Financing Your Freedom: Top Strategies for a Nomadic Lifestyle

I want to begin by reminding you that there is typically not just one path for any direction in life. As you read articles throughout my blog, I ask that you don't compare nor hold any expectations. What works for me may not work for you, that's just me being honest. A path that worked for many others still may not work for you. Perhaps a path that has rarely been taken is the one that works for you. However, I can offer a list of strategies from personal experiences or suggestions I have discovered along the way.

One of the most commonly asked questions I get is how have I been able to afford my nomadic lifestyle. For many of my readers, they are aware I traveled for 9 months straight without a job. I like to be transparent and be open about the fact that I had a big savings after selling everything I owned, I had collectively about $20,000. Given I had been saving money for nearly 3 years in addition to selling all my things so I could move to Hawaii.

Before I really begin, I want to share a bit more about where I've come from and inspire you by telling you how far I've come. I've been living below the poverty line my entire life so before you assume I had help, I didn't. I just hustled really hard to save the money. The first 5 weeks I did a work trade to allow me an opportunity to explore if Hawai'i (The Big Island of Hawaii) where I wanted to plant to explore planting my roots.

Work trade exchange

For me, this was essentially how my whole journey started. I could of easily continued to utilize work trade opportunities to stretch out my funds and extend my ability to travel longer. However, I chose to do this for only 5 weeks.

What is work trade?

A work trade is an opportunity to trade your time and skills for sleeping accommodations. In many situations 1 to 3 meals are included daily. Typically, you will need to commit 15-30 hours a week. The available work trades include social media management, housekeeping, cooking, bartending, yoga instructor, singer, entertainment host, tour guide, maintenance, painting, caretaking for the elderly or animals, teaching English, and including but limited to even permaculture.

Pros and Cons

Pros: The benefits will vary depending on your circumstances but generally the concept is to make traveling significantly cheaper by cutting costs on accomodations. Occasionally activities and tours will be included or discounted. It's an incredibly good way to connect and meet other like minded individuals. This can be an excellent way to learn another language and immerse yourself into a new culture. Your working hours are generally very flexible but some job roles may require you to work a specific shift. You'll typically be asked to work only 3-5 hours a day, giving you the rest of the day to explore and adventure. This is also a fun way to learn new skills or have unique experiences. Ultimately, this is a budget friendly option that makes traveling possible for those who might not have a big budget but truly desire exploring other countries.

Cons: Majority of the time you won't receive any pay, although some opportunities may pay you to work over time. There are a few rare chances where they will pay you minimally per hour to help you fund activities or food. Generally, you do have to work a few hours every day so this may limit you on experiencing full day tours. The down side to work trades is that you often have to share a room, but you definitely can find opportunities that gives you your own space. You should expect to commit a minimum of 1 month to a host for popular locations, but you can still find ones that offer a week at a time. There isn't always a sense of security with this, as if a host does not feel you are a good fit, they can ask you to leave. You might not always have safe ways to secure your possessions either. There is always a possibility that you absolutely hate your host or accomodations. It isn't uncommon for hosts to exploit your time. A big thing to consider for safety reasons is, hosts do not undergo a background check, although the hosts do go through an account verification process.

Overall:

Work trades such as WorldPackers, WorkAway, or WOOFING can be highly rewarding and often outweigh the negatives because of the significant impact and potential being offered. You need to do your research before you make a commitment. Be sure to speak to your host and trust your instincts. Set expectations for your role ahead of time and ask your potential host as many questions before you commit until you are confident in accepting the trade. Be sure to have a back up plan if something goes wrong.

This option isn't for everyone. It's not likely to be an luxurious experience, so you'll have to lower your standards for living. However, this option is rich with potential for amazing memories.

Give hostels a chance

I think hostels are often overlooked due to the typical nature of sharing dorm rooms with multiple strangers... but strangers are just friends we haven't met yet. I'm a light sleeper, so this was something I avoided for a month and a half, until I realized how quickly private accomodations were adding up. I was finding places that were $20-30 a night, and honestly I would of been way better off splurging on a $35-40 a night rooms a couple times and getting a hostel for $6-18 per night the rest of the times. I learned through these experiences.

Hostels are also one of the easiest and best ways to make new friends or gather groups together to explore with. You'll find that booking excursions for 4-10 people will make it the activities way cheaper. I often utilized HostelWorld's chat features to find other people interested in going to the same places I wanted to visit. But the biggest bonus is the typical social atmosphere at hostels.

Now this isn't exactly a strategy to fund your trip, but it can significantly cut your costs, especially in some countries. Generally hostels are the cheapest option for accomodations.

Plus you are more likely to discover job or work trade opportunities with hostels. So it can lead to an opportunity to fund your trip.

Rent a room month to month

Renting out a room for a month or two is becoming increasingly more popular and available all around the world. If you're looking to stay somewhere short term to really indulge in a community and want to skip the hostel life, then this is a great option to research. I highly suggest checking out Facebook groups in the area you want to explore for housing.

Connecting with the community in the area you want to explore and stay short term is the best way to find a place to rent. Post a photo of yourself with what you're looking for, where, budget, and a little about me section to a group that offers rental options.

House/pet sitting

There Facebook groups and websites that offer a platform for individuals and often couples to take care of someone's animals in exchange for housing accomodations. You can even find situations where all you need to do is look after someone's home or apartment while they are away. Simple tasks may include water all the houseplants or outdoor garden so they don't die and just being around so a break-in doesn't occur.

Teaching English / Online

Teaching English abroad is in high demand all over the world and is increasingly more popular. I've made friends with people who have done this is places Thailand, Vietnam, and Japan. Some were able to make connections while traveling and found fully paid opportunities in person, while others got a TEFL and were connected to opportunities. Some went through work trade opportunities as part of their teaching abroad. A couple even utilized platforms like Cambly, Preply, Tutor, EnglishFirst, VIPKid, and many more.

Teaching English specifically online allows for a flexible schedule as you travel different time zones and pays per minute verses per hour, majority of the time. I did attempt to pursue this option however I struggled to get past the screening process with Cambly due to sounding too scripted for the pre-recorded introduction video. Despite having a background in Early Childhood Development and teaching I just didn't feel it was an authentic process for me.

Au Pair

This is one of those strategies that was recommended to me a handful of times, but I had not tried myself. So again, another option you can explore and I can just give some insight from what research I have done.

Becoming an au pair is an excellent way to fund traveling, as it allows you to live in a new country with minimal expenses while immersing yourself in the local culture. As an au pair, your primary responsibilities typically include childcare and light housework, in exchange for room and board, and often a small stipend. This arrangement not only covers essential living costs, such as accommodation and meals, but also provides the opportunity to explore a new country during your free time. Additionally, living with a host family offers a unique cultural experience, enabling you to learn the local language, customs, and traditions from a close-knit perspective.

However, being an au pair comes with its challenges and potential drawbacks. The job can be demanding, with responsibilities that sometimes extend beyond the agreed hours, making it difficult to find enough time for independent travel and exploration. The pay is generally modest, often just enough to cover personal expenses rather than saving for future travel. Additionally, living with a host family means adapting to their lifestyle, which can sometimes lead to cultural misunderstandings or feeling a lack of privacy and personal space. Moreover, the quality of the experience heavily depends on the host family, and mismatched expectations can lead to uncomfortable situations. While being an au pair is a viable way to fund travel, it requires careful consideration and clear communication to ensure a rewarding experience.

Sarah Smith Captures | The Nomad Narratives © 2024. All Rights Reserved.