Traveling the world is on most of our bucket lists, but we've all got financial responsibilities. With millennials between 25 and 34 having an average of $42,000 in debt from student loan and credit card debt, important milestones like home buying, starting families, and even travel are taken off the table for many working diligently to get the credit pile up off our backs.
Since travel is good for mental and physical health (trust me, science says so), taking time to get away is essential to our self-care. So how can we travel and maintain our financial responsibilities? The short answer: Think about what you're good at and make extra money while you're traveling the world.
Thanks to the world wide web, it is easier than ever to turn your hobbies or interests into additional cash flow. Here's how:
1.Rent Out Your Home Or Apartment
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If you're planning to be away for an extended period, no need to pay the mortgage or rent on your place if you can get a trustworthy tenant to maintain the place while you're gone. You can also rent your home out on Airbnb. Renting through Airbnb might take a little extra effort since you won't be in the city, but hiring a cleaning crew to maintain the property between visits and possibly hiring a person to help guests locally can help streamline your process.
2.Use Your Voice
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For my writers out there, many publications are looking for new voices in areas like travel, beauty, fashion, and politics. Before you set out on your tour around the world, think about publications you enjoy reading and read the work on the pages of their sites or magazines to get an idea of their voice — then, pitch as you go. If you're interested in travel writing, be sure to pitch while you're experiencing the city or country you're in, as it will more likely make your piece of interest to editors.
3.Put Your Inner Creative To Work
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Are you a photographer, videographer, video editor — or all of the above? Now's your chance to create and possibly sell your captures to blogs, digital magazines, and even start your own YouTube or website. Like writers, you'll want to do your research ahead of time so that you know what type of content you should create that would be of interest to publications you'd like to share your work. If you're a graphic designer or are good at any of the creative things listed above, sites like Upwork and Fiverr are great ways to put your skills to use from anywhere in the world.
4.Teach
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Teaching abroad is a popular option for long-term travelers. You get to immerse yourself in the local culture while teaching locals (and getting paid). If you're interested in this option, Premier TEFL is a highly-rated option for getting accredited training and paid internships.
5.Start An Online Shop
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Are you naturally good at finding one-of-a-kind finds at thrift shops or on the sale rack? Here's your chance to become somewhat of a personal shopper for friends and family back home. Starting an online shop may seem like a tall order, but you can control what you sell. If you're spending time in Italy and see Italian accessories that pique your interest, buy one or two extra to add your online site (or whatever you feel comfortable with).
There are many ways to make income no matter where you are in the world. Think hard about what you're good at (and love), and that will guide you.
Featured image by Getty Images.
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