Skint AF? It’s All In Your Head

There are hundreds of place you want to go as a traveller. No self-respecting man or woman with wanderlust can brag about going away without seeing the classics. Yep, that means the circuit in Southeast Asia as well as India, Australia and the USA. Plus, there are the cool places, the outside-of-the-box ones which no one else has ever been to before. You know – the North Koreas and Bhutans and Somalias of the world. Of course, these all come with Parental Advisory stickers.

But, it isn’t as if you can throw caution to the wind and board a flight. Well, you can yet you need the right amount of cash first. Without a couple of grand in the back pocket, travelling is a no-go because you’ll be on the inbound as soon as you step off the plane. So, it’s nose to the grindstone time again. Roll up the sleeves and start saving to go away. It’s a vicious cycle but it’s necessary, people.

Or is it? Yes, everyone needs the right funding to have the experience of a lifetime, yet no one said you need every single penny before you set off. In fact, only half of the budget is perfectly fine when you make the correct moves. Here are six for your information.

Change Your Mindset

At the moment, it isn’t your bank balance which is holding you back – it’s your brain. For some reason, there is a nagging belief in the back of your mind which is saying “don’t do it; you don’t have the cash.” It’s only a little niggle yet it’s enough for most wannabe travellers to hold off for a while longer. Of course, the extra six months grace period turns into a year, and that becomes eighteen months. After two years, you’re no closer to going anyway.

Okay, thinking positively isn’t going to result in a miracle. This isn’t Harry Potter and you can’t magic money out of thin air. However, being positive rather than negative should encourage you to push and at least to get away even if the funds are low. The key is to eliminate the excuses and to find the solutions. Are the flights too expensive? Is accommodation pricey? If so, shop around for the best deals and don’t book packages.

Or, tweak the plans. Yes, you wanted to spend six months in Central America but it isn’t feasible. Still, it doesn’t mean you can’t do twelve to fifteen weeks in a couple of select countries in the region. Remember: you can always go back when you are rich.

Earn Over Save

Society looks at the billionaires of the world, the Mr and Mrs one-percenters, and it assumes they saved their way to their fortunes. After all, a penny saved is a penny earned. There is no doubt that squirreling away money is going to be the backbone of the budget. Making it is pointless if you’re going to spend it frivolously. Travellers have to focus on the goal ahead.

However, saving isn’t going to get you there any quicker. Like the Bezos’ and Gates’ of the world, it’s all about increasing your earning potential. Once you have more money coming in, then you can save extra and jet off in half the time. All you need to do is to find a way to moonlight on the side. The excellent news is the internet has changed the game as it has opened up the freelance community. One look on Indeed or Problogger and there will be plenty of jobs from which to choose. And, the classics such as bartending and working shifts at a restaurant never die.

Be warned that this is an intense tactic and you won’t get much free time. For anyone who wants to get away regardless, this isn’t an issue yet some people like to have a balance.

All A Loan

An opportunity has presented itself and you want to grab it with both hands. Unfortunately, the time scale is short and there isn’t time to spend half a year breaking your back to earn enough to go. If it’s going to happen, you need the money as soon as possible. There’s only one option: a loan. Before you read on, it’s important to research the topic of travelling with debt because it is risky. Lots of people have ended up with bad credit after an experience of a lifetime as they couldn’t make the repayments.

It isn’t all doom and gloom, though. As long as you are savvy, an overdue balance doesn’t have to be a death sentence which hangs over your head. Think about a credit card. By transferring the balance to a new company with a better promotional offer, it’s possible only to pay the minimum for a significant period. Some say it’s dodging your responsibilities yet it’s a way of managing debt until you can pay it back. There’s also a guarantor loan where a “buddy” covers the costs should you default. You can compare guarantor loans beforehand to make sure the terms aren’t too dire should this happen.

As always, never underestimate the power of a credit union. They only deal in small loans but their interest rates are low and they aren’t as strict as banks.

Trade Services

There’s a stigma to travelling. People think you’re “getting it out of the way” before you settle down and start your life. Well, anyone who agrees with this – your life has already begun. As a result, there is plenty you have to offer. Yes, this even applies to those of you who are students in the process of becoming qualified. You can still use your experiences to earn money. Blog posts are a form of currency now, and you’ve got the whole world in your hands in that respect.

In a lot of countries, you don’t even need to be fully-qualified to find a job. Around Asia and the Americas and Europe, there are people cleaning rooms in exchange for a room and board. Have they cleaned professionally in the past! No, they haven’t but hostels and restaurants need cheap labour. The same goes for pulling pints. It’s an art form yet most people can figure it out quite quickly. Working in a club only requires you to take the caps off bottles.

Try and think about what people need from you and how you can find a way to give it to them. The worst that can happen is that someone says no and you’re back to square one.

 

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Work And Play

You’re older now and want to travel while building a career. There is nothing wrong with that; in fact, it’s a wise move and much better than starting out at thirty-five-years-old. The problem is the lack of opportunities. The majority of jobs require employees to stay in one place and work behind a desk. Sadly, not everyone can be a travel writer.

Well, the wordsmiths don’t have a monopoly on the industry anymore. Thanks to advancements in technology, pretty much any can work remotely. With a home-based role and Skype, you can sit on a beach crunching numbers if you like. Another option is to mix the two. Conservatism is something which takes place in far-flung, exotic places because that’s where the animals live. By volunteering or working in shelters, you can get the best of both worlds. Don’t forget about working on a cruise ship or becoming a flight attendant either. The job might not appeal but there is plenty of travelling and you get a salary.

For all the exercise buffs out there, you can take advantage of the bandwagon and start a class. This is quite easy because all you need is a patch of grass and soothing music. Stretch them, and they will come.

 

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Handouts

The idea of asking another person for money isn’t appealing to your ego. Everyone thinks the same thing: “I can get by on my own, thank you very much. I don’t need anyone else giving me handouts.” Grown-ups should think this way, for the most part. Sometimes, it’s perfectly fine to ask a group of people to donate. There’s a whole industry built around it called crowdfunding.

Kickstarter was the first platform to take off but there is plenty depending on the goal. And travelling is no exception. Check out GoFundMe and Trevolta for more information. The trick is to stand out from the crowd because there will be lots of people asking for a donation. What the best crowdfunders do is to make their story relatable and play on peoples’ heartstrings. For example, the trip is going to act as research which is vital for your new book.

Not only will travellers be likely to donate, but so will authors and anyone who has tried to make a dream come true. Volunteering to help people and animals will also grab the audience’s attention.

Your lack of money isn’t all in your head because you do need a solid budget. But, it isn’t as big a deal as people like to imagine when you can boost your earning potential and play while working.

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