How To Live With Less And Travel More
If you want to travel, but the cost is holding you back, it's time to rethink your life. You don't have to be rich to travel and see the world. Here are some tips for living with less and travelling more:
Decide Where You Want To Go
Now that you've decided to go on a journey, it's time to decide where exactly you want to go.
This can be one of the hardest parts of planning your trip because there are so many places that seem cool and fun, but you can't afford or don't want to work remotely from any of them. This makes it tough for first-time travelers who aren't sure where they want to end up at each stage of their trip (i.e., when they're done traveling).
The best thing I've found is choosing somewhere that resonates with your soul based on what type of person you are and what inspires you. Think about what kind of activities make your heart sing and then narrow down all the places in the world that could provide those opportunities. Maybe this means mountains in Colorado (if someone like me loves hiking), or maybe this means beaches in Thailand (if someone like my husband loves surfing).
Find a Job
To find a job, you need to know where to look. Consider the following:
Make a list of places that need people with your skills. This can be done by thinking about where you've already worked, or maybe even where friends/family suggested might be helpful. It's also possible to search on websites like Indeed and Glassdoor, which will give you an idea of what is out there.
Once that's done and you've found some potential employers, think about how your background relates specifically to their work needs (and if not, think about how it could). Tailor your resume and cover letter accordingly so they show off what makes YOU uniquely qualified for this specific role—what value do YOU bring? Something like "I'm really good at getting along with people! This would be great because [insert company name here]." Or something like that...you get the picture! Make them want more information from YOU! Use keywords in your resume but don't make it sound like spamming for jobs because then nobody will read them anyway...don't worry too much about writing perfect prose either; just write clearly enough so people know what kind of experience/skillset/education level etcetera etcetera
Save Money
There are many ways to save money while traveling. Here are some ideas on how you can live with less and travel more:
Save money on rent by living in a cheaper place, or even better, getting a roommate!
Save money on food by cooking your own meals at home. If you must go out to eat, use Yelp or Google Maps to find the best restaurant deals in your area.
Save money on transportation by biking or walking instead of taking Ubers everywhere (or even using public transportation). You may also consider buying an electric scooter if you don't want to bike everywhere—they're cheap but they'll help get you where you need to go quickly and easily!
Save money on utilities by turning off lights when not in use (or investing in smart bulbs) and unplugging electronics when not charging them. This will reduce energy consumption and therefore lower your monthly bill as well! Make sure that all electronics are off before leaving them unattended for long periods of time—this includes laptops as well as televisions/radios/stereos etcetera."
Transfer Your Phone Number
You'll need a phone number that works in your destination. If you don't already have one, get one. And if you already have one but it doesn't work in your destination, switch it to a forwarding service that does.
This is especially important for travelers who are new to this lifestyle and don't yet realize how much we rely on our phones for everything from booking flights and hotels to finding the best local spots where locals hang out (which means less crowds).
Switch Your Main Residence to a Mail Forwarding Service
Mail Forwarding Service (MFS) is the easiest way to live with less while traveling.
You can use MFS to receive mail at your current address and then forward it to wherever you are traveling.
There are two main services:
United States Postal Service (USPS): For $1/day, they will forward your mail for up to 2 years. To set up a USPS MFS, go here and fill out the form. Make sure to include all of the addresses where you plan on receiving mail during that time period! It will take about 3 weeks for them to process everything, but once it's done, all newly-arriving mail will be forwarded on its way without further intervention from you.
Create a Budget and Create an Emergency Fund
The first step to living with less is creating a budget and an emergency fund. The best way to do this is to sit down, look at your current income and expenses, and figure out how much money you need on a monthly basis to cover all of them. If you have any debts or loans that need paying off, take those into account too. Once you know how much money goes out each month then start saving for emergencies by putting aside anything above what’s needed for bills and essentials (food) until you have enough saved up for three months' worth of living expenses—this will keep everything running smoothly if something unexpected happens like the loss of income from an injury or job loss.
Once that's done it's time to think about fun stuff! Budgeting should be flexible enough so that there’s room in your life for things like going out with friends, taking weekend trips away from home, buying new clothes when needed (or even splurging on something special), etc., but don't go overboard! Nowadays everyone has access online so if necessary use apps like Mint or Personal Capital which help track spending habits across multiple accounts such as credit cards/debit cards/bank accounts etc.. This way if it looks like one area might cause problems later down the road (like eating out every night) then maybe cut back some before it gets bad again.
Minimise Your Belongings
The first step to living with less is to stop buying things you don't need. If you don't already know what it feels like to live without something, then you don't really need it.
Stop buying things that you will only use once or twice and then never use again. Don't buy a new pair of shoes just because they are on sale, even if they are really cute! You'll be able to get by with the ones that are comfortable and broken in already.
You may think that buying stuff keeps you busy but this isn't true and can actually be quite draining mentally and emotionally as well as financially. Instead of buying stuff, why not take up a new hobby or learn something new? This will help keep your mind active while also making life more interesting!
Don’t waste money on things which will just end up being wasted later either; ebay could be an option here although there may be other creative ways around this problem as well!
Learn About Carefree Travel Packing
The first step to living a carefree, nomadic lifestyle is learning how to pack light. You may be inclined to overpack, but this will cost you time as well as money. Travelling light allows for quicker transitions from one place to another and for less time waiting around for your things at security and customs checkpoints.
Learning how not to take everything with you helps reduce stress when travelling and makes it easier for you to adapt if something happens and you need a change of plans.
Here are some tips on how not only what but also how much:
Make traveling your main goal in life, not just a dream!
Traveling is a great way to learn about the world, other cultures and yourself. Traveling will teach you to be more open minded and less judgmental. It’s also a great way to meet new people who have experienced things you have never before thought of experiencing. And it can help you figure out what kind of person you want to be in this big wide world.
Now that you know how to travel the world on a budget, it’s time to start planning your next adventure! Don't forget to check out our blog for more tips and tricks on how to live a carefree life full of travel and adventure!
