I wanted to travel, had no savings, no house or anything.

I broke up with my wife after 9 tears of a great relation for she did not want to travel. I sold my 33 year old car for its weight in old metal. I stopped renting the house we had and stored some of my personal stuff in my parents attic, most of it I sold on local market.

I kept a small bag with my two suits and 1 set of casuals clothing. With this on my back I cycled through the city from one friends house to another to spend the night where ever I could. I went to work every morning on the bike. At the end day calling for a new couch to sleep on. This I did for 6 months.

I saved money by doing this, not a lot of money, but by living as a bum I'm now well 5 months of traveling. Not with a bike, but just backpacking.

I'm flying to Mongolia in 2 days where I will continue traveling for at least another 3 months. With a bike I'll buy there. Not a fancy one, but a moped will do.

When I get back I'll be broke as hell, have only a mattress, a stack of books and a lot of stories to tell while rebuilding my life.

Do not say it's only for the silver spoons. If you really want it, it can be done. But it takes sacrifice. I still miss my wife every day...

Alex

Fortune and Glory, kid. Fortune and Glory.

I wonder if those who are travelling full time or close to full time and doing it on a shoestring, also take the risk of travelling without emergencies travel insurance and also never bother about maintaining an emergency fund for major incidents.

We've been full-timing for close to 9 years, but wouldn't do it if we had to do without basic safety nets.

__________________
Tony
Click here for Travel Photos & Travel Map

I'm sure many younger travelers do without. Did you have "emergency funds" and full medical cover when you were traveling in your late teens or 20's? Not many do. I know I did not (beyond modest family help).
More well off or "established" travelers may have the luxury of that "security".

Have you worked in any Non Home countries in those 9 years? Did the states you were in cover your medical? Or did your "Home" country cover you even when out of country? Or private cover? Are you constantly moving on your bike ... or settle in one place, work a while, then move on? Where are you now?

There is a difference. Lots of different situations ... many risk not having a back up plan. Should they totally forget about traveling if they can't afford it?

There are alternatives. For instance we taught in China for a couple of years. Wages were low but everything found and we actually saved money and had an experience that isn't available to the vast majority.
We have also spent several months on cattle stations in Australia. Also everything provided so while you can't save money, you don't spend much either.
So we have moved and settled as required. Always a matter of choice than necessity though. If it were otherwise, I would stay home and complain about my lot as the majority are content to do. The smart ones, when realising that a certain course of action just isn't possible, look for other ways of getting out of whatever rut they want to get out of. As has been stated here over and over, if you want something bad enough you will find a way of getting it. If money is the key - and it is - then just work a bit harder or longer. Just look at all the grey-haired wrinkleys getting around the world on everything from two sneakers to 500,000 expedition trucks. They have worked all their lives and only now can do what they want to do. Hardly fair to be envying or castigating them for that. Hard work came first.
Those who think they are entitled will always be disappointed.

Medical? Suspend our private health insurance back home (and anyway, Australia has "free" universal medical care so there is never a problem of not getting treatment you actually need) and use that money to pay for travel insurance when overseas.




On the web there are sites devoted to helping out in return for a bed and meals - all over the world. We did a couple of stints in France - not because we had to, but because we wanted to. Plenty of ways to make money go further. Giving up some expensive habits can also work wonders for a tight budget.

Yes, of course not everyone has the resources or determination or even the desire to go travelling or take up polo or deep sea fishing either. Might suck if you are in the group that just can't afford it, but that is the way things are.

They probably should consider delaying their dream of a 5-year luxury round the world trip and concentrate on achieving something a little more sensible. Some work 40 years and then travel forever. Alternative might be to work for a month and travel for a few days. Same thing really, just need to be realistic.

__________________
Tony
Click here for Travel Photos & Travel Map