When you start planning a trip, the biggest concern would usually be making the money for it. Most people would start by saving up an amount of money, enough to realize their dream vacation. There is nothing wrong with that, but your travel time will always be finite. Having enough money to travel as long as you like is a freedom hard to beat.
Maybe instead of waiting until you save enough money to make your trip come true, you can head off much earlier and make your money on the way! For many it seems like a wild dream, but more and more full time travelers around the world make this a reality. There are few ways that I can recommend and hopefully you get inspired to create your own one.
While traveling, you can make yourself valuable in a similar way you do it while staying permanently in one place. However, it is good to know the tools offered widely nowadays that can help you make some extra money independent of your location.
Find an online job
Most jobs available in cities nowadays are happening through a computer. Companies more and more realize that there is no need to increase the expenses paying for offices. Even the employees seem more productive and pleased while working from a place of their choice. Especially after Covid times, there is an exponential increase in the remote jobs available.
Almost all professions can be transferred in some form online. Especially for professions like engineers, graphic designers, marketers and teachers the opportunities are abundant.
In order to spot remote jobs according to your skillset, it is good to build a professional profile on some online platforms like
or freelance platforms like
Social media like Instagram and Facebook as well as other social networks can help a lot in finding good remote job opportunities. Once you start knowing more about these online work communities, more and more chances will appear.
In some countries employers get favorable taxes on employees that work from home. So it’s possible that after a talk with your current employer you would end on an agreement and you could get your work done from a distance. So now, you can keep your job, or find one that allows you to travel at the same time!
Rent your house
This is a great way to travel for people who own property. On some occasions it could be enough for you to travel the world just by renting your house. Rents all around the world keep on rising and the demand is as high as ever. With some proper budgeting, you can make your profits sufficient to cover all your travel expenses.
It is also a good idea to invest money into buying property, or even building one by yourself. You can then rent it out and create a passive income stream that will only increase in value.
There are various profitable ways to rent out your house nowadays. One of those is Airbnb, where everyone can be a host and sign their house out for rent. If you add some digital advertising knowledge and get positive reviews from hosts, you can turn your apartment rental into a rewarding business.
You can also join facebook pages with rental news around the region and post your property as available for rent. Local agencies can also help out and get you some more potential customers.
Teach english or other language.
Teaching English or any other language you know really well can become a full or a part time job. It can happen online while being on the road or you can do it physically in every destination. In many parts of the world, you will just need to be a native speaker, or prove high level knowledge in order to get accepted in a well paid teaching position.
Opportunities can be found in kindergartens, private or public schools, universities or business groups. Getting a TEFL certification can get more doors open.
Around the world there are also NGOs and organizations that offer work exchanges including free accommodation and food for teachers and volunteers. That could be a great way to save off your budget and offer your knowledge to help others.
Invest your money
Warren Buffet, a famous American investor, says that if you don’t find a way to make money while you sleep, you will have to work until you die. A good way to put your money into work is investing it into something that will have a greater value in the future.
Stock trading can be a way of multiplying your capital, if you learn your ways around it. There are various platforms (like eToro in Europe or Robinhood in the US) that allow you to create an account, connect it with your bank and invest the money you wish in stocks, indices, commodities or even currencies.
Before playing around with your money, it is important to get correctly educated. The educational sources on the internet are limitless, and you can find youtube videos or blogs with a lot of information and news on the trading world.
Cryptocurrencies are also an interesting technology to invest part of your capital. It is still in early ages, and quite volatile, which means big profits if you learn how to trade it. It is not as complicated as it seems, and with correct guidelines you can make it more secure.
Create things to sell
This could be a great way for the creative ones to make some money. If you enjoy making art and you are good at it, you could use your trip as an opportunity to promote your designs. It can be jewelry, clothes, paintings, food or anything you are good at making with your hands. Imagination is the limit! As you get better at it, both on the designing and the selling part, you can depend more and more on it for your travel expenses.
Seasonal work
In recent years, seasonal work has become a popular choice among long term travelers. Seasonal work usually consists of fruit or vegetable picking and farming. It’s not uncommon for travelers visiting Australia and New Zealand to acquire one of the infamous working holiday visas. In this way, they can legally accept short seasonal work offers, and make the money you need to keep on traveling.
It’s a win-win situation for the local farmers as well since they rely on those cheap working hands to get the work done. I would recommend it to people who are not afraid of physical work, and prefer working more intensely for smaller time periods.
Find volunteers in all fields
Volunteering opportunities are easy to find and they can spread in different fields. I have been volunteering in various countries, and I have some of my favorite memories during these work exchanges. Normally, you get your accommodation and food expenses covered, and you can benefit from a deep dive in the original culture. You can also build on your current profession with hands-on experience and learn new valuable skills to use for life.
I have been mainly using the workaway app to find volunteering spots around the world. They can vary from engineering projects, to teaching and construction work. It is definitely worth a try!
Make your own online business
Having your own business might sound very complicated or expensive. It doesn’t have to be though. Nowadays, in order to sell your products online, there is no need for physical space or employees.
In online market platforms (like Skroutz in Greece or Amazon in the US and other parts of the world) you are allowed to store your products in the company’s storage space just for a fee.
With a small capital you can then import some products and sell them in the local market. Soon, you could grow your orders and expand to a bigger audience.
You can achieve better results if you get educated around digital marketing. Instagram, Facebook and Google ads are the most important tools that will bring your product closer to the public.
There is a lot of educational material online and you can learn how to build your website from scratch or how to promote your first business in simple steps. You just need to put the idea in!
Teach what you know
Sharing your talents with people along the road can be a great way to finance your trip. It can be anything, from dancing classes, yoga sessions and massages to football, guitar and programming. On the coast of Ecuador, I met a friend who is traveling the world thanks to teaching Tai Chi. He is so passionate about it, that the people he meets on his way are happy to pay in order to get some of his experience.
Teaching while traveling has turned many travelers’ hobbies into full time jobs. Sharing your passion with other people can generate profit. Especially if it is a knowledge of your own culture, sharing it with a distant one can be a rare opportunity for the people who get to know you.
Conclusion
If you really want to travel full time and make money independent of your location, then you should be happy you were born in our times. Nowadays, there is a way for anyone to use his skills and talents in order to produce income while knowing the world. My advice is not to be scared of trying new positions and projects. You can find a fulfilling source of income in the most unexpected opportunities!