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 
Reblogged this on morganjuraco.
This is great inspiration! Thanks!
What sort of jobs are available?? I really want to get involved in agribusiness, whether that be working on an industrial farm as a laborer or in the office of a business. PLEASE TELL ME!
Enjoyed your blog, the honesty was refreshing! I am more or less in the same boat. Just flew over on my 30,000 bonus miles from American Advantage CIti card…
Happy Traveling,
Katie, yankinaustralia.com
Kate, this is great. I was just writing down desired traits of my dream wife. This helped.
What kind of work were you doing in Australia to make $1,000 a week for 35 hours of work? I see others have asked the same question.
I can relate so hard to this. I just moved to the city a few months ago and my first rent check was a whole paycheck! Great post, you’re so inspiring!
I have found my twin in life! This is exactly what I have been saying and doing all my life. Awesome article.
Reblogged this on CLICK. BLINK. SNAP..
Reblogged this on daidreamr and commented:
Amazing Post!
Everytime I try to explain to my parents or friends how I just want to drop everything after 4 years of school and just leave they call me crazy and tell me not to waste the time I’ve spent in school. But you have said exactly what I’ve been trying to tell them. I hope one day to be able to experience what you are now. Thank you for the inspiration
That’s genius!
Reblogged this on 1FUNGRL TRAVELS and commented:
LOVE THIS!! I couldn’t agree more. You can travel if you really want to!
Okay, you are awesome and I admire you. I don’t wait to have everything worked out to go on vacation either. I hate it in fact when people do:). What I will say though is it gets harder and harder as you age. I just turned 50 and I’m more tired and that bums me out. So, take advantage of your ENERGY!
I relate to this so much. I’m 23 and lucky enough to be pursuing my dream career (I’m in med school), but I want to travel and I don’t want to wait until I’m debt free (ha) to do it. I don’t have the opportunity to leave the country for a year with my career, but I’m definitely taking advantage of travel during my breaks and plan to do a month long rotation abroad while I’m in school, even if that means graduating with a little more debt.
Awesome article! Though I did not live in Iceland a credit card is how I made the trip happen when I graduated college and had no money, no interest for 12mo made the trip very possible and easy :) Keep up the dream!
Hold up. Teach me your ways. What am I doing with life…
Kate you are awesome. Thank you for sharing that. I got to play trumpet on a cruise ship so I definitely understand the work while you travel. I need to understand the credit card and flight better. Thank you again.
you inspire me. all i want to do is travel, and you give me hope!
This brought me to tears! So amazing that you did this for yourself. I wish I could get the courage to do the same. Wonderful story and I love how I can feel your energy and enthusiasm through your writing!
Theres a reason you dont see her face and she doesnt respond to realistic questions. Kate- youre either an old dude who some nerd that needs to quit watching movies, or you are an immature young adult obsessed with ‘like, seeing the world….righteous.’ You either need to stay in whatever foreign country you’re visiting, or come back to the states, grow up and become a working class citizen of a country that takes other people that work hard to earn the success and lifestyle you think youre living.
I am literally fed up with people who misuse the word literally.
You say work and travel (the world) is for young people based on the visa’s given out by two countries. Typical yank – want to travel the world like you know, Oz, Europe, Thailand. I doubt you could list the number of countries I have been to, most of which after turning 30, several more since turning 40. I am still living as an Expat. And working.
Pleased yo got out of the rat race – but what you know and what you think you know are still miles apart. Now you are a role model to literally dozens of other young impressionable people. Top Marks.
PS Question – if you travel for culture and want to be a local, BUT you feel the need to tell every one about it. How much Thai did you learn here. Did you go to Issan or Phuket.
This is bulls”%&* ( no offence) but you are basically traveling to work, that`s not traveling,
the only thing I can see you are lucky about, it is that you claim to get a job in the places you travel (which u don`t explain very well)
getting a Job fix everything in any plan, its the real reason why we can or cant continuing doing things, so explain us how did u get them? what were u doing? that information would be more valuable and would live up to ur blog title better
Cheers
amazing, i am doing the same thing right now, leaving Copenhagen on my way to tokyo, thailand and beyond! thx for posting, ry
Hey I’m about to be heading to Australia or New Zealand in the next year. I’ve traveled a little and just came from hawaii to florida for a bit. Did the same as you when I moved to hawaii? just went with it. I have my work visa in NZ already and if your interested in going id love to have a like minded person come with! You can look me up on fb!
I love the way you write, and with interest i read it twice. great job. regards http://YourWellWisherProgram.wordpress.com
Awesome Kate and it doesn’t have to stop as you get older like you say it’s a chiice :)
Hey this sounds doable with all the planning and cards but please please tell me how did you find a job within the first week making $1000/month saving $10k in 6 months? What kind of work were you doing and how did you find it?! Please I’ve traveled a little but never been able to find that kind of job. Considering Australia, but I know its soooo expensive. Did you live in the hostel 6 months? Same questions for thailand. Would love to do what you did.
Cheers
This is amazing and I need to do this I’m slaving my life away at work and I’m miserable ..
You are a champion. Just did this in Germany. I am going to take a break from the world for a minute, then I will come join you in a few months.
May I ask what your job was in Australia? I was making less than $1000 US a month when I worked overseas at a corporate job. :/ So as glamorous as it sounds to work abroad, you really hit the jackpot on your well paying job.
I think you missed the point… She wasn’t given the chance. She took it for herself. She empowered herself to travel the world by ignoring modern society’s money obsession and providing herself with an opportunity that never would have come her way otherwise.
Yeah I have to say, the thing I’m most curious about is what kind of work you were doing in Australia. Awesome article, you’ve just inspired me to move to Brazil!
Reblogged this on jillian bloemer.
I’ve lived in Chicago for almost 4 years and am dying to see the world!! This was inspiring & gives me hope anyone can do it!
Have fun paying all that interest off in your 30s I guess
I’m off to Australia in one month and if I find that I love it that much during the four months there.. well I might just have to use this as a bible to get to New Zealand
Reblogged this on annelisemecca.
I was wondering that too! What work did you manage to get? I’m about to do the exact same thing come Jan 4th!
Hi Kate,
We sound like the same person, minus the fact that I’m from Kansas City. But all the things you said, especially the first half, are things I have said or talked about with my friends. Especially the ‘people who are proud of slaving away just to get by’ concept, which I’ve learned more about from “The 4 Hour Workweek”- something you NEED to read if you haven’t! I just got back from Thailand and South Korea and couldn’t afford it and now I’m struggling, and I talked about this with the friend I travel with: It frustrates me when people say ‘you’re so lucky’ or ‘when are you getting a real job.’ I’m not lucky, I made a choice. A hard choice. You made a choice to have a 2014 car with bells and whistles. I made a choice to travel and gain new experiences. And by real job you mean the awful 40+ hours of stress a week people are supposed to have that we bitch about over drinks and say how much we wish we could travel? I’ll take one with a lemon, please.
Anyway, thank you for writing this piece and having the opinions that you have. You’ve made some great points and shown that a different type of life is possible and not just for those who are ‘lucky.’
KATE FOR PRESIDENT 2016
(thank you, you’re doing exactly what I want to do with Australia)
^VERY lucky. I’d like to hear from the person who can’t make rent in either country they’ve lived in. What do you do then?
I love this! Thank you kate. This really inspired me.
Reblogged this on So This Thing Called Life…? and commented:
She’s got it all figured out.
Financial freedom and success go not to those who have the most, but to those who need the least. – James Gottfurcht
You made $28.57/hour? That seems like alot for an average person. What did you do?
Greatly enjoyed the article. I have a similar passion for helping others realize traveling while you’re young is a real possibility without coming for money. You’re doing a great thing.
Traveling with a friend to Thailand in a couple weeks. Won’t make it north on this trip, but any tips of something we should definately do or the best place to have a custom suit made in Bankok?
Thanks!
Shane
Hi Kate,
I’m wondering how you found information and what you would need to work in another country. Who did you talk to, or did you mainly look online?
Thank you,
Shaenah
I love this! Great read I have to do my own in the future but it is all going towards a book. It is exactly like me. I had a brain injury a decade ago I started traveling and will not stop. I have a thousand dollars a month to live off of that comes into my bank you can from the government for disability. So it’s good it affords food. I’m good to go when I travel I am very poor but not really when you think about it because I have no credit cards or nothing well I will little bit of money to credit card but nothing like student loans and other stuff like that. I am from Canada so I go away during the winter months but then I have to come back which I don’t like this time I am not coming home. I am trying to start up a reality television show because I am a star every where I go- everyone stares me down LOL because at the moment I don’t walk very good I need massages and things like to heal me. Austin Texas is amazing and I love that city and I just really weird and that’s what everyone does in Austin Texas saying is ‘keep it weird’ One day I will meet someone like you beautiful girl that is so much alike then they can travel the world with me with very little money LOL.I do say speeches and I’m looking for speeches around the world? But I am just at the beginning stagesI need an assistant to help. I speak about my brain injury accident snowboarding without a helmet so I speak abouthow months are a key and my experiences that I have learned through traveling through meeting so many great people-because like attracts like.I sometimes speak your boot living on the streets-but hey? It’s okay it’s better than being in Canadian winters. LoL
I love you. Maybe universe will connect us somehow and we can travel the world together Haha.i’ll be in Austin Texas again this winterit is my second home, so You could meet me there LOL
-An Angel
Kyle Anderson
Do it! Traveling is unreal.