Ask anyone about travelling and normally they will say: ‘I’d love to travel more but I simply don’t have the money.’ I know because I am guilty of this too. However, we buy tonnes of things that we don’t need every single day.
So cut back, save a little, and get smart with how you travel. With so many different options out there, money shouldn’t hold you back. If you’re willing to open your mind to other ideas and options, you might end up travelling to a country or two and spend very little money in the process.
Here are a few ideas:
1. Sell your time
Now, what does this actually mean? Well, if you give up some of your time to dedicate to a few hours of work each day, in turn you might not have to pay for things like accommodation, food and possibly other benefits. On top of this you will likely be helping a local group or individual in the process. In addition to saving money, this is a chance to get to know the local people and the country you are visiting a little better. Volunteer work exchanges are great for all you adventurous types who are willing to take on something different and seek a deeper knowledge of a destination.
Here are a few volunteer exchanges to think about:
2. Couch Surfing
Everyone knows about Couchsurfing nowadays. The concept is simple: if you’re too poor for accommodation, you Couchsurf. If you’re in another country and you meet someone through Couchsurfing, it not only makes your travels cheaper but more enjoyable. Making friends also means you get to split things, whether it’s a room, dinner or a taxi. If you’re not into crashing on a couch for the night, you can instead look into house sitting.
Here are a few house sitting websites to check out:
3. Teach English abroad
Hundreds of people a year put on their backpacks and take off to schools around the world to teach English. South East Asia and South America are particularly popular destinations for this. Whilst teaching you are almost always guaranteed free accommodation and some organisations even pay a monthly wage for your skills (but beware, don’t expect to be rich!). If you’re hoping to earn money through teaching, why not look into completing a TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language)? This could increase your chance of earning a few bob.
4. Freelance
The idea of travelling and writing for a living is what many of us dream about when we wake up every morning to our 9 to 5 office jobs. However, although this may be the stuff of dreams, freelancing could be a way of earning a bit of extra cash whilst you are on your travels. Many travel blogs and websites are always looking for contributors and are willing to pay a small sum for each article. Do some research and see what you can find. You never know, it could also help you work towards living that dream of travelling the world for a living.