You’ve probably noticed over the last 6-12 months that I’ve been away at least once a month, if not more. Whether it’s popping up to Scotland for some camping, exploring the souks in Morocco or taking in the beauty of the Alps, I’m always on an adventure somewhere. My friends and family always joke about how they rarely see me working.
The fact is, the world we live in today allows everyone a chance to shape their own destiny no matter where they are in the world. There’s a growing movement of people who are doing it and so can you. Today I am going to show you how I am able to travel regularly without going broke, and how you can too.
Offer Freelance Services
With the internet, anyone who cares badly enough can buy their freedom from the corporate world just by typing on their laptop. The internet is the greatest tool ever invented for financial and location independence. As someone who travels a lot, this model works great for me as I can make money from anywhere in the world.
If you haven’t realized it yet, the gig economy on the internet is so huge that you can replace your full-time salary in a matter of months freelancing online and/or side hustling. I have found success and worked with very interesting people online at a level I never imagined possible.
If you are currently gainfully employed, you’ve got proven skills that people are willing to pay for. Your employer wouldn’t be paying you if they couldn’t make a profit off your work. When you get rid of the middle man – your employer – and go straight to the customer, you can make even more money if you are smart and have reasonable self-discipline to work without supervision.
Make Money Blogging
Old media is dying. Look around you. Everyone is either looking at their phone or at their laptop screen. You are also reading this on a screen. You, just like everyone else around you, are consuming content that was created by someone who is probably no smarter than you.
These people make money off the attention you give them. Just as newspapers raked in lots of money-trading eyeballs, bloggers and websites are trading impressions and clicks to advertisers. I have made money blogging because I take blogging seriously. Treat your blogging business like a real business with its own separate bank account, business credit card, legal name and work hours.
Travel On The Cheap
I have mastered the art of getting great travel deals. You’ve probably seen YouTube videos of people traveling around the world first-class by collecting air miles and squeezing every point they can from their travel credit cards. If you travel regularly, you’ll quickly learn that travel companies want to keep their most loyal customers for the long term and they are willing to do almost anything to keep them coming back.
It is not manipulative as it helps them get a lifelong customer while helping you travel on the cheap. As long as the company is making a profit in the long term and you make savings, everyone is happy.
Sometimes, I Don’t Pay for Hotels!
I didn’t mention this, but my blog, in some instances, allows me opportunities to travel almost for free. My blog attracts an audience that every company will pay money to reach. If I wanted to travel somewhere and I am running short on cash, I can just email hotels and tour companies and mention that I run a travel blog and would appreciate it if they gave me a deal in return for reviewing their service. Not all companies will agree but the conversion rate is pretty decent.
This is one of the reasons why you should start blogging if you are going to be traveling a lot. You practically have nothing to lose. What’s the worst thing that could happen? You ending up with a blog chronicling your travels even if only a handful of people read it is not a bad deal at all.
My goal here is not to brag but to inspire you. None of the things I have done are extraordinary. If you start taking steps today in the right direction, you’ll wake up one day a free human. The key is to start. Start today!