One of the most frequently asked questions is how someone can afford to travel around the world. Yes there is ‘saving’, but the amount needed for a trip like this seems out of reach. It would be next to impossible to do a trip like this without some savings, although it is not necessary to rely only on savings.
There are two ways to extending your savings. Not spend money, and earning money.
Both of these will help your money last longer, which means traveling longer.
With this in mind there are two ways to think of earning money: long-term income and short-term income. Short-term is good for not spending money, while long-term income will not bring in money in the beginning, it will down the road.
Short term
Short term income would be odd jobs or volunteer opportunities. This will help negate some of the costs I have, I won’t be ‘earning’ money but I won’t have to spend money on my daily necessities (a place to sleep and food). Some examples of this:
Work Exchange. Work exchange is usually trading a few hours of work for your food and accommodations. I am planning on WOOFFing. WWOOF is an organization that asks for volunteers to work on an organic farm in exchange for food and a bed. Volunteering in Java. Bars will offer free accommodations/food/drinks for a few hours of Public Relations work, meaning I go around talking to everyone making sure they are having a good time. Hostels will exchange a free bed for time working at the front desk and doing housekeeping. The hostel I’m staying at in Flagstaff offers a free bed and meals for those staying a week or longer in exchange for working 10am to Noon 6 days a week. That is 12 hours a week for a free place to stay and meals.
Misc Jobs. There are a lot of odd jobs that are available for nomads: Working on a cruise ship, teaching english, working at a resort, scuba instructor, tour guide.
Long Term
Travel Consulting. Since travel is my passion I am starting a travel consulting business. It is a cross between a full service travel agent and doing all the planning your self. You will get the benefit of a travel agents resources without the cost.
Travel Writing. I will be maintaining a website that will have advertising space, Adsense and affiliate links. I can also submit travel articles and reviews for money to websites and magazines.
A ‘real’ Job. It’s not too often that a traveler will come to a place that feels like home, but it has happened. For me one of those places was Byron Bay in Australia. If I were to find another city/town/village like that I would stay a while and find a more permanent job. I may not settle down permanently, but it would be home for enough time to work and rent a guesthouse/apartment.
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