Fears of Traveling: How to Survive When You Run Out of Money

One of the top questions I get asked whenever I talk about my year traveling abroad is how I managed to cover all the costs. Extensive travel is clearly not cheap so people want to know how I made it possible. I laugh a bit inside whenever this question comes up because the truth is I didn't have enough money to last my entire trip. I wasn't one of those people who quit their career and sold everything they owned to fulfill their dream of being a nomad. In fact, I didn't even have a job the year leading up to my departure. I was an AmeriCorps, which if you are unfamiliar, means I spent a year "serving" (they always put emphasis on this) with a nonprofit organization, receiving a very small living allowance. Try $700 a month after taxes. With much determination, and the help of a few side hustles, I managed to purchase a plane ticket and save about $4,000. 

By the conclusion of my trip, I returned home with $120 to my name. Yes, only $120. And the only reason I even had that much was because I had sold my bike the day before my flight back to the States. Things were extremely tight the final few months of my adventure, but I made it. So what did I do then? How did I stretch out my funds?

 The thing about running out of money while traveling is that it's a slow, gradual process. It doesn't just sneak up on you, unless you lose your wallet or get robbed. If you're monitoring your bank account, you'll watch your available balance dwindle and draw nearer to zero. You're fully aware of the damage every purchase does to your pockets. As a backpacker, you are always calculating ahead and trying to figure how much further you can continue to comfortably travel, depending on your personal budget. So it is never a surprise when you're running out of money. In my case, I knew I was running out of money about three months before things got critical. 

Obviously, getting a job is the clear-cut solution to avoid running out of money. I managed to work in Australia for three months during my trip, which helped me out a lot and allowed me to continue on, but that's not always easy to do. Every country doesn't have a working/ holiday visa program and a plethora of job opportunities targeting backpackers, like Australia, so I won't even focus on jobs. If you can find a job, get one, but if not, what can you do when your money is running dry?

You can always find ways to cut back and travel cheaper. It's even possible to travel for free. I didn't think this was a reality until I crossed paths with this interesting girl from the Netherlands. I actually ran into her twice, but the initial time was on a train heading from Melbourne to middle-of-no-where, Australia. We were both heading to a festival, or bush doof, as they are known Down Under. After chatting for a bit, I learned that after purchasing her plane ticket to Australia, she left home with only 100 euros. No typo. And she had been managing just fine. 

To travel at that level requires you to let go of just about all of the comforts that you may be used to. One of the things that stuck with me most from speaking with her was that she explained that traveling isn't about being comfortable. She wanted to explore and experience and money wasn't going to enable or hinder her from that. Some of the things she did to travel for free were hitch hiking, dumpster diving, train hopping and lots and lots of camping. She may not have known when her next shower would come, but that wasn't important. What mattered most was her freedom and enjoyment.  It can be dangerous to travel this way and you could end upin trouble with the law, but I always use that girl as a reminder that you are never out of options or completely hopeless. You can find a way to survive with or without money. 

So, here is the best advice that I can offer based on what I experienced and how I survived running out of money while abroad. 

Before I go any farther, I want to put emphasis on making sure you have your return ticket home. If you know the date that you will be going home, it makes it a lot easier to be in another country while running out of money. If you don't have a return ticket and you're money is low, that is a whole different level of stress. Always try to take care of that first, just so you can have an idea of how much longer you have to last and also so you don't have that added flight ticket expense to keep in mind.

You can eat less and prepare your own meals, only visit free sites and attractions, and walk instead of take public transportation but accommodation is something that you will always have to deal with. The place where you can drop off  your bag, your "base," is very important and usually the first thing I take care of when I get to a new place. When you're on vacation/ holiday, you may desire to stay at places that are comfortable, maybe even luxurious. However, if you're traveling long term, you usually can't afford the fancy hotels or Airbnb's. You'll most likely be staying in hostels or other budget accommodations. Here's where we take it down another notch. There are ways to sleep with a roof over your head for free. 

1. Couchsurfing

This is probably the most useful resource I've ever discovered for traveling. Essentially, it's a website the connects travelers with local hosts. People from all over the world open up their homes and welcome in complete strangers who are traveling. There is a feedback system which gives both host and traveler some comfort as to who the other is. Obviously, the more positive feedback, the more likely you are to get accepted by a host. You just search whatever city you are in, browse profiles and send a unique request that explains who you are, what you're doing and why you want to stay with that host. I specified unique request because it's easy to tell when someone is just copying/ pasting the same message to multiple hosts and that's not going to leave a good first impression. 

Couchsurfing is so much more than just crashing at someone's house for free and shouldn't be treated as such. It allows you to connect with people from different cultures and backgrounds. They let you into their world and you each exchange a piece of who you are and where you come from. I've met some of the most amazing people throughout my Couchsurfing experiences. People have completely trusted me and given me keys to their homes or let me borrow their bike. Sometimes hosts will cook for you or with you. You may actually get a spare bed, rather than a couch. And you always have access to a shower. I've Couchsurfed with nudists in Montreal. I've  stayed on a commune just outside of Sydney. I even ended up moving in to and paying rent at a share house that I Couchsurfed at. I have never had a bad experience. Not to say that the system doesn't have flaws or can't be sketchy, especially for women, but it's an option that you can turn to if necessary. Visit Couchsurfing for more details.

It's hard to eat store-bought raspberries and blackberries after picking them straight off the bush

2. Woofing/ HelpX 

These sites are two other great resources if you are running low on funds. Woofing (Worldwide Opportunities on Organic Farms) is a worldwide project that connects travelers who want to volunteer with local, organic farms who need help. You work on a farm for a certain amount of time per day, varying from farm to farm, in exchange for room and board. HelpX, or Help Exchange, is similar. It connects travelers with locals, except you aren't just limited to organic farms. Listings range from farming to baby sitting to giving English lessons. But the same concept follows, volunteer work in exchange for room and board. These opportunities can introduce you to alternative ways of living or help you develop skills in areas that you may be interested in. 

I worked on an organic farm in Denmark through HelpX and I had an amazing experience. I was eating some of the freshest, healthiest meals that I've ever had. I would go right to the garden and pick the food we would eat. I got to sleep in this huge bed that was more comfortable than the bed I sleep on at home. All I had to do was pick raspberries and blackberries, cook a few times per week, and help with whatever other chores, like cutting grass. It was very simple and at the same time, I got to meet a family and learn about them and their way of living. They even picked me up from the bus station and dropped me off. I didn't spend a dime while I stayed with them. All hosts aren't the same. Some jobs may be more physically exhausting than others, but you aren't an indentured servant. If you don't like the situation you are in, remove yourself from it. 

Very rarely do you see a hostel dorm this clean.

3. Work-to-Stay at a Hostel

If you decide to Woof or HelpX, you may find yourself on a farm in a rural town, far away from the city and attractions. Working-for-stay at a hostel might be a better option for you if you prefer to still explore and and save money at the same time. Not every hostel offers this. You'll have to talk to the people in charge, but this is very simple way to cut back on your costs. Hostels can be very dirty and you'll most likely be making beds, cleaning bathrooms or doing reception work for a few hours a day, but you'll receive a bed to sleep on free of charge. I don't think I've ever heard of a hostel that also provided free food, so that expense will still need to be covered. 

Personally, I have never done this myself but I have met many backpackers who were doing work-for-stay and I have friends who did it, as well. Usually, hostels would prefer someone who is planning on staying long term. So, if you're just looking for a few days, this probably isn't going to work out for you. 

4. Vipassana Meditation Retreat

I actually didn't think about this until recently, but if you're traveling and happen to be near a Vipassana mediation center and you want a place to sleep, shower and enjoy some really tasty vegan/ vegetarian food for 10 days, and you don't have much money, this is a great option. I will warn you though: this is not going to be easy. A Vipassana meditation retreat is a 10 day course where participants learn the basic practices of Vipassana meditation. These Vipassana centers exist across the globe, usually in areas surrounded by nature on the outskirts of cities, removed from the distractions of our chaotic world. During the 10 days, you stick to a very strict schedule of mediation, about 12 hours a day (Not all at one sitting. There is a schedule with breaks and rest time). You are to turn all your focus inward during the course, as there is no talking  or eye contact allowed, no reading, no writing, no working out, no interaction in general. The point is to be totally focused on the practice of Vipassana with no outside interruptions, even if it is something beneficial, like yoga. You'd be surprised at all the ways your mind will try to distract and entertain itself. Men and women are all separated to further support your focus.

During the course, you receive a bed, two all-you-can-eat meals and a late evening snack instead of dinner. Did I mention that the meals are absolutely amazing? I'm talking top quality vegan/ vegetarian options. You won't miss meat at all. And the most humbling part about all of this is that at the end of the course, it is your choice to donate whatever you can. There is no pressure for you to donate. No one is keeping tabs. If you can't give anything, there is no judgement. If you can only give $5,  it is accepted with gratitude. Every bit counts and at the same time, it is understood that not everyone can afford to donate. 

I participated in a Vipassana retreat while I was in Montreal. Looking back, I can say that that was one of my most difficult accomplishments. It's not easy to sit in silence for 12 hours a day. It's both physically and mentally taxing. Have you ever been fully present for 10 consecutive days? Talk about the longest days of your life. Every second is accounted for. Even though you don't interact with other participants during the course, you start to notice people disappear. Empty spots start appearing in the mediation hall. That's because people quit. You definitely earn your room and meals during these 10 days. But this is about more than just free accommodation. It is an opportunity to bring your awareness inward without expectations. It is a chance to gain some insight and clarity, no mater how your experience pans out. 

For more information and center locations, visit here. 

Wild camping life.

5. Camping

Purchasing a tent and sleeping bag can go a long way. This basic combination potentially allows you to set up your temporary home anywhere. I would say there are two styles of camping. First, you have camp grounds. There are a ton of free camp grounds and there are also many where you have to pay to camp, but these may provide extra amenities like showers and on-site supervision. Then, there's wild camping, which is where you basically find a spot where ever you feel comfortable enough to let your guard down and sleep. I have camped both ways. Camp sites are obviously less of a hassle. It's legal, guaranteed safe most of the time and worry free. Wild camping can be a bit stressful, especially if you are somewhere that prohibits it or in heavily populated areas. I'm not advocating to break the law, but in my opinion, if you are quiet, respectful and clean up after yourself, you should be able to camp anywhere. 

It isn't always easy to find a place that is hidden, feels safe and comfortable enough to pitch a tent and sleep. Sometimes you have to wait until it's dark to start setting up and wake up with the sun in order to break down and clean up before you get caught. I've camped in public parks, on beaches and in bushes just out of sight of roads. On one occasion, I had the cops wake me up in the middle of the night and order my friends and I to move. Luckily, we didn't get in any trouble, but it is never fun to be awakened by bright lights flashing through your tent. If you wild camp, you have to use your judgment and be cautious. Trust your gut. If a spot doesn't feel right, don't stay there. But don't be afraid live on the wild side. 

The idea of not having enough money and being in another country may seem scary, but when I look back, some how things always worked out in my favor and I made it home and was able to get back on my feet again. With proper planning, you can avoid running out of money, but when traveling, things happen and plans never stay on course. Just remember to go with the flow and no matter what situation arises, there is a solution to handle it.