The travel bug is real. Curious languages, aromatic foods, bustling streets, bare feet on beaches and backpacks on buses spark the imagination. On the margins of University semesters or alongside online classes, student schedules make traveling more possible than many other seasons of life. The all-too-familiar problem is the alignment of two things – dreams and student bank accounts.
Let me share something revolutionary – the number in your bank account right now doesn’t matter nearly as much as you think it does. Outlined here are some good, old-fashioned tips for fun frugality along with revolutionary ways to earn money on the road that will get you out there in the world sooner than you thought possible.
Classic Ways to Make Money
Working a traditional temporary job in a foreign place can be a great way to fund travels. Choose a niche, get training if you need it and do your research.
Here are a few ideas:
-Work at a North American summer camp. Work is available in a huge range of sports, arts and adventurous fields. Check out organizations such as CCUSA.
-Put on some work gloves and join the ranks of temporary agricultural workers.
-Take up seasonal work in recreation in North America or Europe such as working in hospitality at a Canadian ski resort or lifeguarding along one of many sunny European coasts.
-If you know two languages, translate for tourists.
Shorter-term job opportunities in foreign places can be rewarding, self-sustaining financially and great life experience. The upside is that staying in one place for a month or more allows for getting to know people and start to gain specialized skills. The downside is that traditional work does limit options. Your travel range might be limited to how far public transit runs on weekends, and you might miss out in the sunniest parts of the day on the job. Some jobs require special visas or contracts for longer than ideal times.
New Ways to Make Money on the Road
Luckily, there is a range of emerging online job options that allow for flexible work all over the world. Even in remote places, affordable data plans can connect allow for work from a mud hut, island or mountainous region. Of course, there are also many of the world’s hundreds of thousands of cafés in tens of thousands of cities and towns.
Could this really be you?
The answer is yes. Especially if you are up for the challenge of developing valuable online skill such as writing, graphic design, editing, coding, search engine optimization management or research. Doing so is surprisingly easy.
Many websites, recruit academic writers for writing papers, literature reviews and other assignments or coursework for high school, college and university students. Writers bid for jobs and negotiate pay, then get to work creating quality content according to the customer’s instructions. Valuable training and researched content are enriching for writers along the way. At the end of each project, writers get paid.
The advantage of online work is that it is completely flexible. If off on a trek, leave the computer behind, then pull it out and get to work later on a bus or in the evenings. Depending on speed and experience, adjust working hours to satisfy your bank account for your next adventure.
Frugal and Brilliant
So, making money while traveling is POSSIBLE and can even be FUN, but what about the flip side? Yes, I’m talking about living on the cheap.
Here are some simple tips for keeping costs low and possibilities endless:
-Invest in a used pot, spoon, container for leftovers and a burner or cooking method. Buy rice, beans, pasta or whatever the local staples are. Cook up the simple stuff and eat leftovers for 2 or more meals a day.
-Take local public transit strategically. Avoid taxis and tourist shuttles. Ask a local how they would get from A to B. Don’t hesitate to tie up those laces and go for a long walk either, it can be a great way to see a new place.
-Be kind and make local friends. Listen to people and ask them their stories. Be eager to receive hospitality then be a considerate, generous guest. Not only can one save a penny, but you’ll probably make interesting new friends. Check out some tips for making friends who don’t share your language here.
-Share with other travelers — cooking supplies, groceries, even a bed for sleeping. This can save huge money by dividing costs.
So Go For It!
The wait is over if you are ready to travel, there is a way, and money doesn’t need to hold you back! Be independent and experience the freedom of travel while making an income online or through the grittier traditional methods. Keep costs low to fund exciting new opportunities. There is no better time than while you are a student.