How I Travel
I thought I would write about how I save money, as if that were the most important factor facilitating my lifestyle - my traveling for extended amounts of time. But now that I am writing this, I realize saving money is just one part. Maybe even the easiest part? It is way more difficult to get up and go. To abandon comforts, homes, friends. To exchange known for unknown.
Saving money is an important part of traveling for extended time, don’t get me wrong, and I’m pretty good at it. I recently heard that being possessive of money is a Scorpio trait. So whether by the stars or the moons, saving money comes naturally to me.
Just the other day I said to my sister that I might go a bit crazy and spend all my savings during my next adventure - a visit to Japan in mind. She replied, “ So you’ll spend $5?” I don’t really think of myself as being frugal, but I guess I can be.
I think of myself more low maintenance when it comes to costs. Though not at all devoid of the desire to consume (I buy way too much coffee), I would say thriftiness keeps me afloat. Literally thrifting, buying most things second hand, and other practices like eating homemade and the goal to minimize my personal waste weeds out many unnecessary costs.
Most of all it is my desire to travel for an extended time that enables me to be thrifty. To save the money and create a dynamic that enables such flexibility, I really believe that if traveling is something you want to do you can make it happen. As with anything else you want in life, sometimes it just takes time and a little figuring out.
I am often asked how exactly I live the way that I do.
In my case, there are many unique factors that contribute to my ability to travel, some self-made and some gifted to me by circumstance. I wanted to break it down with hopes of explanation, maybe even inspiration. I want traveling for extended time to seem possible. Here are a few initial thoughts, more to come.
HOW I TRAVEL FOR MONTHS ON END
Limited Expenses
At 25 my cost of living is most likely the least expensive it will ever be. I pay two bills every month, one for my phone and a credit card bill that averages $320. I don’t have a lease, a car, and thanks to Obama I am covered by my parents health insurance for one more year.
I have student loans. But because I work roughly 8 months out of the year, earning a tiny annual salary, my income driven payments are $0 each month. Yes, I could contribute to my loans in a sad attempt to pay off the interest. I choose not to, knowing I will accrue plenty more debt in graduate school. Instead I use that money to live and travel now.
Not having a lease or steady home means I don’t pay to maintain or decorate a physical space. I don’t have a steady utility bill, or a dog, or a child.
I like to run or exercise outside so I don’t pay for classes, despite the constant temptation to buy membership to a climbing gym. I enjoy eating homemade, so I don’t eat out all that much. I have pretty inexpensive vices: dark chocolate, coffee, and a crisp craft beer at the bar with friends.
I have living costs, but in general I save more than I spend.
A Nest Egg
A term used to describe one’s savings or financial safety net. I began to develop my nest egg in college after realizing I was in a unique position, one that would never happen again. In addition to classes I was working over 20 hrs a week, and yet my dad was supporting me: paying my rent, phone bill, groceries, and paying for my education. This is a privilege of my circumstance and unfortunately not available to all. It was a grace period through which I was able to establish a base line of savings, graduating with approximately $15,000 in savings.
Since then, I have maintained a Nest Egg of $10,000. I try very hard to not dip below this base line while dedicating all surplus to living and traveling.
Flexibility
Another characteristic of my nature. I am comfortable going with the flow and having a loose plan subject to changes at any time. Changes often informed and influenced by my current situation or my intuition. Ultimately, my comfort with a lack of planning, with floating around, or being “fancy free” as my dad would say, is fueled by a general understanding of what I want out of life. I might not have a plan, but I have direction. I am not aimless or without purpose.
I position myself in employment that enables me to simultaneously save a little money and be free to leave when I am ready: jobs that are temporary for me, or odd jobs. I choose jobs that keep me untethered over those completely relevant to building a career. Though I believe every experience is relevant and worthy.
I achieve similar flexibility in housing through subletting or staying with friends.
Let me explain:
I am currently staying with one of my best friends here in Ann Arbor. Paying a small amount of rent to her to live in her living room (read more here). Through her generosity I am not only saving money, but have the flexibility to leave whenever I am ready - sometime at end of November. This means I also have the flexibility to purchase a flight based on price, not a specific day or time. Finding, creating or fostering flexibility can be one of the most important parts of saving for traveling, and is just as important when you finally hit the road.
My Greatest Privilege
Born of an Irish mother and American father, I am a dual citizen, meaning I hold passports for both nations. Two nationalities that are gifted the freedom to travel our planet unchallenged by visas. When I decided to travel for several months through South America, I never had to consider whether I was welcome to do so. My second thoughts were financial and logistical considerations. I will have a similar experience when traveling through Europe, or if I decide to extend my next adventure through Southeast Asia and New Zealand as well.
This has also saved me money in past travels. For example, at the Bolivian boarder my American compatriots were charged $200 per entrance - the current president is not a fan of the US. To avoid these charges, not enormous in the realm of visas, but significant when considering cost of living in Bolivia. I made sure to enter with my Irish passport, free of charge.
I fund my travels and adventures, but my parents have enabled me to do so. They facilitated the growth of my savings, and they provide me with health insurance. They provide a safety net, for if I was ever stuck, in trouble or needed help they would help. That is a type of insurance not everyone has and it is a huge reason I am able to travel.