What’s holding you back from traveling? Money. Unfortunately, not all of us are born with a silver spoon in our mouths so as much as we want to visit scenic places and learn about their cultures, it can be difficult, especially for those who constantly struggle in making ends meet.
Finance is one of the biggest issues in traveling but you’ll be surprised to know that you can still engage in this fun activity without burning a hole in your pocket. You don’t need to be wealthy to be able to go to different places – here are genius ways you can do that:
Voluntourism
In exchange for free accommodation or money, you can lend your expertise or showcase your skills. This is called voluntourism, a seamless blend of volunteering and tourism.
Elnur/Shutterstock Help locals by offering services like tutoring
This is one of the hacks of pro-travelers who have no budget. For instance, when you visit a non-English-speaking country, you can offer to teach the locals the basics in the language in exchange for food or a room.
Cooking
A part of embracing the culture of other countries is learning about their food. However, if you have no budget at all, you can always choose to cook your own meals instead of buying from restaurants in the area.
This is applicable to accommodations that have a kitchen. Plus, you’ll be surprised to know that you’ll save tons of money if you choose to cook rather than buy takeouts.
Cheap Flights
One way to get a cheap flight is to sign up for a credit card. Financial institutions usually offer thousands in bonus points when you avail of their card.
Organic Farm Work
WWOOF, or World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms, is an organization that has connections with local farmers in different parts of the globe. Travelers can link with the farms through the group and work in exchange for room and boarding.
Jacob Lund/Shutterstock Stay at a farm in exchange for your service
You don’t even need to have prior farming experience to qualify – as long as you’re dedicated to working, there won’t be a problem. Apart from the experience, your expenses will likely be minimal.
House Sitting
You may have heard of babysitting, but have you got an idea of house-sitting? It is basically watching another person’s house while they are out of town.
Bangkok Click Studio/Shutterstock House sitting will give you free accommodation
There are sites where you can sign up and let you watch somebody else’s abode, sometimes for a fee. This is a great way of staying at a destination without having to shell out any cash -- however, you should make sure that you’re taking care of the house, too.
Free Tours
If you’re really into understanding the place you’re visiting but are broke to join daytours, choose free walking tours. Most European and a few Asian cities, as well as New York and New Zealand, offer touring services for free.
