How to Make Money While Traveling
Our blog article “How to Save Money While Traveling” dispelled the myth that most people can’t afford to travel until retirement.
In this article, we will show you that not only can you make travel affordable, but you can also make money during or even as a direct result of your travel!
If increasing your savings account while away from home appeals to you, read on to learn how to make money while traveling.
Use Your Vacation Days
A recent bloomberg study notes that less than half of Americans use all of their paid vacation days. If you fall into this category, you technically throw away “paid” travel opportunities.
While it may feel like the sky will fall if you leave the office, it’s likely to do the opposite. Scientific research suggests that vacations increase work productivity and result in longer lifespans. Of course, you can’t put a price tag on such benefits!
If you’re an entrepreneur and don’t have PTO, all is not lost. With careful planning, you can align your travel plans with the slower work seasons of the year to ensure that you’ll minimally impact your bottom line.
So, go ahead; regardless of your work position, take the time off that is rightfully yours.
Get a Job
While vacations are always necessary, travel can also be a lifestyle or a frequent occurrence. If you plan to travel multiple times per year or to stay at a destination for more than a few weeks, consider getting a job while you are away.
Remote jobs allow flexibility from anywhere with WIFI. Top remote jobs for travelers include:
Blogger
Copywriter
Stock Photo Photographer
Virtual Assistant
Virtual Assistant
Company Owner
Social Media Marketer
SEO Specialist
Virtual Tutor
If you don’t mind being in one place, working as an au pair, farm worker, hostel employee, or English teacher are all great computer-free options.
If you want a job involving travel, working on a cruise ship or as a flight attendant may be a good fit. Just make sure you research the reality of those lifestyles in advance to ensure they will fulfill your travel aspirations.
Create Passive Income
Although creating passive income can fuel many endeavors beyond travel, it is undoubtedly a great way to get paid on the go.
People usually turn to their interests, talents, and know-how when deciding ways to generate passive income. Below are some of the most common avenues:
Investing in real estate, stocks, bonds, etc.
Writing books or e-books
Creating and selling online courses
Buying blogs or businesses
Establishing passive income sources will require some grunt work, but the efforts will be well worth it. Passive income ultimately provides a supplementary or substantial source of income that frees up time and peace of mind.
Rent Your Place
Renting your home, vacation home, or car is not “passive income” because you must orchestrate lease agreements and communicate with your tenants to arrange maintenance and repairs. However, it can still be a fantastic way to make money on the go.
Also, renting your space can be a “free” form of housesitting. You’ll have someone on your premises to keep an eye on things, and you may even find someone willing to take care of Fido at a discount.
Regardless of your arrangement, renting your space is an excellent way to make your assets work for you.
Sell Your Stuff
While a good, old-fashioned yard sale can still do the trick, the internet has become a hotspot for sales through e-commerce sites such as ebay , craigslist , facebook marketplace , and nextdoor . Other people go so far as to sell or downsize their homes and use the profits toward travel experiences.
While selling your stuff often occurs before rather than during your travels, we still include this tip because you can have items up for internet auction or consignment sale while you are away. Imagine how good it will feel when people bid on your unneeded items while you sip a mimosa in Bali.
This tip is truly a way to turn your dust collectors into dreams.
Choose Your Destination Strategically
Did you know that choosing your travel destination can also make you money? Depending on the length of your stay, visiting a country with a lower exchange rate than your homeland may result in lower monthly expenses than you’d otherwise have.
If you’re dying to get away but don’t have a specific location in mind, you’ll want to explore your options so that you can save money by traveling.
Use Travel or CASH-BACK Credit Cards
While they won’t cover all your trip expenses, cash back or travel cards will essentially “pay” you to travel. So even the most minimal mileage points and cash rewards will add up over time.
Taking a pause to research which cards will give you the best deals is well worth it. Some cards have sign-up bonuses that could make all the difference for your next trip.
Hire a Virtual Assistant
Some of the best ways to make money involve an initial financial investment. If you’re a small business owner, hiring a VA can be a great way to make money while traveling.
With a VA, there’s no need to close up shop while you’re away. Instead, your VA can keep the ball rolling by onboarding new clients, managing your email inbox, running marketing campaigns, and keeping current projects on schedule. In addition to making money for you, having a live person at the helm will allow you to better unplug and experience more peace of mind during your trip (which will result in more of the invaluable health benefits we mentioned earlier).
Final Thoughts
In today’s global world, it is more than possible for most people to travel long before retirement and to make money while doing so.
The world truly is our oyster; don’t let excuses stop you from taking the trip of your dreams. You might even return home with a profit by implementing a few of these strategies.
WRITTEN BY: KATIE BARNETT
