1. Start Saving Your Money

The sooner you start saving your money, the easier it'll be to take a month off for travel. You might need to start saving three months or six months before your trip begins. This includes cutting back on recreation, getting rid of costly personal services, and saving every dime you receive, including tax refunds, work bonuses and gift money. You want to spend as much cash as possible so you avoid using credit cards and getting into debt.

2. What’s Your Budget?

It's also important to establish a budget for your trip, which will be based on how much you’re able to save. Your budget determines your accommodations, how far you’re able to travel, and your mode of transportation. If you have limited resources, you can save money using services like Couchsurfing.com and AirBnB. And instead of a train or plane, you can possibly save money by driving your own vehicle (if you're traveling domestically) or taking a bus.

3. Accumulate Vacation Time

Traveling for a month also means taking a month off from work. Speak with your employer beforehand to work out the details. This type of trip can happen if you’re allowed to bank and combine your vacation, personal and sick time. This depends on how much your employer gives each year, and whether your time accumulates from year to year.

4. Take a Leave of Absence

If you don't have enough vacation time, consider a leave of absence from your job. The good thing about using paid vacation and sick time is that you’ll also receive a paycheck while you're away. If you take a leave of absence, you won't receive any checks from your employer, so you'll have to save enough to afford your trip, plus cover living expenses while you're away.

5. Bring a Friend

You might be the independent type who doesn't mind traveling alone, but it doesn’t hurt to bring along a friend. There’s safety in numbers. Plus, you can split the cost of transportation and accommodations, helping you save more and stretch your dollars.

6. Be Available

Ideally, you don’t want to think about work or school. But depending on your job, it might be tricky to be MIA for this length of time. Compromise and meet your employer in the middle. If she approves the time off, you agree to train your temporary replacement and be available via Wi-Fi or phone, in case of an emergency.

7. Don’t Forget to Relax

You might have big plans for your month-long trip. But although there are many places you want to visit and explore, don’t forget to relax and enjoy your break from work. If not, you’ll return home tired, and you’ll need a vacation from your vacation. Don’t plan an activity for every day of your trip, and don’t pack too much into the trip.

Traveling for a month can be the trip of a lifetime - whether you're traveling domestically or internationally. It might seem impossible, but you can make it work. What are other tips for taking a month-long trip?