In August, I’m heading to Italy — Bologna, Modena, Parma, Ravenna, Rimini, maybe even Brisighella if I time it right. A dream trip. But there’s a catch: I don’t have a dreamy budget.
When I was younger, I genuinely believed that by 28, I’d be living a life more akin to Carrie Bradshaw in Sex and the City — sipping cappuccinos in oversized sunglasses, living alone in a one-bed flat with original features and perhaps most importantly having a fabulous wardrobe of clothes. Instead, I’m living at home and whilst I do earn ok-ish money and my job isn’t entirely terrible, I feel perpetually broke. The one thing I do have in common with Carrie? A questionable shoe budget. Because yes, I have champagne taste on beer money and I’ve accepted it. But I also want to go on holiday in August… it’s now mid June and I currently have no savings (and very little money until payday at the end of the month!)
Still, I’m determined to make my 10-day Italian escape happen: Bologna, Modena, Parma, Ravenna, Rimini, Brisighella. And instead of trying to become an entirely different person to save, I’ve decided to just get more intentional with what I actually value. This post is about what I’m cutting, what I’m keeping (spoiler: my nails), and how I’m making it work without giving up every little joy.
The Subscription Cull
I sat down and looked at what I was paying for automatically every month — the sneaky stuff. And then I made cuts.
- National Theatre at Home – Cancelled (£10/month saved)
- A few Substacks & Patreon – Cut some I wasn’t engaging with much (£10/month saved)
- New York Times – Downgraded from £12 to £2/month (big win!)
- Audible – Will cancel, but using my 5 credits first so I don’t lose them
- Other little trims – Uber Gold, Spotify Premium, Liberty Beauty Club… we’ll see 👀 but keeping for now!
Altogether, I’ve already saved about £30/month. Not massive, but when you realise that’s £90 before I fly? Not nothing.
Travel Smarts
Flights to Bologna were pricey, so I looked wider. Turns out Milan is cheaper to fly into — plus, now I get a bonus city to explore and a scenic train ride to Emilia-Romagna. Win-win.
Spending with Intention
I’m not trying to become some super-frugal extreme cheapskate type who batch-cooks lentils and tracks every receipt in a spreadsheet. I still like brunch. I still buy books I could get from the library. I still have weekly Italian lessons. And yes — I will absolutely chuck something on Klarna if I really want it because I’m not perfect and I don’t want to live completely within my means because frankly it’s boring.
But I’m learning that saving doesn’t have to mean self-denial. It can just mean being more deliberate — saying no to what doesn’t matter so I can say yes to Rimini sunsets, Modena markets, and that one hotel with a rooftop I absolutely can’t afford but booked anyway (on free cancellation… for now)
Holiday Pot
I’ve started a “Holiday Pot” where all these savings go. It’s surprisingly motivating. Every time I resist buying something impulsively, I ask: “Would I rather be drinking wine in Ravenna?” The answer is usually yes. So if I skip the Costa on the way to work, that £5 goes into the pot.
Next Steps
I still need to:
- Use those Audible credits (rec me books, please!)
- Plan some cheap/free Italy days — museums, local cafés, maybe even a picnic
- Track where the rest of my money’s going (scary, but necessary)
Let’s Talk
If you’re also trying to save while living your life — tell me how you’re doing it. If you’ve been to Italy on a budget, I want your recs. If you just needed someone to say “yes, it’s OK to want travel and joy” — hi, I’m that person.
Featured Image The Birth of Venus by Botticelli
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