Traveling the World on a Budget: My Personal Insights
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I’ve been a full-time freelance writer for six years, and surprisingly, I’ve never made more than $25,000 a year. To clarify, that figure is before taxes. While that amount may seem significant, my actual income after taxes—on a good year—is around:
- $57.25 per day
- $402.16 per week
- $1,742.50 per month
Despite earning less than half of the median US income, I’ve managed to travel for at least three months every year since 2007, visiting over 40 countries and living in places like Rome, New Zealand, Iceland, and France.
So how do I sustain this travel lifestyle while making roughly $400 a week, especially living in New York City for the past decade? The answer lies in two straightforward principles.
You might be skeptical, but here’s the “boring” truth about full-time travel.
The Simple Truth About Full-Time Travel
You don’t need a high income to travel. In fact, you don’t even need to hunt for secret travel deals, create passive income streams, or build a social media following to explore the world for a few months each year. My method is much more straightforward:
- Spend less than I earn each month
- Work a remote or online job
That’s the essence of it. By setting a budget that’s lower than your income and securing paying remote work, you can afford to travel full-time. The best part? It gets easier the longer you’re on the road.
My Travel Expenses on a Normal Income
Before I dive into my finances, I want to clarify a few points:
- No trust fund or external financial support. I appreciate my fortunate upbringing, but I’ve only received emotional support from my family.
- I’m not a credit card points expert. The only “free” flight I’ve booked was to visit my mom.
- I’m still paying off student loans. I financed my own education two decades ago, and while I have a low-interest rate now, I’m still clearing the debt from my teenage years.
Now, let’s look at the numbers from the first four months of my year-long trip.
The Real Cost of Full-Time Travel
Since leaving New York City on June 3, 2019, I have spent $7,065, averaging $63.06 per day. While that daily rate is higher than I’d like, it covers every expense incurred during this trip, including:
- All flights
- Travel vaccines and medicines
- Six months of premium travel insurance
- Accommodation in Spain, Portugal, Ireland, Singapore, and Malaysia
- International phone plans
- Rental cars and scooters, including tolls and gas
- Microbrews, Spanish reds, coffee, gifts, souvenirs, taxi rides, and more
Interestingly, my daily expenses are decreasing. We’ve enjoyed a quality of life that exceeds our expectations since leaving NYC, with experiences like:
- Walking across Spain for six weeks
- Glamping in an Irish yurt
- Discovering thermal hot springs in Ourense, Spain
- Riding scooters to hidden beaches and waterfalls in Langkawi, Malaysia
- Exploring Portugal in a compact rental car
- Enjoying exceptional white coffee in Penang and the iconic Singapore Sling at Raffles
We plan to travel for another eight months, and I anticipate our daily budget will drop to the $40s by the trip's end.
Travel is More Affordable Than You Think
While travel can be expensive, it doesn’t have to be. The longer you travel, the more affordable it becomes on a per-day basis, as you average out significant costs like flights and visas with lower expenses for housing and food.
In fact, I often find that my total expenses for food, accommodation, and entertainment are less than what I pay for rent in NYC. The crux of my argument is that actual travel isn’t the challenge; it’s saving enough money to travel when your income is modest.
If you want to learn more about my savings strategies for full-time travel, check out my upcoming article on the 11 Things I No Longer Spend Money On.
Now, let’s discuss how I earn while traveling and how you can find remote work to support your adventures.
Earning Money While Traveling
Living within your means and saving up is crucial, but earning money while traveling is equally essential. Fortunately, you don’t need to make a lot to travel full-time.
Thanks to several writing gigs I’ve landed, I have more in my bank account now than when I left New York four months ago. Over this trip, I’ve earned $7,692, averaging about $69 per day. Since I spend less than that each day, my earnings are more than sufficient to continue traveling.
Surprisingly, I’m even managing to save money while touring the world.
Remote Work Strategies: Earning While Traveling
In today’s digital age, there’s no better time to earn money remotely. Here are four effective strategies and platforms that have helped my partner and me earn online this year:
1. Contently: Freelance Writing
Freelance writing is an excellent way to generate income while traveling, especially if you have a portfolio. Contently offers a platform to showcase your work and connects you with paying clients. You can create a free profile, upload your articles, and specify your specialties.
After setting up your profile, you can be discovered by new clients looking for content creators, and you can pitch to publications without spending time marketing your services. Payments are made instantly through PayPal, eliminating the hassle of invoices or late payments.
2. Pitch Travel Publications Directly
While Contently is helpful, you should also reach out to specific publications for travel writing opportunities. Here’s how to effectively pitch:
- Join their email list. Publications often ask for pitches and submissions directly from their readers.
- Read their website. Most brands provide guidelines for pitching and the right contact information.
- Utilize the contact details. If you find a specific email, introduce yourself and offer your services.
Crafting a template for pitches will streamline the process, allowing you to secure new clients effectively.
3. Teach a Skill
My partner, Lainey, is a professional swing dance instructor. Before our trip, she connected with her network to arrange teaching gigs in various countries. Not only has the extra income been beneficial, but the connections made with locals have enriched our travel experience immensely.
4. Work While Traveling
In my early travels, I worked various jobs to fund my journey. If you're under 30, consider applying for a working holiday visa in countries like Australia and New Zealand, or look for work exchange programs in Europe.
While some individuals opt for under-the-table jobs, it’s crucial to ensure you’re paid fairly and legally. Experimenting with different income-generating methods while traveling can lead to exciting opportunities and possibly even a freelance career.
My Philosophy on Travel and Income
Ultimately, I shared my earnings and travel habits not as a bragging point, but to highlight that you don’t need to earn a significant income to explore the world. Recognizing how little you need to live the life you want can shift your priorities and eliminate perceived obstacles.
I’m just an ordinary individual with student debt and a remote job, yet my modest income allows for incredible travel experiences. Full-time travel isn’t unattainable; with careful planning and budgeting, you can travel significantly more than you might expect, even on a limited income.
By reassessing your financial priorities and career choices, you can create a life filled with adventure rather than waiting for retirement to explore the world.