Last Updated: 7/10/23 | July 10th, 2023
One of the most common questions I get asked about my ability to travel long-term is how I can afford to travel so much.
Am I rich? Did mom and dad pay? Do I have a rich uncle? Did I win the lottery?
Before I was able to transform this blog into a business, I spent years traveling the world by doing one thing: I kept track of my spending.
That’s really the secret to long term travel: really good money management.
Simple and boring.
Yes, you have to save money before you go (or work overseas to keep refilling your bank account) but long-term travelers are just really good at money management because you have to make a limited resource (your bank account) last a long, long time.
When I first started traveling, I pinched every penny and saved money every chance I got. While I sometimes lavishly spent money like it was going out of style, I made up for it on other days by staying in and cooking pasta. (After all, did you live like a pauper at home to go to Australia and not dive the Great Barrier Reef? Of course not! You have to live a little sometimes!)
I kept a journal of what I spent so I could track my spending and be sure I was staying on budget. (Side note: I love when I see travelers keeping a spending journal to track their budget. Those are the travelers who end up staying on budget!)
While on the road (just like at home), there will be unforeseen circumstances that chip into your savings, like missed flights, a lost camera, or a change in plans that leaves you having to pay extra for accommodation (which is why you have travel insurance so you get these costs covered). You can’t avoid these sorts of things, but you can be prepared.