I’ve been getting a ton of questions about the financial side of traveling longterm, so I wrote this little post to help you get an idea about how I do it. And I hope it encourages you to travel more, even if it is on a tight budget because "I WISH I HAD NEVER GONE TRAVELING. SAID NO ONE EVER". 

You don’t have to blow your entire savings on a week in a fancy resort in Santorini, but instead, you can be a traveler for a month or two. 

I STAY IN HOSTELS

• Hostels are cheap 
• You meet lots of new people & make friends 
• You get travel tips from real people with real experience

I was super hesitant to stay in a hostel. I’ve only done so cause my stepbrother was staying in one in Tbilisi and I thought I’d just try it out for one night. Well, little did I know I’d stay there for a month and love every second of it! I’ve made a lot of new friends there with whom I shared fantastic times and it felt like we were one big family. Cooking for each other, going out, having beautiful conversations, staying up till sunrise, exploring the city and falling in love are just a few things we did that month.

All the worries I had about sharing space with others (I absolutely love my privacy) were not even an issue. Being on my own in a hotel room seems a bit boring to me now (although sometimes much needed and so I do just that) and like a waste of money which could be spent on exploring longer and further.

And if you look at some of the budget accommodations I’ve stayed at, you will be a bit jealous, I promise! Just check out my Beds In Garden Hostel (Malaysia) or the Woodstock Beach Camp (Vietnam) reviews to see what you can get for under $10 a night. 

* I have yet to try staying in people’s homes for free via the Couchsurfing app, I’ve heard bad stories and I’ve heard fantastic stories, so I’m definitely looking forward to it but still a bit hesitant to get into it. 

I TRAVEL TO CHEAP COUNTRIES

I haven’t been to Paris but I’ve been to “Little Paris” (which is Lviv). What I would spend in Paris in one week is a budget for a whole month or two of backpacking through Vietnam. I can go to France when my financial situation allows it. Not a big deal if it doesn’t happen today. But I did get a shirt last week from the secondhand shop in Odessa that says: "Mais, Pourquoi Pas Paris".

I SHOP SECONDHAND

For me, buying preloved clothes is a good analogy for romantic relationships: just because it did not work out between Mike & Jane doesn’t mean that Jane and Mike are garbage: Jane will be happy with Ivan, while Mike will find his soulmate when he meets Peter ... well, you get the point. So just because it didn’t work out for you and that lovely tiger print skirt, doesn’t mean that its next stop should be a landfill. Just like with boyfriends: just cause your crush had dated before doesn’t make him tainted or damaged. I could examine this analogy further but you might get bored, I think I've made my point, somewhat.

Shopping in secondhand shops allows me to save money and it is part of an eco-friendly lifestyle. Because I travel with relatively small luggage I do not have space to plan outfits for all seasons and all climates ahead. So when I am in need of new clothes I just buy it at the local second-hand shop. Not always, but most of the time.

Let me show you a couple of my preloved finds.

Also, secondhand shops have evolved: due to overconsumption, 99% of the clothes sold in these stores have never been worn. People in developed countries buy clothes: wash and dry it, store it in the closet and then get rid of it cause it’s out of style the next season. Often, stores just donate items directly that were overproduced or were not in demand. Stores in New York, for example, have been widely criticized for just throwing away massive amounts of brand new clothing that was not sold just so they could keep up appearances and keep the prices high.

I TAKE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION

Because I travel mostly solo, I rarely take taxis. If you are traveling with friends splitting a cab fare between 3 people could definitely work though.

I also take public transportation for safety reasons: being locked in a car on your own with a strange man in an unfamiliar place can be a bit uncomfortable and sometimes dangerous. Thanks to Uber and Grab though, it is an option I use once in a while.

Taking public transport is also a good way to get to know local people and get a general understanding of the culture which you won’t acquire from a trip to the museum. For example, I’ve noticed that in Eastern Turkey it is absolutely normal for everyone to help a woman with a stroller up on a bus without being asked for it (I mean a woman they see for the first time). Even young school kids do it without a wink and they don’t expect a thank you, they don’t even pause their conversation while helping. It is just how it is. And it would be absolutely absurd for a young person to be sitting down on the Bangkok Metro if there is an elderly person standing up. And that’s not how it generally is on the New York subway.

* I also hitchhike depending on the country. I’ve hitchhiked with friends in Romania and Georgia, but Thailand so far has been the only place where I felt safe enough to do it on my own.

I DON'T EAT AT EXPENSIVE RESTAURANTS

And the truth is: when you travel, street food and local “democratic” food is so full of discoveries! It is the true heart of the culture you’ve set out to explore. And I can tell you that I am still daydreaming of going back to Hanoi for a bowl of that Bun Ca I’ve had in a little alley, sitting on the tiniest plastic chair among the locals. And I love how there is no fuss about it: the chef knows it’s absolutely delicious, people come here because it’s the best in town but no one is yapping about it. People just shut up and eat.

I also like my coffee black, which saves me a lot of cash. “Latte Factor” anyone? I’d go for a Flat White if the place looks legit and seems like a barista would know the difference between that and a cappuccino... So when you see me in a trendy coffee shop on Instagram, you know I'm just there for the java, atmospheric shots and free wifi.

GETTING THERE VS. STAYING THERE

Also, you kinda have to do a little budget-balancing act between getting to your destination & how expensive the place is. Like flying to Thailand can be much but if you spend 3 months backpacking through it and staying in hostels or you are traveling with a tent, then maybe it is something you can afford. And quite the opposite could be true: cheap flights and bus rides in Europe could make it possible for you to travel to more expensive countries especially if you can stay with friends or for free via Couchsurfing.

Let me know if you found these tips helpful or if you have any questions below in the comment box. Do not hesitate to DM me as well on Instagram. I would love to hear your travel tips because I am still learning how to keep on traveling full time and can definitely use your help .