiences you might not do at home.