How To Fund Your Adventures When You Have The Travel Bug

When you have the travel bug, you can’t stop thinking about your next trip. You sit down for literally hours, planning out which flights you will get, the countries that you will visit, and the sights that you want to see. However, there is always that nagging feeling in the back of your mind. That’s it! Money. How on earth are you going to go to all of these amazing destinations, if your bank account is looking worse for wear?

However, there are some ways around the financial drought, and you don’t always have to have a large amount of savings to get yourself on that flight, on your way to that country you’ve always dreamed of visiting. In fact, doing things on a bit of a budget can really shape how your travel experiences pan out, so read on for some inspiration!

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Work whilst you travel

One of the best ways to keep a cash flow coming in whilst you’re on your adventures is working. There are many ways to do this, and one of them is taking up a freelance role. All you will need if you’re writing (or doing any other variation of online freelancing) is your laptop, and an internet connection, which you will invariably find in your hotel or hostel.

If you don’t fancy this, and you’d prefer to get out into the country you’re visiting and meet people whilst you work, you could always get a job as a waiter or waitress, or even as something a bit more out there, like a tour guide for other travellers. Think outside the box when it comes to the jobs that you could be doing, as it depends on where you are.

There will be a whole host of things that you can do, however, no matter where you’re based. If you’re in Europe, why not work on a farm picking fruit, or even just work in your hostel behind the bar? Whatever it is that you’re thinking about doing, you may need a work visa, so look into this before you go out there.

Whilst working whilst you travel is a good idea for those who don’t have a lot of savings, think about the practicalities of this before you start travelling. Have you got a job lined up already, and have you got enough cash to make it through the first few weeks? Don’t just go into this without planning anything (though we know that this is fun) as it could leave you in a tricky situation, so try and get something sorted.

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Start saving before you leave

If you don’t want to work whilst you’re discovering the new sights in the country that you’re visiting, then it is a good idea to save up a bit of cash before you head out there and begin your trip. There are many different ways to do this, but you’re probably going to need to work quite a lot of hours in a job at home if you’re going to make enough savings.

What most people do before they head out and start travelling for 6 months, is move back in with their parents so that they don’t have to pay any (or much) rent. Living with them for a few months could help you to get some cash together, although this may not be a possibility for you (and it comes with varying degrees of success).

If you don’t really think that you have any options for saving, you could get a loan to cover yourself for the first week or two, before you begin a job out there. There are plenty of options if you can’t get one from the bank, and companies like Buddy Loans can help those with bad credit to get some quick cash. Look into the options out there if you want to sort some money before you leave.

Another thing to bear in mind is that it is always best to be economical when you’re actually travelling. You can do this by not staying in five star hotels in the city centre (although you may be able to afford this in some countries in Asia) and taking food with you to some places instead of always eating out. Be wise, and your money will last you longer!

So…

If you have the travel bug, but that dark cloud over your head that we like to call your personal finances is trying to make you stay firmly where you are, then don’t worry! There are many ways to kick it to the curb, and start exploring again. Whether you work whilst you travel, or save up money before you head out, just make sure that you’re financially ready for the trip of a lifetime!