How to travel when you’re broke as a joke

Believe you can and you're half way there. - Theodore Roosevelt

You have a wanderlusting urge to travel but don’t have the funds to support your lofty goals.
Maybe you’re in debt.
What do you do?

First of all, you are not alone. It would be a mistake to think that all of those people on your Instagram feed exploring the far corners of the earth are rolling in cash. I can tell you with certainty that a lot of them aren’t. There are many ways to travel the globe without having (or spending) a fortune.

I’m not going to waste time convincing you to travel, if you’re reading this, you probably already have your reasons and are serious about actually doing something about it.

Instead, let’s focus on how you’re going to do it.

Below are some great ways to get the wheels in motion. The common thread to all of them is working while abroad. Often people think that to go overseas you must be going with a ton of money in your pocket. But if you are really wanting to make travel an important part of life, it pays to start thinking of it less as a break from your life and more as part of your life.

So without further adieu, here are a few options to make that happen:

Work Abroad Visa

Many countries offer temporary visas to tourists that allow you to work for a period of 1 to 2 years. Depending on your age and nationality, you may have the opportunity to do this in a number of countries. I have found this AnyworkAnywhere website to be particularly useful for figuring out where you can go and for how long.  

This is the option I chose because it involved a higher degree of flexibility in terms of what I would be doing when I arrived.

Pros: Allows you to really get to know a place and make money at the same time, flexible daily life.
Cons: Age restrictions (usually 30-35 is the cut off), nationality restrictions (Americans have fewer options than members of the British Empire, for example). You must be flexible with the type of jobs you are willing to take.
​Real world: Read a story from someone who  did it.

Teach English Overseas

Teaching English can get you to some pretty amazing places. I know several people who have seen huge chunks of the world by basing themselves in a foreign country to teach and make money, and then using all of their time off to explore nearby countries. GoAbroad.com is a pretty helpful site to learn more about it.
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Pros: Real insight into a country, rewarding work, get paid, you can do it for many years.
Cons: Initial investment for certification or formal teaching credentials, remuneration and perks vary widely across different countries.

Join the Peace Corp

This one is only for Americans but given the lack of foreign visa options for them and the quality of this program, it’s definitely worth a mention. I’ve also recently met quite a few people who have done a stint with the Peace Corp and was so impressed by both their stories and their character. It sounds like an incredible, life-changing opportunity. While you won’t make tons of money, your expenses will be paid and you will receive a resettling payment  when you return to the US ($8000). Plus, your job prospects will be higher with Peace Corps experience under your belt.  

Pros: Rewarding work, insight into a foreign country, living expenses and arrangements taken care of. Minimal age restrictions, no application fees. Possible student loan help. Money upon return, desirable work experience under belt.
Cons: Must commit two years of service, not all that flexible.
​Real world:  Read a story from someone who  did it.

Get a job in the travel industry

Another way to travel and make money is to become part of the industry itself. The most obvious choice would be to work for an airline or a cruise line. The specific jobs in these areas vary greatly, but the benefit shared would be the ability to travel and see new places across the globe. Flight attendant or cruise ship staff member would be the most common but you might also aim for a role with a travel outfit of another sort, like a hotel chain, travel agency or tour company that offers travel perks. Let your imagination guide you and let Google help you discover what opportunities could be out there waiting for you.

Pros: Potential for long term career, fairly stable, decent money.
Cons: Initial investment for training, long hours.

Become a nanny

If you’re great with children and want to really get to know a foreign community, consider becoming an au pair abroad. Being welcomed into someone’s family is a special thing and the insight you gain from such an experience is invaluable. Discover a new country with the help of a local, and get paid at the same time. Interexchange.org provides information about requirements for various host countries, check it out!

Pros: Insight into a new country, sense of community, save money, explore on your time off, certain programs cover travel expenses.
Cons: Age restrictions (most have age cut offs at around 26-30).
​Real world:  Read a story from someone who  did it.

Work online

Perhaps the most flexible option of all to allow you see what you want and when, would be to find a way to make money online. Given how much commerce happens online these days, it should be no surprise that there are opportunities to get a piece of the pie. It takes work but it is possible if you stick with it. Check out these suggestions from Forbes to get a general idea of what you could do and then go forth and find your niche.

Pros: Ultimate flexibility, can travel on tourist visas.
Cons: Difficult at first, work is always with you.

This is by no means an exhaustive list. Probably the best thing you can do is start thinking outside the box to find ways to make this happen.

You don’t have to have a career by a certain age. You don’t need to buy a house ever if you don’t actually want one. Marriage and babies are not necessarily a given and definitely not by the time you’re ‘28’ or whatever magic number you had in your head.

You can make your daily life happen in a different country and pay bills at the same time.

When you start to let go of some of those society imposed guidelines, new, more creative and exciting opportunities rise up to take their place. Let them. Embrace the unknown and the undefined path, you won’t regret it.

Did we miss anything? Do you have anything to add? ​

Author - Meghan Advent

Meghan is co-creator and head editor for Travelher.org. She just returned from Antarctica, her seventh and final continent and a dream come true. She has completed many trips without a pot to piss in. She has one now though.