Do you love traveling but can’t afford to go as often as you would like? Or maybe you have never been traveling before and want to start saving for the trip of a lifetime?
Either way, the below blog is exactly what you need to be able to follow your passion and live the ultimate traveler lifestyle. From how to save money before you go to how to earn extra cash while you are traveling, keep reading to discover how you can fund the traveler lifestyle you have always dreamed of.
Make A plan
Although the whimsical traveler in you might prefer to get up one day, pack a backpack and hop on the first flight that leaves the airport, this is a sure-fire way to stop your travels before they have even started.
Instead, you need to make a solid financial plan that details all the essential things that you need to pay for upfront, such as:
• Flights
• Accommodation
• Food
• Extras such as souvenirs, new clothes, et ceteraThere are many ways that you can save money on both flights and accommodation, including using websites such as Skyscanner to check for the cheapest days and times to travel and looking into backpacker hostels or local guest houses.
Aim to be as thorough as possible with this step and remember it is better to have too much money when in a new country than too little.
Get Into The Saving Mindset
Let’s be honest, today’s generation is not big on saving. Most people want the latest smartphones, cars, and designer clothes, which, while all nice, will not help you realize your dream of traveling the world.
Therefore, if you are serious about traveling, you need to get into the right mindset – a saving mindset. In a nutshell, this means you need to make saving for travel your number one priority.
For example, if you have any expensive monthly memberships or subscriptions, then these need to go. Or, if you are leasing an expensive car, this is one luxury you will have to do without.
Start selling some of your possessions, too. You won’t need much on your travels, and there is little point in items you don’t want or need sitting gathering dust while you are away.
There are lots of places you can sell your possessions, including at a local car boot sale, on an online selling site such as eBay or Gumtree, or on social media.
Get A Side Hustle
If you are struggling to save enough money with just your main job, then you might want to consider getting a side hustle. Becoming increasingly popular in the United States, getting a side hustle is similar to getting a second job but with more flexibility.
With a side hustle, you can choose to pursue something that you really love, such as taking photos, writing blogs, or making and selling jewelry.
When it comes to choosing a side hustle, you need to decide whether you want something that is guaranteed to make you money quick or you would prefer to start a side hustle that you can continue to earn a steady income from while you are traveling.
For example, if you want to save as up as much as possible before you leave and you have administrative skills, then there is a high demand for experienced virtual assistants.
However, if you want a side hustle that will generate a steady source of income, you would be better off starting your own business. You could learn how to start a trucking company, which can be extremely lucrative if you know the industry, or you could launch an eCommerce business. The trick is knowing how to go about it.
Expert guides can be a great source of information to read during commuting hours or downtime and enable you to properly start this up. You can fit it in your full-time hours at work and ensure you really start to build up the savings pot.
Look For Sponsorships
If you intend to do some charity work while you are traveling or you have a specific program in mind already, then you might be able to raise some money through sponsorships. There are many online groups that will part-fund your travels if you are planning to carry out a local community project or other charity work.
If you are planning a gap year, your school or university may also be able to help part-fund your trip. You’ve got nothing to lose by asking them if they have any grants or charitable trusts available for gap year students who are carrying out charity work.
Another great idea if you are planning to do charity work abroad is to organize some fundraising events such as running a marathon. You may find that, as well as family and friends, local businesses may also be willing to offer up their support in the form of money or items that you can sell or auction.
Don’t be afraid to approach them. If you don’t ask, you don’t get it.
Make Money While Traveling
As well as saving up before you go, many people also look for ways to earn money while they are traveling. This is a particularly good idea if you are planning to travel to many different countries or you want to travel for a long period of time.
When it comes to earning while traveling, there are lots of different jobs that you can do. For example, many travelers choose to work in a local restaurant or bar. Although the rate of pay is unlikely to be great, this does offer a great way to meet the locals and have a more authentic experience.
Alternatively, if you consider yourself to be creative, you could choose to document your travels for others to see. This could be in the form of a blog, a travel guidebook, or even just a series of photos of your travels that you could sell on websites such as Shutterstock and Etsy.
If you already have a strong social media following, then you are in the perfect position to share your experiences with your followers and hopefully also attract advertisers in the process.
Featured image: Pixabay (horstkoenemund).
