Many backpackers, tourists, and other travelers are actually regular people, even if they have a successful travel blog and seem to have unique experiences every day. You don’t have to have any special skills to be successful and fund your trips with various sources of income. There are plenty of ways to afford the travel lifestyle.
Getting Your Finances in Order
Focus on getting your personal finances in order before planning any long trips. It’s a good idea to make sure that any outstanding bills are paid off or at least taken care of before you start making any reservations. If you still have debt from school, it is a good idea to have a plan in place for taking care of it. You can take out a new loan from a private lender if you are thinking about refinancing student loans to ease your monthly budget.
Running a Travel Blog
You might know already that many travelers have a blog to partly fund their trips. You would need to create a website and encourage a community around your trips. Understand that this is not a process that can happen overnight, so you will need to plan ahead and start growing your blog over time. Still, it just takes a bit of knowledge and hard work to get things off the ground.
Finding Work on the Side
There are plenty of ways to pick up a few dollars on the side, although this will not cover your entire trip. Some sites will give you gift cards, cash, or other rewards for filling out questionnaires or reviewing software or sites. And if you enjoy working on the computer, you can offer virtual assistant services on the side. This typically involves checking emails and doing data entry. If you are good at languages and have even picked up some new words on your trips, you can offer online tutoring. As the demand increases, hourly rates for these services are increasing. If you enjoy writing, consider creating an eBook about your travel adventures or other things.
Reducing the Costs of Travel
While it is great to earn extra money whenever possible, you should also try to be frugal with the funds you do have. Putting each dollar to its best use can help you get the most out of your experience. For instance, you can save on accommodations if you don’t mind staying a little further out or away from the area. You are likely there to explore, not to sit inside all the time. And even the best cities for a night out offer little pocket neighborhoods where lodging is cheap, but the location isn’t terribly compromised.
There are also ways to save on food, such as getting accommodations that have a mini kitchen built-in. Cooking at home can help you save money so you do not need to spend on restaurant food. Try to carry water and food with you so you are not tempted to purchase something while you are out. Transportation costs can be cut down by using public transportation to get to locations. Depending on the location, you might even be able to get a tourism card to save even more.
