The honest truth – I never have the money I need to travel, but I buy the ticket anyway. I’ve realized that money comes and goes, but the more I make, the harder it is to part with it and weirdly, the less I have, the easier it becomes to budget.
I don’t do that saving account, checking account, travel account thing either. I am not rational. I am extreme. I want to travel and so I do. There is no in between. While I was working my first career job in public relations, I realized early on that it was going to take me forever to save all the money I would need to see the world. I come from a middle class family, I’m the middle child of five and I live in one of the most expensive places in America – Long Island, New York. I don’t have rich family members or know people that know people and I certainly can’t rely on inheritance to someday boost my dreams. So I focused on what I did have – a roof over my head, and the attitude that I can and will do anything I want.
… And I want to live around the world.
REWIND TO THAT PLACE IN TIME
I’m working seven days a week and I can’t even afford my own place yet. Five days at the PR firm and Saturdays and Sundays bar tending. For what? So I can slave away my 20s. Work 7 days a week to buy clothes for work and a $400 monthly train pass to get to work. I was literally working to afford working. And don’t get me wrong. I absolutely loved my job. I loved my clients, I loved my boss and I loved my interns. I was proud of where I was and where I was going, yet I still had something inside of me telling me that if I wanted to go all out for my career, I needed to give up that living around the world dream… and if I wanted to live somewhere else, I was going to need to give up my career.
And so the google search began. I have no money. But I want to travel for long periods of time. How do I do that?!
I’m going to need to work abroad.
Working while you travel is literally the smartest thing a person can do.
But you can’t do it forever. It’s only for the young. Sorry people. Not my rule. There are countries who will give you a year working visa but you have to be under 30. (Australia and New Zealand)
So with this information. It was now or never.
I mean, lets face it – If I moved into New York City when I was 24 years old, I’d be working to pay for my apartment. Once you leave the nest – rent till you die. Travel for me would not be likely for a very long time.
And even if I stayed home and kept working like I was – I wasn’t saving what I needed to get ahead. I was getting ahead in my career but financially, I was just getting by and some.
It was only when I thought about the life I was setting myself up for that I realized I was just fitting the mold, and the scariest part was that I liked it because I was used to it – it was the only life I had ever known.
If you tell people you work 7 days a week, they don’t see anything wrong with it. I didn’t. I was a champion. I was going places. If you tell them you work two jobs in one day, well then, you are a hard worker, a hustler, a person who is determined to succeed.
I hate that mindset now. Unless you know exactly what it is you are working for.
What’s up with our society that people are so proud to work so much just to get by? No. You are an adult. Working 40 hours should be enough to provide for your family and your home and everything you need. Especially if you are not working for your dreams. Working more should be an option. (You know for that iPad or pocketbook.) Not a must-do or you cant afford the rent. Or at least that’s how it should be. Kate for President, just saying.
Okay, but really – I understand that there are instances where you work a lot because you have a goal. Mine (at the time) was to afford an apartment in New York City so I could be closer to my job and break out of the nest. It was really exciting to think about – until I starting becoming excited thinking about where I would work on the weekends to afford this new life. Fall back. YOUR GOALS SHOULD NOT BE MATERIALISTIC. They should be focused on personal growth and just because your bank account is growing, it doesn’t mean you are. My mindset was all about money. Money for this, money for that. Bills, bills, bills, throw some money in the savings every month, go for drinks with friends, look for a husband – hey, everyone’s doing it – It’s called being responsible and having your head on straight. I can almost hear my parents sigh of relief when they thought I had lined myself up a successful future… but then I quit my career and crushed their dreams and I didn’t care because where was the room for my dreams? I had to break that mold.
Someone really tell me WHAT THE FUCK life is about? My generations economy sucks. Yet for some reason, everyone has nice things. A lot of us have two jobs, or are working overtime at our one job or even have three gigs going on – And if you don’t fill those categories – get off my page. (Just kidding, but really.)
SO I looked into it. PEOPLE DON’T HAVE MONEY FOR THE LIVES THEY ARE LIVING.
We finance almost everything. Your car, your house, your new big screen TV. OMG I am going to be poor for the rest of my life. But I won’t look poor. Because I’ll have credit cards.
LIGHT BULB.
Have you heard of 0% APR? Of course you have. Well it’s literally the only reason I can travel.
No I don’t have a rich family who funds my travels. Sorry to ruin your day.
When I moved to Australia on a Work and Holiday Visa I had $800 in my bank account. Crazy I know. I literally told my parents, ‘Okay I’m going to Australia. I only have $800 so if I don’t get a job in the first week, I’ll see you next Sunday.”
BLANK STARES
I was taking a risk I know. But what did I have to lose? Money? My whopping $800. Which is why having less money makes it easier to take chances. I was prepared and willing to fail for a dream I wasn’t sure would work. But lets be honest, I was NOT going to lose. I was on a goddamn mission and I don’t understand the word “no”.
SO
UNITED MILEAGE PLUS EXPLORER CARD – They gave me 50,000 miles for signing up and 5000 for adding someone to the account (which I did) and miles after spending $1000 in the first month (which I did because I put my plane flight on the card.)
This means, I basically racked up enough points (and by basically I mean, I had enough points) for a free flight home. I’m A GENIUS — And yes, I planned that out.
[NOTE: They have slightly changed the card. Look for deals and offers.]
THEN
CITI THANK YOU PREFERRED CARD – Boom! 0% APR on balance transfers for the first 12 months and a fee of 3% of my transfer. (Which sucks but I needed to.)
ARE YOU FOLLOWING ME?
I transferred all of my credit card balances to the THANK YOU CARD and set up the minimum monthly payment to automatically come out of my checking account every month.
I also set up my student loan to automatically be deducted every month as well.
NO WORRIES MATE – remember, it’s just money. (And it’s for my dream – Not a sweater and shoes.)
FROM THERE… I put a weeks stay at World Square Hostel, in an 18 bed dorm room (the cheapest bed they had) on my credit card.
WHAT ABOUT FOOD?
PB and J my friends. Not even J, just PB and the cheapest loaf of bread I could find in Sydney (which was $1, SCORE).
AND REALLY THE REST IS HISTORY
I found a job within the first three days. Applied for a tax file number. Set up an Australian bank account and after my first Australian paycheck I never had to touch my American credit card ever again. I was making about $1000 a week in Australia and working 35 hours a week. My rent was $150 a week. Eventually I transferred some money over to my American account just to keep paying the minimum payment on my THANK YOU card. But that was the last I had to worry about my American bills. I ended up SAVING $10,000 in six months working in Australia. And I used that money to travel Australia with. Never having to touch an American dollar.
I used this same strategy when I moved to Thailand. Except I started with $2000 as my backup if I didn’t get a job. (But I did.)
I may just be a master budgeter but I’m pretty positive this tactic can work for anyone who is as ambitious and money savvy as me. Don’t just go get a credit card and put everything on there. And don’t spend more than you can make. The most I ever put on the card was $3000. The point is to use it as a little loan to help you pursue a dream you may not have the money for right now, while keeping some money in your bank account for emergencies.
Good luck and be smart. (but not too smart – leave some space for risks!)
OH! AND AS FOR MY DREAM – In case it’s unclear… I want to live and work around the world. I want to experience culture. I want to be a local. See what it’s like to be someone from somewhere else. It’s not just about money anymore. It’s about life and challenges and doing things I never thought were possible for me.
I don’t know why I was so lucky to have been born in America – to have all these opportunities – to not even be close to being the richest person in my town but to still have so frikken much. I don’t know why I got to be born here and not somewhere else, but I know I won’t take it for granted.
If you are in a country where you can read this – Please don’t take it for granted. xx
Next read: Australian Work and Holiday Visa: Do It Yourself Guide
Related: How to Make Over $18/hr Backpacking Australia
Kate from the States 
This story is blatantly made up. She starts by saying credit cards are the problem, then advises you to get multiple credit cards to fulfil your travelling dream. It’s very obvious to me that this story was made up by a credit card company and shocks me that so many people have been sucked into it. Other obvious lies – no traveller earns $1000 working 35 hours a week in Australia. Trust me, I was there for 2 years. And no traveller sets up student loan payments to a new credit card when they leave to go to the other side of the world. Think about it
Well done Kate…hope to see more people like you on the road. For the rest of you who doesn;t believe this, it’s totally fine..you’re the one who’s missing out of this beautiful “ONE LIFE” we have.
Don’t worry too much with credits card and health insurance, pfff…big deal! If you worry about it too much you shouldn’t be traveling in the first place anyway. It’s only for the people who have dreams and guts to pursuit it . I’m not young anymore, over 30yrs old, working visa is not my options anyway, but I decided to keep on going. And oh..I’m from 3rd world country who needs VISA to go pretty much anywhere in this world. Try to deal with VISA bureaucracies! If you’re from 1st countries, make the most of your privileges people. You have no idea how lucky you are, seriously.
You can make it anywhere in this world if you have the RIGHT ATTITUDE, regardless you’re hot,blond or good looking BLA BLA BLA…And there’s plenty of social,travel networking out there to help fellow travelers on the road.
You will be in a deep shit at one stage that’s for sure ! But thats how you learn to live and grow..Life’s not all about rainbow and flowers, D’ohhhh….
ONE LIFE..
Honestly, if you can’t get a job in Australia making a grand a week, you’ve either got no experience, no ambition, or are working for a not-for-profit. It’s not that hard. For someone to have gained solid experience that they know will be appreciated and transferable in a country with similar culture and the same language, it was not a massive stretch to jump on a plane and hope to get become quickly employed. Give her a break. She had a backup plan and a bit of money and she did what we all wish we could do over and over again.
On ya, Kate. Fuck yeah.
Nice work Kate, keep it up. There’s almost 50/50 positive/negative feedback here. And that amuses me. People who seize life and follow their dreams vs people who are too afraid to, who make excuses and doubt themselves. I’ve lived/worked in 5 different countries other than my own (New Zealand) only 2 being on working visa’s. Left NZ 9 years ago and still on the move. It’s really not that differcult. You will learn more about yourself in 1 year travelling than 10 years grinding a 9 to 5… And it will change your perspective of the world and LIFE. Those with doubts, negative comments and those banging on about some publicity bullshit, JUST F#CKEN TRY IT !!! Good read Kate,
Thanks.
you are living the dream of my 20’s. It’s still a dream but now I have a husband, 2 kids, and one more on the way. Can we still do this?
Will do :)
You should see me with no makeup lol ;)
Bottom bunk next to the door and in front of the window! That was my cave :)))))
Heyyyyy you are doing exactly what I did
/ am doing !!! Good luck to you :))))
This is the best article i could ever possibly read!! I am on pretty much same boat as you but living in australia, im taking all this advice in for when i start traveling! Thankyou xxx
Reblogged this on Bits & Bobs. Wonderlaind. and commented:
Amazing. How I would like to do what she does!
You definitely need health insurance. We have drop bears.
Health insurance is a must- we have drop bears.
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It’s possible to have the best of both worlds – I was desperate to travel when I was in college but finished my teaching qualification first. With that degree I spent my 20’s teaching in Europe, including a gap year in Asia. I was making a good professional salary and getting experience in my field as well as satisfying my hunger to see the world. I was a little older than a lot of the people I met traveling but I had the satisfaction of knowing my travel lifestyle was sustainable because I had such a great career. After gaining enough experience I applied for a skilled migration visa to New Zealand, which led to a scholarship for graduate school and another great job. Now I’m 40 and more settled down with a house and a car and a less dramatic life, but traveling the world never held me back from my professional advancement and when I’m old and gray I’ll definitely have some stories to tell! If that kind of balance appeals then study something at an in-state public school that will be needed abroad (everyone I know who works in IT in New Zealand is from overseas, for example, they are desperate for qualified people they can’t find here). If you are mature enough to plan ahead somewhat and do your research you can really have it all. (That being said my first trip to Europe was funded by winning a lawsuit against a drunk driver, so by any means necessary!)
How is it that you can come to Australia and make $1000 a week in under a month of living here but the people who actually live in this country can’t even find a job that’s anywhere near that in a week? And these people would push themselves just as hard as you would? Seems a bit unrealistic to me. If you can end up to tell your story on television instead of an article then i might just believe it’s worth that it would seem more legit to get the offer to spread the word further.
Absolutely love this! Especially the part about needing to look like we have money even if it means serious lifetime debt. I’m about to run off and do the same as you! I use wwoofing and workaway for my money makers/savers though. Love your writing!
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New Zealand doesn’t offer the same mileage cards I’m pretty sure and it costs even more to travel. I love the concept but after the traveling is done if a family was on the cards you would have to start at square one again with next to no money to provide for the family and new born child.
I was just wondering what kind of job you got in Australia when you first got there. And did you keep that same job the while time you were there?
How typically narrow-minded, only for the young. Not if you happen to be from a country that’s in the EU it’s not! If you are, you can travel to and work in any other EU country as much as you like. True story, there are more places than America, Australia and New Zealand on this planet. I know, weird, right? True though. And I bet there’s a lot of other ways for “older” people to keep on traveling as well. I am counting on life not stopping after 30 anyway.
I do However agree with the working/traveling thing though, have been doing it for years, as have my older colleagues. And I see myself doing that for years to come.
How were you able to find work in Thailand without a working visa? Also did you feel safe traveling alone there?
a good article Kate and just shows a couple of the ways that you can travel cheaply. but I love the rationale for doing it now.
I had to wait until I was 50 but I knew that it was ‘now or never’
I have been travelling solo for 18 months – too old for a working visa but exchanging voluntering for food and accomodation and teaching English in exchange for Spanish lessons
Yes, it is a massive leap of faith but better to try than be old and have regrets.
Safe travels
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Hey!! I just read all and I wanted to say to you: YOU ARE AMAZING, i have 20 years old and since my 17s i’ve live abroad, first in the uk and now in portugal, i’m from venezuela so it was not easy to go out (money and language)! I realized that I do want that lifestyle, I love to travel but not as a tourist, I want to be a traveller. Now i’m studyind and workig at the same time (not easy) and thinking where i’m gonna go where I finish my career.
I Have the same dream!! And I know it’s hard because society tells you the “right thing to do with your life” (save money, buy a house, buy a car, get married, have a family, …. ) and sometimes I feel like I would be happy and feel confident if I do that, but when I really think about it, I just want to travell and know a lot of people with differebt cultures, learn more languages, fall in love with a stranger, taste new food, I just couldnt feel completely happy doing what all people do.
Your post is really amazing, you are my idol.
I’ve done a lot of travel in my time – I haven’t been to Antarctica but that’s about it. I’ve done the whole move to a place with nothing, and try to make money from the ground up. And you know what? I would take regular holidays over it any day. Not being able to see things when you’re overseas because you either can’t afford it, or don’t have the time because you’re working is bullshit. I’ve done it, and the times I spent doing that are amazing. But compare it to having a holiday 8 weeks no commitments. Your working holiday sucks in comparison. I like the concept of ‘what will I do today? Well whatever the fuck I want!’ Working holidays often don’t afford this luxury. And trust me, I know. When you get home from a year overseas of working and travelling all of your friends have moved on – people have kids, family etc. And you’ll both look at each other with pity – you’ll think they don’t know real life whilst they will think you’re crazy and do t know what life is about. But whilst you think they have no idea, you’ll feel isolated in social
Situations and find that you’re only truly comfortable whilst travelling. Which is awesome if you have money. But if you spend your time working shitty bar jobs in overseas countries you’ll never have a dollar to your name, and eventually you’ll realise you wished you stayed at home, got a decent job, set down roots and just went overseas on holidays, because now all you can do is go moving from place to place with no money, no connections, no close friends and the whole time not upskilling yourself in a professional sense.
Sure – go on a working holiday when you are young and have no money. Spend a year doing the holiday people with money could do in 2 months. But after that grow up. Get a decent job and take holidays with no commitments: no jobs, no having to not go out on a Sunday a because you’re working Monday etc. otherwise you end up in your late 30’s with nothing, except ‘life experience’. Which I’m sure keeps a lot of people warm at night…alone.
Easy to travel is you’re a citizen of US, Canada, Europe, Australia, and other rich countries because you don’t need a tourist visa to almost all countries. We Filipinos need visa prior to arrival to almost every country, and requirements are absurd.
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$1000 a week!!
I can think of 1 job that might pay that but I won’t lower the tone here lol
Originally my article was meant for Americans. I didn’t think it would go viral :) but yes, extremely jealous you guys have that opportunity.
I waitressed. Should be posting this article soon with lots more info :)
I waitressed. It’s really common actually :)
Love this. Happy travels and living mate <3
Have you ever tried ?
Love your courage. Best of luck to you!!!
very inspiring
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Will you marry me?
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How can you have 1000 dollar per week. the minimum wage per hour in australia sydney is $16.87 per hour, x35 which equals $590.45 with decuction let’s say you make $580 . and Australian does not tip waiters. I have lived in Australia, I worked as much as i could, i can barely passby with paying rent which was $180 per week. transportation and food, cellphone bill. not money for going out> i still need my family to send money over if i had to buy a new Laptop. So I find your number really hard to add up.
I saw some negative comments about not believing her story-guess what? I did the exact same thing except I had $1500 and no credit card and no return flight..no job, and a week booked at a local hostel by giving my dad the money to cover the 10% deposit that went on his card. I was 23 and had a dream to play rugby and make something of my life-so I did. I showed up at the place I now work without an interview or even a job available but I gave them my resume and they created a job for me-that’s what happens when you hustle and work and study and prove that you are necessary and valuable. She did it and so did I..why don’t australians have jobs when I can get one so easily? Well in my case it was my area of expertise-my knowledge well exceeded what knowledge was available here in Australia and I also didn’t sit back and have the option to apply online and wait around. I had to hit the ground running. I now live here comfortably, have a pool at my house, still play rugby, have an iPhone 6 through Virgin and went from 0 contacts in my Nokia brick phone to over 150 in my iPhone 6. It can be done but you have to back yourself like kate from America did and like mike from America did (Yep, that’s me) : )
Good for you Kate! Keep writing and inspiring others to live abroad when they can. Living abroad, which is different from just traveling, is not just for the young, but it *is* easier to do before you have a family, kids, etc.
I spent most of my 20s wandering too, and it is a decision I never ever regret. If you make it a priority, you can make it work, financially and logistically. If you don’t mind living out of a backpack, and I never did, it’s the absolutely best way to truly learn about the world and its’ peoples in ways a college education will never teach you.
There is plenty of time in your 30s and 40s to have a “real job.” I don’t understand people who rush into that lifestyle either. I also think living around the world make for a far more hard working, resilient, grateful, creative and well rounded human, whatever you decide to do in your later life.
Best of luck to you!
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Reblogged this on Karine's Travels.
This is awesome. Me and my fiancé are totally broke and have this crazy dream about moving to Australia. This article is exactly what we needed. Australia here we come!