Getting there is half the funds
Okay, so you have your itinerary plotted and most of the stuff you’re going to haul. Now is the most expensive part of the trip: the plane fare. Depending on where you want to end up, this can be relatively cheap (some parts of Europe, Canada) to not so cheap (anywhere in Asia, Australia). The guiding principle to finding a good fare anywhere is: dig. You may spend hours sifting through numerous bargain ticket websites to find one that has special rates or limited time sales for your region, but the time will be well worth it. Think of it as a free investment in your sanity.

There are many websites that offer good rates on airfares, but some are easier to work with than others. Some websites give you a range of dates for cheap fares, which saves you the time of checking if certain days are costlier than others. If you must pinpoint days, try to aim for the middle of the week, when the working masses are busy on their mouse-wheels and airlines are hurting for business. Some sites, priceline.com being the most well-known, let you try to bid for slashed price tickets. Remember to check the hefty fees they slap on the transaction, though.

If you are staying within a certain country, it’s worth it to do a web search for sites that cater to one country. This is especially relevant for Asian countries, where you can save a bundle traveling at rates that only locals know about.

Go nuts.

If you've never traveled beyond your home state, chances are that the thought of international travel is somewhat intimidating. Comfort zones are tough to expand, but once you overcome that initial shock, you'll be surprised at how quickly your horizons broaden. A friendly piece of advice though... once you start traveling, its tough to stop. So go out there, see the world, and become that international man/woman of mystery.