Let’s dive into the story of Trish, a 35-year-old teacher from England. She was living a pretty standard life in London, teaching adorable five-year-olds at a respected private school. She had a nice apartment just a short walk from her job. But despite all this, she wasn’t satisfied. She was living a good life, but it wasn’t a great one. She had dreams of traveling, but they seemed to be slipping away as she struggled to save money.
So, she made a bold decision. She sold her house, quit her job, and sold all her belongings. She set a budget of 10,000 GBP (around $16,000 USD) for herself and embarked on a journey around the world with just her backpack.
She started her journey in Australia and Asia, and after five months, she still had about a third of her budget left. She didn’t have a specific plan in mind when she started; she just knew she wanted to experience different cultures and visit countries she had always dreamed of.
She considered buying a round-the-world ticket, but the cost and the overwhelming amount of research and planning scared her off. Instead, she decided to start with Australasia. She had been invited to visit a friend in Australia, so she booked a return flight to Brisbane and planned to stop in Singapore on her way back and travel up through Asia.
She wanted to travel differently than the typical backpacker. She planned to do some Couchsurfing, volunteering, and house-sitting to get a real feel for the countries she was visiting.
She did a lot of research before her trip. She looked into what to pack, how to budget, and how to travel cheaply. She also considered teaching English abroad to make her money last longer.
She was both scared and excited before her trip. It was a big step, but once she booked her flight, she was committed. She wasn’t just taking a sabbatical; she was starting a new life as a permanent traveler.
She funded her trip by selling her house and belongings. She set a budget for her travels, and once it was gone, it was gone.
She was surprised by many things on the road. She learned that she could live with fewer clothes and things than she thought. She found that she was never lonely because she always met new people. She was also touched by the kindness of the people she met in the countries she visited.
She stayed on budget by researching accommodation and comparing prices. She used sites like Hostelworld.com to find affordable places to stay. She also ate street food and local cuisine instead of eating in restaurants, and she stuck to local beer when she went out for a drink.
She found that things she thought would be challenges, like dealing with problems in a foreign language, weren’t as difficult as she expected. She learned that she could cope with these situations and that there was always someone willing to help.
Her advice to others who want to travel but think they can’t is simple: Do it! She says that the decision to travel has given her more awe-inspiring moments than she’s had in her entire life. She encourages others to let go of their excuses and live the life they want.
Her story is just one of many. There are countless ways to fund your travels and see the world. It’s all about finding the method that works best for you.
