Affording Travel
How I Afford to Travel: Mindset, Choices, and Sacrifices
Introduction
One of the most common questions I get is: “How do you afford to travel so much?” People assume I must be rich, have a secret trust fund, or that I’m using “daddy’s money.” The truth is much less glamorous: I’ve made travel my priority, and that means sacrifices in other parts of my life.
This post isn’t a step-by-step guide or a magic formula. It’s my honest take on what affording travel really means, what it costs me (financially and otherwise), and how I make it work.
One of the most common questions I get is: “How do you afford to travel so much?” People assume I must be rich, have a secret trust fund, or that I’m using “daddy’s money.” The truth is much less glamorous: I’ve made travel my priority, and that means sacrifices in other parts of my life.
This post isn’t a step-by-step guide or a magic formula. It’s my honest take on what affording travel really means, what it costs me (financially and otherwise), and how I make it work.
Mindset & Priorities
Affording travel isn’t just about money—it’s about time, lifestyle, and priorities. Most people can’t afford everything. If you want more of one thing, you usually give up something else.
When people ask me how I can travel, I turn the question back to them: What would you be willing to sacrifice? Usually, the answer is, “Oh no, I could never do that.” And that’s fine—it’s not about shaming anyone. It just shows how different our priorities are.
For me, that means:
- I don’t buy new clothes often—if I do, I thrift… or my lovely mother will make me clothes
- Instead of buying new items to replace broken ones, try fixing them.
- I don’t spend money on overpriced drinks when I go out.
- I save aggressively and cut corners wherever I can.
- I was fortunate enough to live with family for a while, which helped me save, though that came with its own trade-offs.
Whenever I make a purchase, I sit with it. I ask myself: Do I really need this? Or would I rather put that money towards flight?
That’s the mindset shift: travel isn’t something extra I squeeze in—it’s the thing I plan my life around.
Budgeting & Spending Habits
I don’t keep a strict budget, but I stay conscious. I set a general limit in my head, but if a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity comes up, I’ll spend the money. I’d rather regret the cash leaving my account than regret missing the experience.
When it comes to saving, I bulk-save before trips. Especially with Asia, flights are the biggest expense, so once I’m there, I stay for as long as possible to get the most out of the cost.
This works for me because my job as a bartender gives me flexibility. It doesn’t pay as much as a white-collar job, but it lets me leave for long stretches, then return to work when I need money again. It’s a conscious trade-off: I don’t have a fancy salary, but I have freedom.
Work, Income, & Flexibility
Right now, I don’t earn remotely (though that’s a goal). I’ve done a working holiday visa in Australia, which allowed me to travel while making money along the way. Bartending, especially, has been a great career for flexibility—I can pick it up almost anywhere in the world.
In the future, I want to explore content creation, volunteering, and other ways to make travel more sustainable. For now, I’ve accepted that travel isn’t just something I do on vacation—it’s my lifestyle, and my work choices reflect that.
Right now, I don’t earn remotely (though that’s a goal). I’ve done a working holiday visa in Australia, which allowed me to travel while making money along the way. Bartending, especially, has been a great career for flexibility—I can pick it up almost anywhere in the world.
In the future, I want to explore content creation, volunteering, and other ways to make travel more sustainable. For now, I’ve accepted that travel isn’t just something I do on vacation—it’s my lifestyle, and my work choices reflect that.
Travel Style & Cost-Saving
My travel style is simple: keep costs low everywhere I can.
- Flights: I stalk Skyscanner and use a travel credit card to rack up points. Almost all my points go toward flights. Sometimes tickets are cheapest months in advance, sometimes last minute—it takes patience.
- Accommodation: Hostels, work exchanges, or staying with friends and family. In the U.S., I only ever paid for accommodation once—I relied on connections and generosity.
- Food: I cook when I can, or stick to cheap local spots.
And I slow travel. By staying in places longer, I cut down on constant transport costs and get to know a destination more deeply. While I haven’t used these options myself yet, they’re fantastic ways to make travel more affordable, and I’d recommend anyone on a tight budget look into them:
- Worldpackers – Volunteer in exchange for accommodation, meals, and the chance to live with locals. Opportunities are available all over the world.
- TrustedHousesitters – Pet sit in exchange for a free stay, especially popular in Europe and Australia.
- Couchsurfing – Stay with locals for free. It can be hit or miss—you might end up with some colorful hosts—but many travelers swear by it.
- Servas – A long-standing cultural exchange network where you can stay with locals.
- BeWelcome – Similar to Couchsurfing, but community-driven and non-profit.
Choosing Where to Go
Cost definitely influences where I go. Asia is usually my first pick because my money stretches further—and I love the cultures and food. Check out my Thailand and Vietnam itineraries!
Australia was an exception, since I could work on a holiday visa to balance the higher costs.
When I do splurge, it’s for unique experiences that I may never get again: bungee jumping in Zambia, scuba diving in Koh Tao, or the motorbike loop in Vietnam. I’ll cut corners on meals and beds, but I won’t skip something that’s been on my bucket list for years.
Myths, Misconceptions, & Truths
People often assume I’m wealthy, but what they don’t see is the sacrifice behind the photos:
- Sketchy hostels
- Overnight buses
- Sleeping on airport floors
- Long layovers in uncomfortable airports
It’s not glamorous. I’ve never gone into debt for a trip—I don’t recommend that to anyone. I only travel if I know I can afford it.
The truth is, my kind of travel isn’t about luxury or relaxation. It’s not a vacation—it’s about learning, experiencing, and immersing myself in the world.
Advice for Others
If you want to travel more but feel like you can’t afford it, here’s my advice:
- Lower your expectations. Don’t think “vacation,” think “travel.” That means hostels, cooking your meals, and saying no to luxuries.
- Start small. Even a weekend trip a few hours away can feel like travel. Build from there.
- Look for alternative ways to stay. Volunteering, house-sitting, or slow traveling can cut accommodation costs to almost nothing.
And remember—traveling “well” isn’t about how much money you spend. For me, I know I’ve traveled well when I come home exhausted because I didn’t stop moving, exploring, or soaking it all in. Traveling well means I lived fully in that moment.
If you need help planning your first trip, check out this post!
Final Thoughts
Affording travel is about priorities, not privilege. Yes, I’ve had some advantages—like flight benefits through my dad’s job, or being able to live at home to save—but the day-to-day reality is sacrifice. I’ve chosen a lifestyle that values freedom over income, experiences over things.
Travel isn’t always comfortable, easy, or glamorous. But it’s always worth it.
Photo by Kacey Mortenson @_kacemort_
Affording travel is about priorities, not privilege. Yes, I’ve had some advantages—like flight benefits through my dad’s job, or being able to live at home to save—but the day-to-day reality is sacrifice. I’ve chosen a lifestyle that values freedom over income, experiences over things.
Travel isn’t always comfortable, easy, or glamorous. But it’s always worth it.
Photo by Kacey Mortenson @_kacemort_