If you're anything like me, you live and breathe wanderlust. You would be a career wanderer who would see all the sights, hear all the sounds, and taste different spices from all corners of our planet earth. If all of this is something that you dream about, then it is going to pay for you to explore some of the avenues that will make this travel dream turns into reality.
To get started with your dream, you have to ask yourself questions like: " Am I willing to do what it takes to see the world?" or " Do I want to do things that will allow me to make my mark on this planet?". If money is an issue, remember, there are ways to make your travel dreams come true without being a millionaire. Could you travel like you have all of the money in the world? Well, you may not have the private plane, million-dollar yacht, the ability to rent a Ferrari everywhere you go. What you do have is a network of possibilities and ingenuity that will lead you to the same places if you have the will power.
#YOLO: Make Your Travel Dreams Happen!
Is it true that you can put traveling off? Of course you can, but do you really want to? Life is short and you don't know when the opportunity will present itself again. Do it while you can and live life to the fullest. Chasing your own path might not necessarily mean it's the best choice possible, but it surely means no regret. Here, a few ways we can make our travel dreams happen sooner:
Start a travel blog!
There are zillions of travel blogs out there, but that doesn't mean yours can't be successful. Look at other blogs and see what makes them unique. You can then find your own style and voice that will make yours stand out. Once you have a good blog established, you can make connections with tourism boards and travel brands that could pay for you to travel so you can write about them on your site or theirs - make yourself known to them as there's no shame in the game! There're also various ways to monetize your sites with affiliate marketing, ad space selling and creating digital products to give you some pocket money on the road. Need some tips and inspirations on blogging? I've got these two travel blogging babes from World Of Wanderlust and Sofia Na Australia spill their blogging secrets here previously.
Offer your couch!
You can make some money offering your couch to travellers by signing up as a host on sites like Airbnb or CouchSurfing.com. What you are doing is offering them an affordable form of lodging and they can do the same for you when you travel. What does this mean? Take the money you make and find someone you can stay with anywhere in the world. What a neat way to meet people, make lifelong friends from everywhere and see the world!
Start an investment portfolio
While there are ways to minimize the amount of money you need, such as staying with those offering their couch to people like you, you will still need money to get to your destination. An investment portfolio is a great way to do that because you can invest money and then watch it grow. You can invest in short-term investment and pick a company that allows you to start with a relatively small capital such as Nutmeg so you can cash out and use the money to travel when you need it.
Check out housesitting sites like mindmyhouse.com
Housesitting is a wonderful way in which you can stay in the city of your choice for free. You simply take care of the home while the owners are gone and then you can be on your way when they get back. Your duties may include walking the dog, cuddling their kittens (if they wish to be cuddled that is), watering the plants, getting the mail, keeping the house tidy and safe. As for whether or not you get paid, it's an even trade. You watch the house and have a place to stay in the meantime. Sound brilliant, right? Here're my recommendations:
- Ask exactly what you need to do while the homeowners are gone.
- Make sure you ask them if there are rooms they don't want you to go into.
- Make sure you know exactly how the washing machine and other appliances work.
- Ask them for references from others that have housesat for them before.
- Make sure you have all of their contact information.
- Before you ever housesit, communicate well and often with the homeowner so the two of you get to know each other.
Here's a good read on housesitting.
Volunteer overseas!
You don't get paid when you volunteer, but there may be opportunities available that cover your lodging and even your meals. Perhaps there is a village in need of gardens, fresh water, or medical care. There are also clinics and orphanages around the world such as Cambodia, Nepal and Fiji that need volunteers. When you are not doing your volunteer duties, you can usually have someone drive you around so you can see the sights.
Find a partner who shares your wanderlust and keeps you motivated.
Sometimes it's good to not go at this alone. When you have a friend who shares your dream, the two of you can do this together. That will keep you motivated and will make sure your eye stays on the prize.
Stop Thinking About it and Just Do it
So my fellow travellettos, if you start right now with any of the above tips, you are putting yourself one step closer to being able to expand your horizon without anything holding you back. What's more is you can make your travel dream happen on a shoestring budget, allowing you to see the world on your own time. The world is your oyster so go feasting!
Need more inspirational travel quotes to fuel your wanderlust? I hear you, lovelies. Check out these 15 cutest travel quotes I put together for you previously.
Now tell me dear readers, what are some ideas that you have to make traveling around the world possible? Have you ever tried any of the housesittnig or couch surfing sites? If so, how was your experience? Do you blog to fuel your wanderlust? I'd love to know how far you go to reach your travel dreams so do leave your comments here.
Until next time, stay curious and keep exploring.
