Think you need a fortune in the bank to see the world? Think again! There are plenty of ways to earn money as you travel, so can stop dreaming about that overseas trip and start planning!
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Teaching English © Renato Ganoza
#1: Teach English
Mexico, China, Japan, Thailand”¦ all over the world there are billions of English learners who are desperate to learn from native English speakers like you. There’s no need for any teaching experience or the ability to speak another language: it only takes a short TEFL course from a recognized provider, such as i-to-i, to get started.
Online courses start from just $189 and will give you the key skills you need to teach and earn all over the world. Once you’ve done your course there are thousands of TEFL jobs, everywhere from Buenos Aires to Beijing.
How much will I earn? Up to $3,000 per month in countries such as Japan
Any initial costs? A TEFL course ($189 to $579); your flight
#2: Head Down Under
If you’re from the US, Canada, Britain or Ireland, you can head to Australia for a year on a working holiday visa. Your visa means you can take on casual work for up to six months per employer. There are plenty of opportunities in bars, offices and farms all over the country, so you’ll never be short of a way to earn a few bucks. The work can be menial, but the backpacker culture means you’ll make plenty of friends.
How much will I earn? Up to $2,700 per month
Any initial costs? Your flight; visa costs ($250) an RSA (Responsible Service of Alcohol Certificate) if you want to work in bars. These cost around $100
#3: Work on a Farm
If you’re hankering after the simple life, how about working on an organic farm? WWOOF sets people up with farmers around the world and your hard labor (generally around 4-6 hours/day) pays for food and a roof over your head. The experience isn’t always trouble-free: some farms are very remote but it can make for a very fulfilling and relaxing experience.
How much will I earn? Nothing — your hosts will only cover food and living costs
Any initial costs? Membership costs around $30 per country in which you want to work; your flight
#4: Sail the Seven Seas
Do you know your port from starboard, your mainsail from spinnaker? Probably not, but even without knowing one end of a boat from another you may be able to hitch a free ride in return for cooking, cleaning or general deck-handing on a yacht. While a lot of time is spent at sea, you do often get to see some amazing places — a lot of cruising takes place in the Caribbean and around Florida, as well as in the Mediterranean. Sites like Crewseekers list available jobs.
How much will I earn? Not very much — employers will usually cover travel expenses and offer a max of $800 per month
Any initial costs? No, but you can boost your chances of finding work by completing a short sailing qualification (which cost around $1,000)
#5: Blog About It
Travel blogging is super-popular among long-term travelers. Write enough quality, useful content, then publicize it in the right places and you’ll soon see visitors flooding in (well, trickling at least!). And visitors mean that you can start using Google AdSense to make money from them by displaying adverts. Be warned though, there are very few successful travel blogs, so you’ll need to really be able to flex your social media muscles to make it work!
How much will I earn? Up to $1,000 per month
Any initial costs? Hosting your site will cost around $5 per month