How I Afford to Travel (And How You Can Too)
How many times have you seen people in their twenties with Instagram feeds full of travel photos, living the life of your dreams – while you’re sitting at home wondering how they can possibly afford to travel and do such amazing trips at such a young age?
Trust me, I’ve been there too. I wanted to travel and see more of the world, but I believed that traveling required a lot of money and I simply didn’t have that. Still, my desire to explore was so strong that I started looking on how I can afford to travel. And eventually, I found them.
First things first: it’s usually not “daddy’s money” that finances young people’s travels. At least in my experience I’ve met many fellow travelers and haven’t come across anyone who was funding their trips with their parents’ credit card.
I’ve been traveling regularly to different countries around the world since I am 18, and I’ve paid for every single trip myself without any financial help from my family. Also, I don’t make money through social media or other online jobs.
So how do I afford to travel without owning a business, without a university degree, and without my parents’ money? And more importantly, how can you do it too? That’s exactly what I’ll share with you in this blog post:
Article Overview:
- Work a lot
- Save all your money & live on a budget!
- Find cheap ways to travel around
- Travel to budget friendly countries
- Work while traveling
- Do Volunteering work
Work a Lot
I’m sorry if this disappoints you, but it doesn’t happen without hard work. You need to work in order to earn money—and money is what allows you to travel. Traveling isn’t free!
If you want to make travel a priority in your life, then you first need to make working a priority. Work in two jobs, take on extra shifts, do overtime, work seven days a week if you can. Believe me, I take every opportunity I get to earn money. The more you earn, the more you can save and the more you save, the more you can travel.
Tipp: Work in jobs that pay well even if you don’t have a degree. (You’ll find some if you do a bit of research).
I personally like working as a waitress. Depending on where you work, tips can add a lot on top of your salary. I also take short-term jobs, like working at Oktoberfest (the pay is great and you don’t need any qualifications). Another strategy I use is working in countries with high wages (like Australia), and then traveling to budget-friendly countries afterwards.
Save All Your Money & Live on a Budget!
Working hard won’t help you if you spend your earnings the very next day. You need to put aside all the money you’ve worked so hard for and save it. That means: you have to live on a budget. Like, really live on a budget!
Think about it: one full day in Thailand, including food, accommodation, and activities, can cost around €30. So before buying a new pair of shoes „just because they’re nice“, ask yourself if it’s really worth it when you could get an entire day of adventure abroad for the same amount.
Right now, I’m saving for a world trip, even though I’m working minimum-wage jobs. But I still manage to save quite a lot by sticking to a strict budget: I don’t drink alcohol, I eat only supermarket food, rarely go out, use trains and buses instead of driving, live at my mom’s place, and only buy things I really need not just because they’re nice to have (like new clothes, for example).
Of course, it’s not always easy to say no. But when you know what you’re doing it for, it’s absolutely worth it in the end. Anyway, please still keep in mind that you’re still allowed to have fun! Just spend your money wisely 🙂
Find Cheap Ways to Travel Around
One of my favorite and cheapest ways to travel is backpacking. Stay in hostels or camp at free campsites, travel by bus instead of flying, and if you’re brave enough try hitchhiking! There are so many ways to keep your travel costs low once you’re on the road. It might not be the most luxurious or relaxing lifestyle, but backpacking is full of adventure and that makes it totally worth it.
For my best tips on how to travel on a budget, check out this article: 12 Ways to Save Money While Traveling.
Travel to Budget-Friendly Countries
There are so many countries around the world where the cost of living is low. Sure, countries like the US or many European destinations are absolutely worth visiting, but for young travelers on a tight budget, they’re often simply too expensive.
If you want to travel for a longer time and get the most experiences for your money, you should definitely start with low-cost countries. Some of my favorite destinations for budget travel where I had amazing experiences without spending much include: Thailand, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Morocco. These countries aren’t just incredibly affordable, they’re also very safe especially for solo female travelers.
Work While Traveling
Some countries like Australia, New Zealand, or Canada offer working holiday visas for young travelers. With this type of visa, you can work full-time in a well-paid job for a few weeks and then use the money you’ve saved to continue traveling. Once you run out of money, you simply find a new job and work again until you’ve saved enough for your next adventure. These visas are usually valid for one year and can sometimes be extended, depending on the country and your situation.
Australia in particular is a great place to earn good money, even without a formal qualification. That’s why it can be a smart move to work as much as possible in a high-wage country like Australia, and then travel to budget friendly countries afterward.
Do Volunteering Work
In most countries, you don’t need a working visa to do volunteering, and it’s possible almost anywhere in the world. You could, for example, teach at a school in Cambodia, help out at an animal rescue sanctuary, or work at a hostel (there are countless other opportunities out there). Usually you get a free accomodation and free food for your work in return.
Volunteering is a great option if you want to stay longer in a place you love, or if you just need a break from constantly moveing from one place to the next without spending all your money.
And always keep in mind: we’re all human, if others can do it, you can do as well. Trust me. The only limit is your mind. 🙂