How to save money for a vacation (California)

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Me and my friend, Silje, (yes, we are both named Silje :)) traveled around the world last year.
We helped each other save money by changing our habits. I thought it could be useful to know what we did to increase our budget. The best advice I can give, is to visualize all the things you can do with the money you are saving. In these examples I will tell you what I usually imagine when saving money.

• Do you have an expensive habit?
• Coffee at your favourite coffee shop every morning?
• First: Imagine drinking coffee at Starbucks in California instead
• Then: Make your own coffee at home and bring it in a to-go-cup

| Awesome Starbuck's Toffee Nut Latte |

• Buying a magazine/newspaper every day/week
• First: Imagine buying 10 magazines in USA for your one 60 kroner magazine (in Norway)
• Then: Catching up on papers online, reading blogs or reading your favourite book again.

• Going to get a manicure/waxing job/skin treatment every other week?
• First: Imagine how cheap it is to do these things where you are going. You can get 10 massages for the price of one in Thailand.
• Then: Invite your friends for a spa-night where you color each-others eyebrows, do manicures etc.

  | Just got a mani-pedi |

• Do you spend a lot of money when you go out to party?
• First: Imagine spending the money on something you can remember really want to do
• Then: Try to cut down to going out once a week
• Go to Sweden to buy cheap alcohol or buy alcohol if you are traveling (Duty Free)
• Sneak into your parents liquor cabinet   Ask for beer/wine/liquor from your parents
• Go to a nice place with a low entrance fee
• Have a long pre-party
• If possible, take public transport to the party
  
• Try to limit yourself to buying beer (drinks are so expensive)
• If you usually buy drinks to everyone, tell them they are drunk enough you're saving
• If possible, walk home with a friend (the fresh air will do you good and you save the taxi money)
• Save some dinner so you have some snacks at home, no need for an expensive pizza slice/kebab/hot-dog

What changes do you have to make to save money?