A few readers have asked me how I afford my life of constant travels. Â Let me just start out by saying that I do not have a rich uncle who thought it would be nice to send me on an endless trip around the world, although that would be really nice!
I’ve worked on and off (but mostly on) since I was 15 years old. Â I graduated with student loan debt just like everybody else whose parents aren’t made of money, I paid my rent on my own after graduating, and I handled all of my bills myself.
The truth is, I held a well-paying job for about four years before taking off to travel. Â I graduated from a four-year university (UCSB and I’m darn proud to be a Gaucho) in just three years, got a scholarship to study Mandarin in Taiwan, and then I came back home to Southern California in 2008 and picked up a job pretty quickly. Â I worked at a buy-side investment bank and was lucky enough to close two semi-major deals before my departure, resulting in some nice commissions.
Everyone who travels long term has to save up a stockpile of money first.
For me, there were about four years of saving up and living cheaply. Â I invested most of what I made, and the rest I kept in cash after paying off all of my student loans. Â I’m not a big spender, have never had credit card debt (I don’t believe in spending what I don’t have) and figured at some point I’d be glad to have the savings.
The years passed and I stopped feeling fulfilled with life. Â I realized I wanted to travel and thankfully, I had the cash to do it. Â I had about $24,000 saved up before taking off on my trip to Southeast Asia. Â To bolster that up, I sold off most of what I owned, ended the lease on my apartment, and largely made my life bill-free.
In my breakdown of 6 months of travel, I illustrate how cheap traveling in Southeast Asia can be on a shoestring budget.
What I didn’t mention in that article is that I also lumped Australia and New Zealand into my trip, and those places are NOT CHEAP. Â Not in the slightest! Â I spent more during those 2.5 months in Oceania than 6 months combined in Southeast Asia, seriously.
I offset some of my costs by working in a high-end shoe shop in Melbourne for a month-ish.

That was short-lived, however, and I spent almost everything I made just trying to pay rent, eat, and survive in Oz.
In short, IÂ went through a big chunk of my savings during the ten months that I spent traveling over the past year.
This year, I have to get creative in order to keep traveling.Â
When I returned home for a 2-month visit this summer, I had to get serious about how I’d afford my next year of travel. Â So, I sold my beloved BMW, which is a huge deal for a Southern Californian, given we lack reliable public transportation. Â I have also started going through what limited belongings I have left, choosing items from my closet to sell on Poshmark (take a look if you want my designer duds on the cheap!)
I also do make some money off of this website. Â The amount grows each month and I have you (yes YOU) to thank for this. Â Every comment, share, email, and tweet help out in a huge way to get the word out. Â Readership keeps compounding and my number of Facebook fans, Instagram followers, Twitter loves, and Pinteresters keeps growing.
I have trouble conveying the magnitude of what this means, because it quite literally does mean the world to me that people like you read this.
Want to help me keep going?
Share:Â Each time you share something on social media, it creates a story that other people who may not be aware of Be My Travel Muse might see. Â Taking it a step further, encouraging your friends to like the fan page on Facebook is a huge help. Â It’s simple to do – just invite friends to like it via this page. Â Each time I reach an important milestone, I’ll give something meaningful from my travels to a select reader. Â It’s my way of trying to say thank you, although I can never really thank you enough.
Support: Â A good chunk of my compensation comes from affiliate sales through Apple and Amazon. Â I recently wrote a post detailing absolutely everything I travel with, use regularly, and wouldn’t hesitate to recommend. Â The things I never ended up using during my trip and/or failed to find useful didn’t make it into the article. Â I promise never to suggest you purchase something that I don’t use and absolutely love.
Even if you do not end up purchasing the product I suggest, simply following the affiliate links when you wish to make an Amazon purchase will still give me a small percentage and will cost you nothing. Â Just by stopping by my website and following an affiliate link to buy the things you normally would, you can help me out big time!
Also, check the “support” category from time to time. Â I will update it with new, easy, and cost-free ways that you can help me keep traveling.
My promise to you:Â I will always be honest on Be My Travel Muse. Â I sometimes am given a percentage off of things like diving tours in exchange for writing about the experience. Â Luckily I love the company I worked with and would recommend them even if I had paid full price. Â If I ever feel differently, I promise to tell you that. Â I never guarantee a positive review and only give them where deserved.
I will always seek off the beaten path experiences and will keep providing budget guides to help you plan for your trips.
Tell me what I can do for you:Â Lastly, tell me how I can help you. Â I really do love the emails and comments I get from readers. Â You guys give me some of my best ideas. Â I wrote about why I love solo travel since I got so many questions about it, and even this post has come about because a few of you asked.
Please always feel free to contact me. Â You are what makes writing this blog, and all of the time, blood, sweat, and tears that go into it, totally worth it.
Naomi says
I imagine that is one of your most frequent questions! It annoys me that people assume that I’m rich to have travelled so much. I can understand where they’re coming from but it took a lot of elbow grease (I worked in a fast food shop for 2 years whilst still at high school) cutting back and saving to go travel. Sounds like you’ve got a good financial philosophy so keep at it and keep travelling!
Kristin says
Thanks Naomi. Everyone I met had worked either an extra job or had saved up for a while to travel over the long haul. Nobody had an easy way around it. When it comes down to it, hard work is necessary!
Ashley Hubbard says
Love this post! I’m currently in the process of saving up, moving back in with my mom (I said I’d never do that again), selling off all my possessions, and probably getting a 2nd job. My life might suck for a little while, but it will all pay off this time next year 🙂
Kristin says
I’m living at my mom’s house too right now. It’s not so bad!
Hogga says
wow, good for you!
Whitney says
Hi!
I am a loyal reader of your blog and really identify with a lot of what you write; I spent this summer in southeast Asia and fell in love with the region and its people. I travel a lot and have lived abroad, but I am pretty aware of the fact that the reason I can do it is because I am privileged – traveling has only made me far more aware of this privilege. I have worked since I was 14 as well, but I think it’s really important to identify the distinction between “not being a big spender” in America and the way that American travelers are perceived in the developing countries that they visit. If you have a BMW, you are extremely advantaged by southeast Asian standards. Having a house with running water makes you extremely privileged in comparison with most of the world.
I hope the tone of this is not interpreted as criticism; that is not my intention at all – I just think the relatively of privilege is extremely interesting and it’s so important to be aware of it, when traveling and when at home. Even generalizing about southern Californians can be problematic. Sixteen percent of Los Angeles households don’t own cars (I just googled that), let alone BMWs. Most people, even when they start working as teenagers, pay for all or part of their college, and get a good job, can’t travel like this.
Anyway, I really like your posts and look forward to reading more.
Whitney
Kristin says
Whitney,
You bring up a very good point and I’m humbled by what you said. I am lucky just by virtue of being born where I was born and being from a country that allows me access to so much of the world. I never take this for granted. I was overcome with gratitude when meditating the other day, coming to the realization that I AM really lucky. It’s important never to lose that perspective.
That said, I worked my butt off for years. I was in a cubicle more than I wasn’t – that’s the point I’m making. I know that my income was much higher than a lot of people’s, especially for the age that I was, but that came about from nothing other than hard work.
So glad that you enjoy the blog and thank you for bringing up this point of view.
Evan says
During your 6 months in SE Asia did you spend all $24,000 you saved up?
Kristin says
Nope, detailed all of what i spent here: https://www.bemytravelmuse.com/southeast-asia-on-a-budget/
Claire says
I’m glad you wrote this article, and I’d be interested to know how you became an investment banker/if it was a hard profession to give up once you had your position. From my (extremely, extremely) limited understanding, it seems like an intense job and leaving it probably surprised a few people.
I’m in a profession that doesn’t pay particularly well (relatively speaking) but is getting harder and harder to break into. I’ve found that my choice to leave it to travel is very surprising to everyone, even those that knew of my plans (I guess they assumed I would do it some other “someday”).
I love your blog, and can’t wait to keep reading 🙂
Kristin says
I applied for the job, interviewed, and got the offer. I had a fairly high GPA from undergrad and relevant work experience, which helped a lot.
Marilyn says
Hey Kristen,
Thanks for posting on this subject! Was it hard for you to find a job in Australia? I’m from the States, and am SHOCKED at how high your wage was.
Kristin says
I got hired by the first place I applied to. It’s pretty easy to find a job there. The min. wage is pretty high, and actually goes up with age! Kind of a foreign concept to me but I wasn’t complaining! You have to factor in cost of living, though. A pint of ice cream was $12, for example, and a bottle of water was $4. Rent is very high as is produce and other foods and especially drinks. You make more but you spend more.
BakoymaTravels says
Great post, the ones about funding are always interesting for prospecting RTW’ers 😉 Do you find the odd jobs abroad or was that a one-time OZ thing? And how do you go about it? Do you check listings or do you just turn up an ask for work?
Thanks for sharing!
Kristin says
Thanks 🙂
The only other odd job I picked up was painting a mural in Laos. I got about $100 for it. Nothing impressive but it was fun for me 🙂
OCDemon says
I actually appreciate the straightforward honesty here, because a lot of the “how I afford to travel” posts generally just consist of “I work, dammit!” or “I just don’t stay in fancy hotels, dummy!” instead of conveying that in order to travel for several months at a time, you need several thousand dollars to do so.
There are so few people who start those posts with “you need a large sum of money which you’ll probably drain much faster than you expected” that their advice can be more annoying than useful. And when those people say “it’s so easy to travel cheaply” like they’re fancy shmancy lifehackers who travel ingeniously, while simultaneously saying “I had $20,000 before I left,” well…it’s just silly.
I rarely hear them say, as you do here, “I had tens of thousands of dollars and I spent it.” I think some of the “just go travel, it’s amazing” messaging isn’t as practical as it should be, especially for people who have maybe $2,000 in the bank and THEY are the ones asking how people afford to travel, and then they realize the solution is to have $20,000, but the writers just issue the barely-useful statement of “oh, travel is so cheap! Just go!”
Honesty, kids. It’s sexy.
Kristin says
Thanks! Yeah I’m always a little concerned when I hear that people are heading to SE Asia with only 2k or so. That’s not going to last long at all!
Anwar says
I was totally hoping it was the rich uncle. Or perhaps some like jetset exotic amazing story of suspense and surprise. But seriously its always good to read about people who just make it work, who decide it is important and give up on the things that to them are in a way less important 🙂 Keep up the great blogging and traveling.
Kristin says
I’ve got a few jetset exotic stories of suspense and surprise as well 😉
Marianne says
Hi Kristin
I enjoyed reading your article – it’s a great resource for people wanting to travel for long periods. Well done.
I usually spend four months in Australia and New Zealand over our winter months and manage to keep my costs to a minimum by housesitting. Have you considered that?
Happy travels 🙂
Marianne
Kristin says
Marianne,
I’d really like to try house sitting! I applied to a few but didn’t hear back very often. Do you find that they’re difficult to come by or pretty easy? It seems like it’s hard to start – everyone wants someone with positive reviews and I can’t blame them but I have to start somewhere!
prabuddha.das says
Inspiring.
Sem says
Hey kristin,
Did you need a working visa while you were working in OC? What are the requirements for employment for the travelers like you over there?
Thanks
Kristin says
You mean in Orange County? No, I’m American. If you meant to say Oz then yes, a work and holiday visa. Canadians, UK and European citizens get a working holiday visa. They’re pretty much the same but the latter can be extended for a year whereas Americans don’t have that benefit.
Gaelyn says
I believe it depends on how seriously a person wants to travel then make the changes/sacrifices in life to save for it. That’s what I’ve always done. Working 6 months at the best job in the world, Park Ranger Grand Canyon, allows me to save for 6 months of travel. Now I just have to get the blog to bring in some income to help. Great piece on a constantly asked question.
Kristin says
That does sound like the best job ever!
Joanna Kwong says
I love how honest you are in your posts! The way you break it down makes travel seem more obtainable. I actually did a 9 month working holiday visa in Australia and saved up quite a bit there for my future travels. The Australian dollar goes a long way!
Kristin says
I wonder, had I worked there a lot longer and had more hours, if I could have come out with more money than I went there with. As a tourist it’s brutal, though!
Sem says
Yes, I meant Oz like Oceania. What a typo, lol! Also, did you need to open a bank account to deposit your pay check or they went by cash? Any tax turn needed to be filed then?
Thanks
Rika | Cubicle Throwdown says
This was a great honest post!! For some reason people always think travel bloggers have rich family who funds their travels. I’ve never seen a travel blog with someone like that behind it yet!
Kristin says
Same here!
Monk says
Have you been somewhere without proper planning? Usually how long is it gonna to prepare for solo traveling
Kristin says
I Never plan!
kalika says
So what all do you take with you when you travel?
Kristin says
https://www.bemytravelmuse.com/backpacking-asia-packing-list/ 😉
Kiz says
Hi Kristen,
I also travelled around Australia for a few months and found it to be crazy expensive in comparison to anywhere I’ve ever been! Also you said you spent a month doing work, was that out of choice or did you not find any work out there? I loved travelling in oz, but had to waste my working holiday visa time as work was so difficult to find while I was there! What was your experience of the work?
Kristin says
I found work super easily and ended up with offers the day I started looking. The thing is, it was only casual work and it was hard for me to go from investment banking to working at a shoe shop. I guess it’s an ego thing and I need to check it, but still, I wasn’t a huge fan.
Shannon says
I love this post, I too absolutely hate when people assume that my parents paid for me to travel abroad etc… Worked 70 hour weeks, 15 hour shifts between two jobs to afford to go to australia and went through those savings fairly quickly traveling the east coast. Heading back this September and I am starting to save and it’s definitely not easy!I do love the cheapness of SE Asia, I went there for only two weeks (plan to go back soon) and you can a bit lavishly over there, compared to a backpackers budget of noodles in Australia. Love following your blog, will definitely share it!!
Kristin says
Most people do work really hard to afford it and save for at least a year! Once people realize that though, it becomes a lot more tangible. Anyone in the Western world can do it.
Supreeth says
Your honesty and determination is amazing. Have not seen many blogs that are this open about discussing on affordability.
It is really inspiring to read such blogs.
Nik Sham says
I love your unique blogging style.
Kristin says
Thank you so much!
Map Destinations says
You only ever see fancy resorts, hotels, expensive cruises, and tours advertised, right? Why is that? Because only big companies have large advertising budgets and the more expensive travel you buy, the easier it is for them to make money.