The way I afford it is fairly simple : priorities.

Travel for me is a passion. It is where I spend my money. I don't upgrade to the newest electronics when they come out. I drive a 10 year old car which is the only car I have ever owned. I don't go out on weekends and drop $100 at a bar. It is all about choices. Take a look at what you do vs. what you really want and make some decisions from there.

As far as HOW I am able to travel and then get back into the workforce....well, I contract. I work for months at a time and position myself so that I can always have the option of picking up a new contract. I work in financial analysis, so there is generally always work.

My next trip is going to be a UK to Cape Town trip for about 3 months. I have a contract that is ending June 24th and I plan on pushing off for this trip on July 15. I have a network of contacts and utilize that to grab work when I come back.

Plain and simple, that's how I do it.

I don't think that I have replied to this thread, but if I did it would read something like this, well put Jpyrek.

ps if you can run to 4 or 5 months for that UK to Cape Town trip it will more relaxed but you should make it in 3.

I just thought I'd throw an idea at you as I know it's hard finding a job, quiting, saving money and going round and round.

For the last three years I have been driving a coach around Europe for 6 months of the year. I can save plenty as I've no expenses almost (no car, no rent, food and accommodation is paid, etc.)

If you don't want to drive but you'd love to be a tour guide, well it's in the same industry but I'll talk mainly about driving coaches here.

It's my choice when I go back to work and when I end. Basically, every tour I do is a contract. It's been guaranteed work and money saving and the job is interesting, I meet lots of people and drive all around Europe.
Driving a coach up and down the same road every day wouldn't be for me but it's quite interesting when you're on tour for from 2 to 7 weeks.
It's not practical if you are in a relationship as you'll be away all the time (although this depends on the company - there are many that do day tours).

What does it take? Get a driving license to drive a bus! I took about 13 hours of lessons and passed my test first time.

Some companies DO hire drivers with little or no experience driving coaches. How? They either start you off in a smaller vehicle - like a 16-seater or like where I work, Topdeck Travel, they train you to drive as they need you to drive - safely and knowledgably and train you on the routes.

There are many other companies you will find if you dig in the internet.
There's Topdeck, Contiki, Tucan and a plethora of oher companies. Topdeck and Contiki are for young passengers (18 to 30-something) so if that's not your bag you can look at any other company.

The company I'm with is based in London, however, as a driver, I stay on the mainland, in a quiet town in Holland between tours for a couple of days, which suits me fine.

Funnily, I'm posting on here because I am a biker and in fact, most of the other drivers also ride, so I think this may appeal to many of you.
If it sounds appealing, get your license. There are many companies, believe it or not, are regularly in need of drivers. For some you can work year round, usually with about 2/3 or less work over the winter but that's when you'll be on your bike anyway.

Driving is a professional job and no surprise, professionalism is part of it.
I enjoy my job, it can be hard work but I like it and it's interesting.
Tell me what you think and if you have questions message me or post your reply.

With who I work for, driving in Europe, you need to be an EU citizen and have the EU driving license.

Happy searching!

what an excellent topic!
very timely for me as I'm planning my RTW trip...

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R90S, R80G/S PD

Work hard, save and dont waste the money. Traveling and living in a tent can also be cheaper as to live in Europa

http://www.adventure-travel-experien...en_transafrika

Tobi

“To be truly challenging, a voyage, like a life, must rest on a firm foundation of financial unrest. Otherwise, you are doomed to a routine traverse, the kind known to yachtsmen who play with their boats at sea... "cruising" it is called. Voyaging belongs to seamen, and to the wanderers of the world who cannot, or will not, fit in. If you are contemplating a voyage and you have the means, abandon the venture until your fortunes change. Only then will you know what the sea is all about.

"I've always wanted to sail to the south seas, but I can't afford it." What these men can't afford is not to go. They are enmeshed in the cancerous discipline of "security." And in the worship of security we fling our lives beneath the wheels of routine - and before we know it our lives are gone.

What does a man need - really need? A few pounds of food each day, heat and shelter, six feet to lie down in - and some form of working activity that will yield a sense of accomplishment. That's all - in the material sense, and we know it. But we are brainwashed by our economic system until we end up in a tomb beneath a pyramid of time payments, mortgages, preposterous gadgetry, playthings that divert our attention for the sheer idiocy of the charade.

The years thunder by, The dreams of youth grow dim where they lie caked in dust on the shelves of patience. Before we know it, the tomb is sealed.

Where, then, lies the answer? In choice. Which shall it be: bankruptcy of purse or bankruptcy of life? ” ― Sterling Hayden, Wanderer

Wow,
That's a line of philosophy I'd never considered before. And it makes a lot of sense.
I'm from a generation of 'job-for-life' workers (civil service in my case), good salary and now decent pension, as secure as it can be.
And these ideas seem right - wherever I go on a journey, however adventurous I think it is, assuming I'm not killed in some incident or other, there's always the security of medical help courtesy of western insurance, and a flight back to a home with no mortgage if money runs out temporarily or there's some other reason to go home.

So in the ultimate sense, no journey for me is ever truly challenging. Unless I attempt something that on the face of it I'm not physically capable of. Maybe walking around the world. Or even walking around England.
But even then if it gets too much, I can nip straight back home!

A few acquaintances in similar positions (who can do what they like when they like how they like where they like etc etc) get together now and again, and we all say the same - this situation can actually be a bit scary. Look at the options proposed by Sterling Hayden: 'bankruptcy of purse' - well, the pension continues until.......
So we're left with 'bankruptcy of life'. And how do we get over that?

Maybe this situation itself is a bit of an adventure - an adventure in living with few boundaries.
I've met one or two people who have found their own partial solution. In spiritual retreat.
They covenant their pension to a spiritual organisation in return for a basic life consisting of 'a few pounds of food each day, heat and shelter, six feet to lie down in - and some form of working activity that will yield a sense of accomplishment'.
But I don't know if that is really the answer. Is it really a challenge to do such a thing?
Well, I wouldn't, so I suppose it must be a challenge.

On the other hand, Hayden could be suggesting that 'a firm foundation of financial unrest' is necessary to ensure that you'll never know what the next day, or few hours, will hold. Thus generating the 'challenge'.
Well, my experiences have long ago taught me that whatever path your life takes and whatever your situation, you can never ever know what will happen tomorrow.
I've 'dipped into' Buddhism quite a bit since 20 years or so, and often use a meditation that goes something like: "Death is utterly certain. The time of death utterly uncertain. What should I do?"
Looking for the answer to that is a voyage that has a lot of challenge about it. So that'll do for now.

My 15-minutes worth - it'll probably all change if I think about it again tomorrow.

Ooops, no, how could I have forgotten this?
Bradley Wiggins won the Tour de France yesterday. Wasn't his voyage around France truly an adventure-and-a-half and a challenge-and-a-half?
Not a voyage to the South Seas but a voyage nonetheless.
Including reading out the results of the raffle.....

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TTR250 - London to Cape Town

McCrankpin,
+1 for that. Bradley did a "good job" over 3 weeks, but he is a professional after all.
You can have an adventure just about anywhere, but there has been lots of discussion about that aspect.
As you like the quotes in the previous post, you may also find food for thought within this:-
RobertWService.Com : The Men That Don't Fit In - Books and Poetry > Poetry > The Spell Of The Yukon - Archives

Oops, but show me a thread that doesn't go

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Dave

Hi, always have a word when see someone " living the dream".

This guy found a way.............

UK TRIP

Anyway I met a guy called Jamie THIS MORNING IN EASINGTON, NR LOFTUS, CLEVELAND or North Yorkshire. ts13 4XL POST OR ZIP CODE

Bicycle loaded up with camping gear. I had a chat , his job had finished and he was taking the opportunity to ride the coast of the UK. Wild camping and sounded like he was on a budget.

He started in Blackpool and done 3500 miles so far in clockwise rotation.

He ridden up and around Scotland and heading for Whitby and Filey today.

He reckoned enough cash for about 7-8 weeks. Brilliant adventure and was enjoying time out of the rat race.

His bike was a black DAWES nowt special, if you see this guy have a chat and get him a coffee.

He said his biggest and only cost was food, because of amount of calories he was burning.

Cheers

AArgh killed this thread sorry,

Any more tips or advice on " how to live the dream" ???????????

Nooo!!
I'll continue it with this:




Yes, Thanks for that, I've not seen it before.
Another 'man who would not fit in' is the Ancient Mariner in the Rime of the same name (S.T. Coleridge).

Lots of dramatic images of someone on an adventure who 'Travelled to the Beat of a Different Drum', but maybe not for the best.

I came across this poem at school and it's stayed with me ever since.

549. Rime of the Ancient Mariner. Samuel Taylor Coleridge. The Oxford Book of English Verse

Richard Burton's recitation is quite something to listen to.

BACK to the original question - how do you afford this lifestyle?
All I can say is a bit of hard work and luck.

But also as mentioned in a few posts here - priorities. You've got to get them right, and clear, which isn't necessarily easy.

__________________
TTR250 - London to Cape Town

THERE IS A GOOD SITE WWW.EUROPEBYCAMPER.COM or something like thjat . This couple really crunched the numbers and cost it out really well!

IMHO,

And like most here, bikes and travel have been the driving force for life since I was old enough to experience "freedom" first hand.

How I have managed to get quite a few miles on a consistant bais is to work jobs that give even time off, many oil, mining and sea going companies have on offer. Some rosters are 2 weeks on 2 weeks off up to 6 weeks on and 6 weeks off.

Ok not the obvious choice or career path for all although the positions often pay well and once you get employed on a permanant basis you will get paid in your time off. A little study and a few courses and tickets and you will find yourself in a position to start applying for the numerous positions available.

The beauty of it is you can rent the house out, or not pay rent at all, fly straight from work to your destination and bike and hit the road for 2 - 6 weeks then fly back to work.

I have managed to do this the last 17 years and have managed to keep the house payments up (just) and get plenty of miles under belt on all manner of bikes, mostly the cheap n nasty although all great fun. Keep in mind this is not entirley conducive to good savings !

I now like many before me here have decided to sell up and head for the hills on a permanant basis.

Best of luck to you all in finding your way forward

as i sit and reed what great thoughts we all have my only question for all is how long are we dead for ???? as for me i don't no so i am going to live the life i no NOW !!!!

I'm always fascinated by the ways in which people fund their tours. More often than not i'm left looking on in envy.

I'm late twenties/early thirties, and don't really have any assets to speak of.

I passed my test in Feb 2008, quit my job in May, and by August rode 5,500 miles to the Black Sea and back. Ever since then I've had the motorcycle travel bug.

Bar this year when my position was made redundant, I've been fortunate enough to do a short 17 day tour every year, despite having low paid jobs.

My ultimate dream is take a 36month tour of the world.

I find it difficult to adjust to the regular 9-5 rat race at the best of times let alone after a tour, so in order to fund my tour my aim is to create a (mainly automated) company, that will pay me at least £600 a month and allow me to carry on touring after any initial saving run out.

I have already started my own company, but it barely makes anything, and I might have to look at other options. In the mean time I've taken on a decent paying 12 month full time work contract to try and get some savings started (I have nothing so far). I'm expecting to be able to save about £5000 in 2013. I'd happily leave with £17,000 and figure out the rest on the road.

The aim is to leave within the next 3-4 years. It's a tall order, but it's good to dream right?