Travelling Long Term On A Very Tight Budget: A How To Guide
- Elisabeth Caraballo
- Oct 2, 2018
- 4 min read
Does long term travel sound like a dream come true to you? Maybe it’s something you’ve been thinking about for a while, but you always find yourself coming up with excuses as to why you shouldn’t do it. Lots of people end up doing this, and this is why the majority never end up going travelling and exploring the world!
The truth is, if you really want something, you’ll do anything you can to get it. That even means planning to travel on a very tight budget. It can be done, and many people have done it before you! The only thing that’s stopping you is your own mindset and limitations.
Below, we’re going to discuss how you can start travelling on a very tight budget so you can begin putting the plans in place today. Take a look and don’t put your life on hold for a minute longer!
Consider Working As You Travel
One of the easiest ways to make sure you can travel on a tight budget is to consider working as you travel. Bear in mind that this may not always be as easy as it sounds, as you may need a visa and other working permits. Plus, if you’re travelling at a similar time of year as everybody else, you’re going to have competition for any jobs. Below are a few ideas of the jobs you can go for:
Au pair
Bartender
Hostel worker
Waiter
Bar person
Farm worker
Casino worker
Yacht worker
Teach English
Work remotely
If you want to meet people and you’re staying in one particular place for a while, getting a job at a bar or somewhere similar might be a good idea. However, working remotely can allow you a lot of freedom if you have skills that you could sell, and you will be able to fit it around your own schedule. Every little bit is going to help, so if you’re worried that you won’t be able to save up a big enough budget before you leave, this is the best thing you can do.
Work On Getting Free Flights
If you can, work on getting free flights. With travel credit cards you can earn miles and then fly for free! It’s a good idea to have a credit card for emergencies before you travel anyway, even if it’s one of the credit cards for bad credit. However, you must use it only in an emergency.
Stay With Locals For Free
Check out the sites that will connect you with locals who are willing to let you stay with them for nothing. It might sound weird, but you’ll rarely come across somebody strange, and there are couchsurfing groups and forums so you can discuss experiences and tips. You will likely meet amazing people who only want to help. Go to couchsurfing meet ups, and also remember that there are sites that can help you share things like transport, meals, and gear, which will allow you to save even more money. You’ll also make friends and connections in the process! Going it alone can be tempting at first, especially if you’re using this trip as a way to ‘find yourself’ or whatever. However, meeting people and letting them help you will make your travels richer. At the very least, you’ll end up with some great stories to tell!
Plan To Do Free Stuff
You don’t have to spend a ton of money on activities, although you may want to budget for a few things that you really want to do. You’ll find free walking tours, and sometimes even free bike tours that you can take part in to get your bearings and learn all about the place you are visiting. There’s probably more to do for free than you think, and some things may specifically be on certain days/times, so find that out too.
House Sit
If you’d rather not couch surf, you may be able to house sit. This will still help you keep your budget to a minimum, and you’ll have a place all to yourself!
Save By Cooking Your Own Meals
Eating out is one of the biggest expenses when you go travelling. You can save a lot of money by buying the ingredients to cook your own meals if you’re able to. There are many inexpensive meals you can cook and make last, but this also means you’ll need to stay somewhere with a kitchen or kitchenette.
Start A Travel Blog
Start a travel blog documenting your experiences. Don’t expect to get anything from it right away; only do it if you enjoy writing and documenting the things you do. If you do, eventually you may be offered trips in exchange for a blog post, or even money for a sponsored post. You might also be able to make money from ads and with affiliate links, so be smart and start doing your research.
Get An App To Help You Track Your Budget And Spending
Apps can easily help you keep track of your budget and your spending so you don’t end up spending more than you can afford.
Have An Unexpected Extras Allowance
If you can save up a little money to go into your ‘unexpected extras allowance’, you’ll have peace of mind and be able to prepare yourself for just about any emergency. Just don’t be tempted to spend it on something else or you may end up regretting it some time down the line.
If travelling is something that you really want to do, you can make it work. People have travelled on very low budgets before, whether they wanted to backpack and become a vagabond or simply travel in understated luxury. You don’t have to be a broke traveller to ‘find yourself’ or make your trip spiritual in any way. Find a job or figure out how you can support yourself and use the rest of the ideas here to keep your budget in control. Good luck!
