For the past few years, I’ve been asked many times about how I’ve been able to afford to travel so much and so frequently. I want to break down my personal scenario and hopefully it helps someone in some little way begin their own traveling journey.

I want to start off by mentioning that I completely recognize my privilege. Being an english speaking, middle class, able-bodied person with an American passport, frequent access to jobs, and the freedom to return to a safe place after leaving for extended periods of time is an advantage in itself to get me started on my own journey. I have, however, paid entirely for all my travels, made my own sacrifices, and worked super hard to be able to travel the way I have but I recognize that we all have different starting points and luck. 

And now I could break traveling down into two specific categories which are time and money. I understand not everyone has these resources so easily accessible to them. Some people are sick or have to work three jobs just to pay bills or have an outstanding amount of debt and just can’t take a break from work so I get it.

Sometimes people that have the advantage of time and money get stuck on the idea that traveling is expensive. I’m going to say it doesn’t have to be so don’t categorize yourself as someone who can’t afford to travel yet. I think our culture defines traveling as expensive and a luxury that only the wealthy can participate in and that just isn’t necessarily true. If it was, there’s no way 18-year-old me with no money or work experience could have begun traveling. I just want to get it into your head that maybe there’s a different mindset you can take on if this is something you want to do maybe once in a while or often. So how did I do it?

  1. I gave myself a mindset that this is what I’m going to do and I dedicated a lot of my time preparing for it.
  2. I traveled very cheaply.
  3. I traveled where there were opportunities for me to work.

Dedication

I get how annoying it is to hear if you stop buying avocado toast or coffee every day then you can afford to travel but I truly think that if you’re spending habits do consist of eating out all the time or frequent shopping, there will have to be a conscious change in your habits.

Now don’t go and dump your entire social life or deprive yourself entirely of your favorite brunch spot because I think that’s unhealthy I would just say to maybe limit yourself to one drink when you go out or pick cheaper items. It’s definitely going to consist of full determination and you’ve really got to adopt the mindset of understanding the value of a single dollar. Understand how quickly they add up and how quickly they disappear. I compare my $4 coffee price to the price of a hostel bed in India and before I buy something I ask myself if this short term luxury is worth it enough to give up that night in India. Or before buying clothes, I ask myself “would this last in my backpack on a 4-week backpacking trip?” It sounds a bit extreme however it’s just a necessary mindset that I found that works for me and it really helps my savings account. I also notice it helps this constant ‘need, need, want, want” attitude that our culture easily falls into.

Other things you can do:

  • Open a separate savings account solely for travel that you contribute a certain amount to every week or paycheck. Or set yourself a goal of an amount you want to hit by a certain date.
  • Get rid of subscriptions or memberships or find cheaper options. The only subscription I pay for is Spotify with the college discount but find out what works for you.
  • It also helps SO much to write down your goals. I’d often set my phone background picture to the place I’ve been wanting to visit to always remind myself of my goal. Vision boards also help. 
  • I adopted a very minimalistic lifestyle. If it didn’t fit in my car when I wanted to move, I wouldn’t buy it. If I didn’t think I’d use it in a few month’s time, I wouldn’t waste my money on it. When I would buy something, I’d make sure it was high quality and will last a long time and/or secondhand. I didn’t own any furniture (more on this below) I just wanted to live a life with the freedom from having too much stuff.

The way in which you will alter your spending habits is going to entirely depend on your travel goals (ex: how long you want to travel for, where you want to go, how frequently you’d like to travel). This is something you have to set yourself and find what works best with your lifestyle. I’d recommend first deciding on a destination and researching the average amount people spend in that destination and then alter that amount to the way in which you like to travel.

Traveling cheaply

This is where the research begins. I knew that I would have to find work opportunities abroad in order to travel the way in which I’d like to travel. I’d opt for cheap destinations and then travel those destinations as cheap as I could.

So how do I do it cheaply?

  • I only stay in hostels or tents and I often take advantage of their kitchen to save money on eating out. (Give couch surfing a try if you’re comfortable enough)
  • I try and walk a few blocks away from crowded/touristy areas when I do what to eat out. This often results in meals that are more authentic to the local cuisine and it’d typically be half the price.
  • I booked the cheapest flights I could find. I got used to lots of layovers and long flights. I eventually got into credit card hacking to use points to pay for my flights. I’ve been able to use manufactured spending to hit minimum spends on credit cards with sign up bonuses that contain airline points which can equal up to $800 in flights. And I know the word “hacking” is intimidating but it’s entirely legal and quite rewarding. Using points has saved me hundreds of dollars so far and it’s quite easy. I wish I had gotten into it sooner.
  • I try to avoid big tours and only participate in activities that truly interest me and not just what other travelers are doing.
  • I do a lot of research before I go anywhere to make sure I don’t overspend anything. Find out the average prices of meals, tours, hostels, and activities.
  • I hardly ever buy souvenirs.
  • I eat a lot of spaghetti and pb&js abroad.

Working abroad & while traveling

And the research continues. Here are a few opportunities to work and travel at the same time. 

1. Get a visa to work in Australia or New Zealand for a year (or two)

2. Work in a US National Park

  • Housing and meals are provided (typically between $80-$250 a month). I was really only able to do this kind of traveling due to how much I could save while working in busy restaurants at National Parks in-between international trips. Not having a high rent or grocery bill in the parks was insanely helpful. Also, having limited options when it came to eating out, shopping, etc also allowed me to save up a good amount while in these areas. In exchange, I was also able to explore and live in some of the most beautiful areas in the US for free.
  • Here’s how to get a job at a National Park. (click here for link)

3. Work seasonally at a ski resort

4. Teach English online through VIPkid, Palfish, or Gogokid to fund travels or obtain a TEFL to teach abroad in a classroom. 

  • I really only recommend doing this if you’re truly passionate about teaching. A bachelor’s degree may be required to teach in some areas and on some websites.

5. Work on a cruise ship or yacht or become a scuba instructor, an au pair, a tour guide, a flight attendant, etc

There are so many options out there for you to pick up work while traveling abroad to keep you going.

While this is my traveling journey and it worked out for me, everyone has to find their own paths that work for them. Whether you want to travel frequently or once a year, start with a plan and work on the dedication part. It’s 10% inspiration and 90% persistence. It can become uncomfortable giving up luxuries or changing your lifestyle and habits but if traveling is what you want in your life and you have the time and opportunity to make money, then you can do it. Traveling cheaply brings a whole other adventure that lots don’t experience.