One common question I get when I tell people I am road-tripping for an extended time, is how do I afford it? 

I wish I could say I work remotely and earn six figures a year. Unfortunately… I am a 25 year old with quite a bit of experience in different fields, but an expert in none. This means no set career, but is also the reason I am able to take so much time off.

The real answer is far less glamorous and comes in 2 parts.

Part 1:

SAVE, and control living expenses while traveling, but more importantly while not traveling.

People have a tendency to spend what they make and live right at the top of their means. If travel is a priority, it is important to set aside as much as possible while working. For me, the biggest cut I made was to stop going out for food and drinks. This saved me SO much money! At the same time, I think it is important to not deprive yourself, so the exception I made is for when it will provide a truly memorable experience (rather than just needing something to do, or out of laziness).

 

Part 2:

Find creative ways to travel.

More on this later, but working for accommodation, road trips, working holiday visas, as well as talking to friends in different places about visiting.