You don't have to be rich to travel! – PART1

The most common answer to the question “why don't you travel or why don't you travel as often as you'd like” is always one and it's universal.

Money – It's everyone's answer.

“I just don't have enough money to travel.”

This is the problem, and how to overcome it is the very next question.

Given that this question comes up so often, let's remind ourselves of something once more.

You don't have to be rich to travel.

Once more,

You don't have to be rich to travel.

Neither was I when I took my first trip, working an average office job from which I had about 14,000€ left to live on for the whole year, having paid all my loans, taxes, and obligations.

Nevertheless, it is possible to put some money aside for your next trip. How? By making your next trip a priority. If travel isn't your priority, you'll always find other ways to spend your money and it will never be enough for a trip. Those who make travel a priority always manage to save money for that purpose, but they don't have enough money for shopping or to buy the latest gadget precisely because they choose to spend their money differently. You should focus on having and acquiring more money for travel, setting aside wasteful spending on other things everyone enjoys, like dinner at a nice restaurant or a trip to the cinema.

What is your saving priority? Is it travel? If it is travel, then what's stopping you from starting? Why spend on something that isn't essential, like a gadget or a new computer?

An important and very helpful step in saving is to keep a log of all your expenses. Both large and small. It's a lifesaver to figure out exactly where your money is going so you can cut out some unnecessary expenses, perhaps. This method can secure you enough money to even travel the world (a trip that can cost up to 20,000 euros).

But this is where the next “excuses” begin.

“I work for minimum wage / I'm a student / I work part-time / I still live with my parents / I spend a lot of money and don't have any left over / I have children / … and any other excuse. It doesn't matter if I can, I probably won't make it. I haven't paid off my loans yet… how will I do this? What should I do?”

But what can you do if you truly want to make travel a part of your life, but despite all your efforts, even following our advice, you still can't save enough money to get started?

Many things.

Don't forget our focus today: “you don't have to be rich to travel,” so we'll give you some ways you can travel almost for free or quite cheaply. You don't need a lot of money to get started. Even if you don't have a job that provides enough for a comfortable life, or even if you're in debt, there's a way to travel, even abroad!

Work abroad: aren't you getting enough money in your current job? So why not work abroad? Lately, more and more young people are moving abroad to find a job that will earn them more. There are many opportunities, as long as you're not absolutely fixed on the type of work you want to do. Think of it not as starting a new career, but simply wanting to earn more money to travel.

Below you will find various such jobs:

• housekeeper
• bartender
• waiter/waitress
• farmhand (particularly popular in Australia and New Zealand)
• diving instructor
• tour guide
• cruise ship/yacht crew member
• casino employee
• seasonal work at ski resorts

Often, such professions are not preferred because they are considered difficult. But they aren't. You just need to be open to new experiences. These professions (most of them) don't require a degree or even previous experience in the field. It certainly won't be a high-paying office job, but it will be a job that can cover all your travel expenses. Many people from different social strata have managed to fund their travels this way.

Teach a foreign language abroad: why not teach your native language abroad? Or even if you know another foreign language to a good enough degree, why not take advantage of that knowledge? It's one of the best ways to earn the extra money you need while travelling. For this occupation, of course, you will need the appropriate diploma or certification, which is necessary depending on the country you are going to. Many companies even cover travel expenses for their staff's training.

Earn free flights: there are so many ways to earn free flights. Many companies operating in the tourism sector often run competitions giving away flights. Sign up for their mailing lists so you always hear the news and can participate. Also, many banks give free miles as a reward for every amount you spend when you get a card. Just by signing up with the bank, you can earn many points (alpha bonus). If you keep it in mind, you'll be able to make all your purchases with a card, and thus you'll be able to redeem many points with the miles you collect! You can redeem these points for flight bookings, even through Travelo.gr! In the same way, some cards give points for hotels. If you do good research, you'll be able to find all the perks cards offer and benefit twice over.

Can't sign up for a credit card? There are many ways you can increase the miles you earn without a credit or debit card. Three ways follow below:

• Watch out for airline offers. Sign up for the email lists of all airlines. And always pay attention to any special offers they may have. Many times, they might offer “2 for 1 miles” or any other offer that could even double your miles. United Airlines gave 1000 for watching a demo of a new line of their shopping tools. Airlines offer special deals on rental cars, restaurants, and hotels too.
• Shop at member stores. All airlines have special offers with major retailers like Amazon, Apple, Best Buy, Target, and others. If you buy from such stores, you'll be rewarded with 2 to 4 miles for every euro you spend; sometimes even more. Think about it: if you spend 500 euros a month, you can very easily earn up to 1500 miles just this way. The products don't cost more, so why not make your purchases there?
• Put everything on the card. Don't pay anything with cash. From your phone bill to even your coffee. Every euro you spend will directly contribute to earning even more miles.

Free accommodation with locals: there are many services that connect travellers with locals from the place they want to visit and host them completely for free. Many tourists have travelled all over the world and have never once had to pay for their accommodation. Sometimes they might offer you a room, other times a bed or cot, their sofa, or even an air mattress. But it will always be free. There are also many local group meetings (couch surfing) that will help you make acquaintances in the next city you want to visit. You'll now find many websites that allow you not only to stay with locals but also to share rides, meals, train tickets, and much more. It's a way to live as locals really do in every city you go to, avoiding all the tourist spots.

See PART2 with ideas for saving money on your travels!

Use the sharing economy: you can find accommodation, food, transport, and even a guide! You can avoid the traditional choices made by all tourists and opt for locals and their advice! Locals will certainly have more favourable prices and, naturally, know their area better than any travel agent or travel guide. In an area, for example, where hotel prices start at 100 euros, on Airbnb you can find accommodation at one-third of the price. Additionally, locals always know where to find the best deals, which supermarket or restaurant to visit that combines good quality and affordable prices. Talking directly with locals gives you access to all that only they know.

There are now many travel sites that have changed the way we travel. They have made travel easier and more affordable for everyone. They are now a trend of the times, and as time goes on, more and more people tend to use them.

Airbnb (accommodation)

Vayable (trips)

BlaBlaCar (transport)

EatWith (meals)

Hitchhiking: is a free way to reach many destinations, provided they are safe. It's not common in our country, but in many others, it's viewed completely differently. Although we don't recommend it as a mode of transport, it is widespread in other countries abroad, such as Central America, Scandinavia, Eastern Europe, Australia, and New Zealand.

Free walking tours: in many cities, especially at the most popular attractions, you will find tours that are free. You'll find such tours in almost all major cities in Europe, some in Asia, South America, New York, Australia, and New Zealand. All you have to do is type “free walking tour” and the name of the city you want to visit into Google.

House-sitting: if you can't afford holidays, you can look after other people's homes while they are away on theirs. You can sign up on sites that serve this purpose and look after a house. During this time, you'll be able to stay in the location you want without having to pay for accommodation. Of course, in this case, you will also save on food expenses, as there will certainly be a kitchen where you can prepare your meals.

Cook yourself: a good way to save money while travelling is to cook your own meals. A significant amount of money is spent on food alone during a trip. Conversely, if you avoid restaurants, you'll be able to put money aside for your next trip. If you stay in a hostel, Airbnb, or campsite, you'll find it quite easy if you're well prepared. In other cases, it's easy to prepare a sandwich or salad too. Not all meals require an oven or hob.

Work on a farm: working on a farm will offer you a free room and probably food too. You might need some money to get there, but after that, your expenses will be covered.

There are also 4 ways to spend some money, but not a lot:

Travel by train: with this method, you can save a lot of money. If you book well in advance, you can save up to half the ticket price.

Dormitory accommodation: the large rooms offered by hostels are probably the cheapest accommodation you'll find.

Student cards: as is well known worldwide, students get very good discounts. Take advantage of this during your younger years and travel as much as you can.

Buy tourist cards: if you enjoy and plan to see all the sights in a city, then get a tourist card that will offer you free entry to all the major attractions of the cities you visit. They include free entry to public transport, museums, and monuments.

Surely among all the advice we've given you, you'll be able to find something that suits you and allows you to travel on a budget.

Whether your holidays last two months, two years, or even two weeks, they don't have to cost a lot.