Just how many times have you heard this? One of the major reasons that hold people back from travelling is, obviously, money. I have been wondering about what people with wanderlust and not enough money can do to travel on a budget. There are so many people who have given up on their dream to live the life of a wanderer of sorts, to travel and be where ever they want to be, just because they have bigger financial priorities or their pocket doesn’t allow them to roam around worry-free. Not that I am suggesting you to pack your bags and go travel without worrying about your safety net but you should remember that you don’t necessarily have to be rich. So here are a few tips to keep you on the go without having to break your bank.
Work and Travel
There are a plethora of jobs that can be helpful in paying your bills to make your travel dream come true. When I first packed my bags for my trip to Malaysia, I still had a college debt yet I managed to save some money out of the tips and then worked different jobs to sponsor my travel and pay my bills. Here are some ideas:
• Working and living on a farm.
• Au pair jobs: House or pet sittings can be categorized as au pair jobs and can at least provide you with a place to live.
• Volun-tourism: Volun-tourism is not a new concept for people who travel a lot. There are many travelers who go on a trip to volunteer for different causes. There are many organizations that offer volunteering opportunities and in return offer you a place to live or food.
• Bartending
• Hostel work
• Be an instructor or guide: If you have traveled to a place more than just once then you can actually work as a tour guide or instructor. On my third visit to Bali, I worked as a tour guide and replenished all my travel money.
• Teach English: This is actually a very a fruitful option when you’re traveling to a small town or city. If you think you can fluently speak English or have some certification or degree that adds value to your teaching skills then this is probably the most feasible option.
• Work at a yacht, cruise or ski resort.
Use Your Perks
If you have discount cards or have a student card that can get you some good discounts, don’t hesitate to use them while travelling. Teachers, students or people under 26 can save big with a youth, discount or student card.
Travel Light
Travel light is somewhat clichéd by now because every time you Google travel tips, you get this one, for sure. But, travelling with not much luggage is actually a great way to travel effortlessly and can also save you money. The best way to do so is travel with a survival bag as it has enough sections for you to keep your essentials. You won’t have to pay for your luggage to be carried because you’ll be carrying your own bag everywhere you go. Yes, not much of a money saver, but every penny counts when you travel almost every month and have a strict budget.
Watch for Deals
Most people don’t know that there are travel-specific credit cards through which you can earn free flights. The trick is: you sign up for cards, collect miles and after a few trips, you can earn a free flight. Sign up for an airline card along with their reward card to get cheaper flights and enjoy certain perks. Some cards offer you 50,000 points as sign up bonus. Also, they keep on reminding you about great deals, so keep checking their newsletters and offers. You can get great discounts on their member stores (which are mostly big stores like Target, Apple or Best Buy), restaurants and hotels.
Go with Plastic
Putting all your travelling expenses on card is the smartest move. Carrying cash on travel is itself not a wise choice so keeping things on your credit cards can solve that problem for you and can earn points too. Also, you can get great currency exchange rate with credit cards.
Hacks to Remember
If you’re planning a road trip, rent your car on the weekend because you get lower rates on the weekend as compared to Monday till Fridays.
Clear your browser cache if you are checking for flights online. When you check for flights for a number of times before you purchase it, the site saving your data will offer you higher prices for the flight as a sales tactic. Also, mentioning that you are a frequent flyer can cost you more sometimes so check the box only when you’ve purchased the ticket.
Couch surf or share if you don’t find a place to live rather than booking a hotel room. Trust the locals and attendants to know about some great and cheap places to eat. You can save money every time you travel, by just being a bit smart. Would love to hear tips from frequent travelers about how they manage to travel without getting broke.
***
Author Bio
Sheerin jafri is a passionate blogger who loves to write on disciplines such as health care and lifestyle. She is a featured author at various blogs and a staff writer at Centracare.org, a Tampa urgent care provider.
Alexa Mason is the blogger behind Single Moms Income, a personal finance freelance writer, and an online entrepreneur. Come hang out with her on Facebook and Pinterest.
Comments