Let’s say you love to travel. And the past couple of years have been pretty tough on your budget so a holiday get-away dropped way down on your list of priorities. But now, as 2010 looms, you can’t face the idea of another year without at least one trip. Economists call this pent-up demand and a whole lot of it is expected to surface in the coming years, so you’re not alone.

The next few blog postings will outline a strategy you might consider to bring you closer to taking a trip in 2010. There’s no guarantee, of course, but making a plan and sticking to it is the best way to ensure you reach any of your goals.

STEP 1: Make your first New Year’s resolution to take a trip in 2010. If you’ve already set other self-improvement goals, here is how you can combine the travel goal with others you might have made:

a. Quit smoking, drinking, eating junk food, etc.: take the $5 a day or whatever amount you would normally spend on the habit you want to break and deposit it in a piggy bank, bank account, under your mattress, wherever. But make sure you do set aside the actual cash that you will later use to fund your trip. On a weekly basis, compare the amount of money saved with the cost of the trip to mark your progress and to help keep you focused on both resolutions. $5 a day translates into $35 a week, $150 a month and $1,825 a year: definitely enough for a trip.

b. Lose weight, get back in shape, exercise more, etc.: on top of the many longer-life reasons for this resolution, a shorter-term reward for your hard work is that it will make travel easier. The better shape your body and mind are in, the more fun and rewarding your travels. An added bonus is that you will have to deal with fewer of the pains of age that may stand in the way of hiking, walking, doing sports and even carrying your luggage.

c. Get a new job: if you are seeking a new position, you already have the incentive needed to undertake all the work that this will entail. But you can add to the rewards by telling yourself the new job will give you the opportunity to take a trip. Any salary over and above you current salary could be designated to pay for your travels (how’s that for a reason to negotiate hard). Also, the best time to take a long voyage is immediately before starting a new job as you have the leverage needed to negotiate the start date. Your new employer – no matter how insistent they are that you are needed now – has no choice but to negotiate with you and it isn’t unusual for people to ask for four to six weeks between accepting and starting a new job.

d. Improve yourself by learning a new skill: make that latest skill a new language, cuisine, dance, or music of another culture. Taking classes or learning by yourself through books, the Internet, CDs, etc. will excite your interest and keep you focused as you figure out ways to make your trip happen. Part of your learning can take place in the native country of the new skill, giving you an additional reason to travel there.

e. Give more of yourself: the travel volunteer industry is growing rapidly as more and more people want to travel with a mission. Organizations exist to match you up with a non-profit, usually non-governmental charity that helps children, women, families, animals, the environment, etc. You cover your transportation costs and contribute towards your room and board. Often you are placed with a family who benefits from the additional income while you learn more about the culture of the people you are staying with.

Now that you’ve made you New Year’s resolution to travel in 2010 and you’ve seen how you can combine this objective with regular resolutions, you need to figure out how you will accomplish your goal. The next few blog postings will walk you through the steps to take to make it happen.

NOTE: My “This Expat Life” & “Writing on Wednesdays” blogs are on hiatus until we settle down in Wenzhou in February 2010. Between now and then, I’ll be writing only about Baby Boomers Traveling. Hope you enjoy coming along with us.

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