7 Ways to Make Money While Travelling

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When travelling, a few experienced people will spend weeks, if not months, planning. They will sit down and rigorously plan out where they will go and how much they are going to spend in each place. I have met a few people who will even itinerize everything down to the minute. Please don’t be this person. I do not want to be rushed with a 3-minute bathroom break every 5 hours. If I need to sit down and play some phone games while doing my business, I very well will do so.

These people will have every cent planned and properly budgeted with a safe amount of extra “emergency” money. Yet most people aren’t like this. Most experienced, and even some not so experienced, will sit down and write out a basic outline. They will roughly estimate what would be needed financially based on some easy research and will be fine. They also have an emergency fund because everyone knows that in life, and especially while travelling, things are subject to chance and change.

If you are like me you’ll need to read “10 Things You’ll Need to Know to Travel in China“

Then you have people like me…. We get 23 weeks into a 35-week trip, and we start running a bit low on our funds. Maybe it was because we found some interesting things to do that we never foresaw; maybe it was that I just didn’t budget properly. Either way, sometimes you just need to find a way to make money while travelling or to supplement your travels. Here are 7 options for doing so:

7. Get a Remote Job

Nowadays with the coronavirus underway or hopefully, by the time you’re reading this, over, the way businesses work has changed. The rise in remote jobs has skyrocketed. Basically, anything that doesn’t need to have a person right there in the office and can be done remotely has become a remote job. The only thing that may hinder you is your personal skills or time management. 

6.  Everybody Loves a Cruise Ship

Hopefully, it won’t be long before all of this blows over. When that happens, I expect the travel industry to absolutely explode. Seeing as you’re reading this, chances are you have caught the travel bug. It is the same bug that almost every single person I have talked to in the last few months currently has. We are hunkered down and restrained from doing much travelling. Therefore, when it comes back, it will do so with a passion. People will buy out cruises and trips in no time at all.

That will be your chance. Hop on that opportunity. Every cruise line will be bedding extra hands around the ship. You can live on the high seas while making stops on different islands and countries every other day. It is a way to see the world while getting paid to do so. On your days off you will get to explore new lands. Just make sure you get back in time for departure or you’ll be stuck there.

5. Pick up some seasonal work or odd jobs.

Depending on the time of year you are out and about, you can usually find either seasonal jobs or odd jobs. Here in Germany and Austria, there is the spargel season and Oktoberfest. In countries all over the world, there are various fruit and vegetable seasons. Between fruit picking season and festivals all over the world, there are a lot of short-term jobs that pay well. Most of these pay under the table too. It’s hard work, but it pays well. Just search for “fruit picking” or “festival” jobs for the country you’re in. That will usually lead you where you need to go.

On the other hand, there are a butt load of odd jobs that people are always looking for a helping hand with. It can be as simple as moving a few boxes or planting a couple of plants, assembling furniture, cleaning, or fixing something that needs fixing. The best way to find these jobs would be Task Rabbit or surprisingly enough, local classifieds.

4. You Could Always Pet or House Sit

A weird concept I know. Yet it is an incredible option. “Wait though. Who would allow some stranger into their house?” Yeah, it was crazy to me at first too. That being said, there are a bunch of people all over Europe, North America and the world who do it. I get it though. They want to travel too but need someone to take care of their home and their pets. If this is up your alley, check out Nomador and Mind My House to get started or just look at the options. There are a few others as well.

3. Rent Out Your Things Back Home

Whether you are planning on travelling endlessly, or just going for a little while, you can always rent out your stuff back home. You would be surprised by the types of things people would be wanting to rent. There is the age-old option of renting out your place on Airbnb. That can usually make you some good cash if you have someone back home you can pay to clean up the place between people.

Other than AirBNB though, you can use Home Camper if you have some land that people can camp on. Then there is Turo and Getaround if you want to rent out your vehicle. The latter of which is only available in select cities around the world. Spinlister is used for unused sports equipment such as bikes, ski and snowboard wear, and other sports equipment. There are a lot of options. I’m sure with a little bit of research you could find a way to research anything you have.

2. Work for a good Hostel or Hotel.

So there is a little bit of an iffy trick with this as there are two options. One of which I talk about in “11 Ways to Save Money While Travelling”. That is, some hostels will allow you to volunteer there for room and board. With this option you won’t need any type of visa. 

The other option is to get a job at a hostel or hotel. There are a lot of locations all over the world that will work with you. From my experience, a lot of managers will take your work wishes and desires for the next month in mind when making the schedule. This is awesome for the frequent traveller. You find an awesome spot somewhere in Europe, and on any day off you can easily hop on a train and go to another city or even another country, no problem. The only issue of this is you will need some type of work visa. I recommend the Working Holiday visa, known as the Youth Mobility Act visa in Canada.

1. Teaching English as a Foreign Language.

This is another one of those visa requiring moneymakers depending on how you go about it, but it is 100% worth it. One of the most rewarding jobs I have ever done, and a job you can get or do anywhere. You can find one on one students either online or by posting up lessons on a bulletin board visa-free. If you don’t like that option, you can work for a language or normal school teaching English. There are dozens of options. 

With the teaching schedule, normally you will get a decent amount of time off to travel. Seeing as it is teaching English as a foreign language, chances are you will be based in an interesting place. You will be able to explore many different countries if you choose this route, and the rewards are plentiful. You can read more about Teaching English as a Foreign Language here.

Honourable Mention: Online Businesses

Another method of making money while travelling is to start an online business. Anywhere from making items to sell on Etsy, to drop-shipping, to having a blog type of your choice. The only issue with this one is that it takes time and money to be able to get started. Not to mention it is a lot of work. Yet when it gets going, if you put the time and effort into it, it is enjoyable and a viable option. Keep those hobbies coming.

In Conclusion:

There is a load of different ways to be able to make money while travelling. Seriously, the more you look into it, the more you will find. Whether it’s a temporary work situation during a stop in some country, a passive income from something back home, or a long-term job in the city you’re home-based in during your travels there are always options. Here are 7:

7. Get a Remote Job

6. Everybody Loves a Cruise Ship

5. Pick Up Some Seasonal Work or Odd Jobs

4. You Could Always House and Pet Sit

3. Rent Out Your Things Back Home

2. Work for a Good hostel or Hotel

1.Teaching English as a Foreign Language

Are there any you think are missing? Also what type of planner are you? Are you an average planner, an over-planner (like my wife, the other half of Nomadic Inscriptions), or a go-with-the-flow planner like me? Let us know down below!