The other day, I received a Facebook message from an old friend. It said simply: How do you manage to travel as much as you do? The question wasn’t out of left field. Throughout my 24 years of life, I’ve been fortunate enough to travel to 16 countries and 32 U.S. states on an income of less than $20,000 per year. Some of my trips were taken with family, some with friends, and some completely on my own. These experiences have all been life changing, more so even than any education I’ve received, and each have shaped me into who I am today.
But how did I do it? The answer is far more complicated than one would think. Prior to turning 18, my travels were due largely to the kindness and hard work of my parents. Our family vacations hooked me and I had to figure out ways to, for lack of a better phrase, continue to get my fix. My strategies for being able to afford these adventures are tried and true, and have served me well. It is only fair that I take the time to share my secrets with all of you.
Behold! The unofficial broke student’s guide to seeing the world.
Stonehenge, Wiltshire, United Kingdom
Budgeting. I’m starting with the boring one, I know. But bear with me because this is just as important as the fun strategies! As a person from a lower income family with parents who worked hard to afford our necessities, budgeting was always an important part of our lives. From a young age, I learned that if you seek to do something extraordinary, you must be willing to sacrifice. I’ve taken this lesson with me into my adult life, and I regularly engage in multiple money-saving practices to make my travel dreams a reality. A few of these things include:
1. Skipping out on bars and clubs.
Going out is huge when you’re in your 20s and 30s. Having lived in a place where the thing to do on weekends was going out and getting drunk, I’ve had to hold back more than a few times. Especially now, living in a city where drinks regularly run from $12-$15, passing up a night of drinking can save you enough money for a few nights in a hostel.
2. Bargain shopping.
This is my bread and butter. In New York City, there’s a lot of pressure to look a certain way, or to wear only designer brands. Perhaps it’s the small-town hick in me, but I could never fathom paying $70 for a blouse. Nor can I see myself paying $8 for a gallon of organic milk. I’m not throwing shade at people who do shop that way, but for me, a successful shopping trip means saving 40-50 percent off of my bill. A “splurge” for me is buying brand-named cereal instead of generic.
3. Nix the credit cards.
I had to learn this lesson the hard way. Credit cards are the devil incarnate. They make you feel like purchasing that concert ticket is just fine even if you don’t have actual, tangible money for it. However, the extraneous purchases add up and before you know it, you’re $1000 in the hole.
Ethnedal Valley, Norway
Flexibility. When planning your trips, adaptability can mean the difference between an $800 plane ticket and a $550 plane ticket. Simply widening your preferences on destination, length of stay, boarding, etc. can save you thousands of dollars. Some of these money-saving strategies are a bit obvious (such as flying economy class, using big city airports, searching for accommodation on budget websites like Expedia and Hotwire), but I’ve tapped in to a few lesser-known practices…
1. Bumping.
No, this is not some new dance craze that will earn you money on the streets of New York. It is one of the least effectively used money saving strategies in the airline industry. Bumping occurs when an airline has overbooked a flight in the hopes that a few passengers will arrive late and miss said flight. When all passengers are present, the airline is forced to offer incentives for individuals who are willing to stay back and take another flight, usually a couple hours after your original flight time. This happens a lot around the holidays, and can turn into quite the capital gain. This article from Johnny Jet gives even more tips on how to make the most of being “bumped” from a flight.
2. Alternative accommodation.
Hotels are often the most expensive part
of planning a trip. Prices can range anywhere from $100-$400 per night! While
there are a few ways to get discounts on hotel rooms, I’ve found that booking hostels
or rooms through Airbnb always saves almost 50 percent more than what a discount hotel
booking service can offer. I know what you’re thinking… Kat, haven’t you seen
the movie "Hostel"? What if I get murdered?!? With just a cursory look at www.hostelworld.com, you will be able to
see that most hostels are nothing like what you see in those movies. They’re
incredibly safe, very modern and highly secured. Plus they usually have
kitchens to cook in, which saves money on restaurants! And rooming with other
travelers means making friends from all over the world. Prices range from
$20-60 per night for hostels, and about $40-80 per night for Airbnb. Plus if you click here, you'll receive $35 dollars toward your first booking after creating an account on Airbnb.
3. Free activities.
While it’s sometimes worth it to pay the extra 20 euros to see the inside of La Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, or spend a few extra British pounds to cruise the hallowed halls of the Edinburgh Castle, you can usually find cheap or free alternatives that are just as fun. Walking tours, people watching, museum visits, etc. are all great options to save money. Travel website Mapping Megan lists even more things that budget travelers can consider while hopping from destination to destination.
1000 Steps Beach - Laguna Beach, CA
Employment. What if I told you that you could travel and get paid simultaneously? This is the reality when you seek out temporary jobs around the world. There are even websites dedicated to this which match travelers to small businesses that promise a wage and sometimes even room and board for your work. While these jobs are not always easy to find, there are a few employment options that seem to always be readily available.
1. Teaching English as a second language.
This job is usually only available to native English speakers, but if you meet the requirements, it can prove highly beneficial to the budget traveler. Becoming certified to teach English does cost some money up front, but the pay-off usually vastly outweighs this. English is the language most often spoken in the worlds of business and academia, so the demand is very high for teachers. Many schools in Asia will pay for your flight and accommodation (as well as a robust salary and benefits package) in exchange for a one year teaching contract. If your career gives you enough flexibility to take a year off at a time, this is a great way to see the world while making a difference in the lives of your students. More information on this can be found here.
2. Temporary tourism jobs.
Have skills from those years spent waitressing or bartending in high school and college? Experienced in providing services like haircuts, dance classes or housesitting? You can easily find temporary jobs abroad. Some places will offer cash in hand to travelers in exchange for this temporary work. Hostels may even give you a free bed in exchange for a few hours of housekeeping or front-desk tending. Plus these unique employment opportunities look great on a resumé!
3. Work remotely.
I realize that for most people, employers are not flexible enough to allow significant amounts of vacation time, especially in a work-driven society like the United States. However, many employers do allow staff to work from home. Instead of holing up in your house, you can take your laptop on the road and make money doing the same job, but in a fantastically unique location. I mean, laying on a beach seems a bit better than staring blankly at a grey cubicle wall right?
As author Mary Anne Radmacher has said, “I am not the same having seen the moon shine on the other side of the world.” My best advice for anyone looking to expand their horizons is to just do it. While it never really seemed possible to me that a person could travel the world with little money, I’m finding now that those who have an insatiable appetite for new experiences always find a way. These methods, and many others, have served me quite well on my adventures, and if you choose to take advantage, they'll help you too! There will always be doubts about not having enough money, not being able to travel on your own, not having the time etc. but this should not hinder you.
Neuschwanstein Castle - Bavaria, Germany
