The most common excuse not to go travelling is lack of money. Sure, we all have different economic situation, but you know what? That’s just another lame excuse. The way I see it, it’s a question of prioritising. So before you buy another pair of shoes, that you tell yourself you can’t live without, or take a sip of that take away coffee you just spent 3 dollars on, think about what is most important to you? Buy that RTW ticket or spent your hard-earned money on more things to add to your already big pile of possessions?
The thing is, you can travel the world on a shoestring, and it can be so much more than hostel bunk beds, noodles and instant coffee!
There are quite a few really great ways to keep travelling even when your running a bit low on money. I’ve previous written about Couchsurfing, another good thing to look into is Housesitting. Something the ladies behind The Ultimate Housesitting Guide knows all about.
I first stumbled upon Help Exchange about 3 years ago, while doing research for my trip to New Zealand. So I signed up, paid the 20 euro for a 2 year premier membership, and so far it has been money very well spent.
Helpx is a fantastic online network linking together willing travellers with local hosts all over the world. It’s a cultural exchange where helpers typically are asked to work about 4 hours a day in exchange for food and accommodation. The hosts can be everything from organic and non-organic farms, homestays and backpackers hostels to sailing boats or families who just need a bit of extra help.
To spend a few days or a couple of weeks with a family is a great way to get a deeper insight to the country you’re visiting and gain some practical experience at the same time. An opportunity to learn something new, like how to milk a cow or the best way to put up an electric fence. There’re so many terrific people out there who want nothing more than to show off their country to people like you passing through. If you’re a sucker for company it can also be a great place to get in contact with fellow travellers.
So far I’ve done a dozen or so helpx stays, ranging from a few days up to 2 months. I’ve made coffee in a little café in Ireland, been selling homemade chutney on farmers markets, and worked as a horse trekking guide (despite not being on a horse for the past 9 years… ) I’ve also played farmer, picked plums, collected pine cones, chopped wood, and pulled more weed than I ever thought possible. I did not earn any money doing any of these jobs. But nor did I spend any either. I got free food, free accommodation, and countless of great experiences! Without helpx I’d probably have struggled to stay on the road for as long as I have without any sort of steady income.
A couple of days ago I got an email from a nudist community up in Queensland. I politely declined their invitation. Being nude in public just isn’t my thing…but the point I’m making is: there’s something for everyone! So go online and discover all amazing opportunities out there!
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