How to make money while traveling

In which we tell the methods of saving, the amount of expenses and earnings in a round-the-world trip.

What is the post about

Almost every week more and more people ask us a question of approximately the following format: “Where did you get the money? Renting out an apartment or rich parents? How to make money while traveling? Sorry for the immodest question. "

We will tell you about the methods that we managed to try and apply in life during our round-the-world trip, which has been going on since September 2013. And at the end, we will tell you about the methods used by people whom we have met. Nothing fictional and unknown to us in reality will not be discussed.
So let's get started! :)

Our ways to make money while traveling

Copywriting

From the very beginning, we had several partners, for whom we wrote custom articles. Some partners left, others came. The payment ranged from 600 rubles to 25 $ US for an article with photographs, or 10 $ for the copyright of articles on our site. We are cooperating with some to this day. Good photos and informative articles are required. Usually Nastya deals with articles.

Programming, administration, SEO

The source of work for Nikita is regular clients or clients who come on the basis of recommendations. It happens that friends tell them, and friends of friends tell them, so word of mouth works. Nikita does not use exchanges. A week of work brings on average US $ 100-150, a month can be up to US $ 500. Once at a time it is not necessary, the amount of money depends on the "success" of the project, as well as on the time invested. There are also own projects that generate income.

Link exchanges. Advertising on sites

Passive income that takes almost no time - Now about US $ 15-30 per month.

Photo sessions, romantic story

Nastya does private photo sessions. It brings good profit, but not often due to our elusiveness. Photo sessions with different conditions from 100 US $ (here you need to take into account that the photographing itself is followed by days and weeks of post-processing).

Illustration, design

Clients come to Nastya on recommendations. The cost depends on the project. A significant disadvantage - for work, you need a suitable space: a table, the ability to "expand" with a graphic tablet - it is difficult to implement with constant moving, but possible at moments of rest from the road. As an example of the last order - a logo for a network travel magazine.

Guide

One of the most interesting types of earnings is carried out on the spot. This opportunity opened up for us only in Mexico, but we can try to continue. The job was found through the Internet. Nastya worked. The working day of the guide (depending on the tasks) from $ 50-150 USD.

Earnings on youtube channel and video creation

In 2015, our favorite partner suggested making a video specifically for a specific project. These are three-four-minute motivational videos, collected from our material. We are also periodically contacted by people who are ready to buy raw material, but they have not yet worked out with them. We also entered into a partnership agreement with AIR companies and additional methods of earning money on Youtube were opened for us. Earnings from Youtube are still small, but stable. The main thing is to upload new videos, attract more subscribers so that they are interested in the ads that are shown under the video or in front of the video.

Sound streams

For a year and a half, the sale of sounds on the stock brought about $ 55 US. We have an account at audiojungle.net.

Partnership programs

The main income of many travel blogs. We started moving in this direction in March 2016. We installed different affiliate programs, but then only one remained: from the well-known company Airbnb. Thanks to her, those who register using our link receive a $ 20 bonus on housing anywhere in the world. And we also get $ 20 :) Mutual plus. We love using Airbnb.

Sale of printed photos on foam board

Unsuccessful attempt. We made a photo shop on our website. Everything in mind: with a catalog, with beautiful pictures, with a basket. There were several orders, unfortunately the delivery fails. We could not find a good performer - across the cities of Russia, photographs printed on foam board were delivered broken and broken. I had to abandon the idea.

Sale of handmade jewelry

At the end of 2015, Nastya got carried away with the creation of jewelry made of metal, natural stones and macrame. She posts some works on her instagram. We tried to sell them in Colombia (Medellin, Cartagena) and Ecuador (Banos). There are sales, but not many. We tried to sell on Etsy, but there we need additional cash investments in advertising and promotion of the store, it’s not easy to get promoted until it’s been postponed.

Sale of local souvenirs and unique goods

Recently, we began to look for interesting things that would be interesting in Russia and other countries, and at the same time would be of practical use for local "natives".

For example, in the summer of 2016, we found an association of Amazonian women who make beautiful jewelry and supported them by buying a large batch and sending it to Russia. Our subscribers had the opportunity to purchase any piece of jewelry they wanted. For these purposes, a VKontakte showcase was opened.

Jewelry from Peru, handmade with love

How our friends and acquaintances make money while traveling

Service testing

We have a few friends who make their living as testers. Nowadays, many IT companies require employees of this kind. The work schedule is not so flexible, but you can be anywhere and have a stable good income of $ 1000-2000.

Marketers

An unusual profession for a traveler. We meet in different parts of the planet. If you can work remotely and know the intricacies of your profession, then why not? For example, here's a marketer job for the travel team.

Stone dealers

In South America, we learn about such work as: buying precious and semiprecious stones at a deposit in one country and selling them in another country at a higher price. There are dangers and risks, but if you have established buying and selling channels, you can combine work with travel.

Programmers

We meet a lot of programmers on our way. Often, the guys work for outsourcing in the United States, and they initially found a job at home or on American job exchanges. A salary of $ 2000-3000 allows you to live and travel wherever you want. All you need is Internet access and 8-10 hours of a working day 5-6 times a week.

Waffle seller

We know about a girl who in Cartagena (Colombia) acquired a mobile waffle-iron cart and pleases residents and guests of the city with delicious waffles with various additives.

Firemen, street musicians and jugglers

Everyone who can put on a show on the streets and gather their grateful audience - we give them a standing ovation! They have a lot of will and are not afraid to be funny. For example, living sculptures. Or jugglers, which we meet in many countries in Latin America. Or street musicians who please our ears on the streets of the city, in transport, we sometimes replenish our sound collection with them. But Katya Borovik turns fiery poi and fans, going out in the evenings to the tourist streets of cities.

Chefs

For those who love to cook - a great option! For example, when Polina traveled with her family and lived in South America for more than a year, she took up baking, bought a stove and baked pies and delicious cakes every day for her cafe and other restaurants. And Nastya makes delights of Russian cuisine in the form of dumplings, herring under a fur coat, dumplings and various sweet pies in Medellin. And Anechka opened her pastry shop in Mexico with very tasty sweets.
We also met travelers selling cakes on the streets in different tourist cities. They just walk down the street and offer their baked goods on a tray. It can be hand-sculpted candies or chocolate brownies, or even hemp pie.

English teachers

We now have friends in different parts of the world who work as English teachers and travel. This work ties you more to the place, so you don't get to travel as often as you want. But then these guys make their own lives. Many people report that China and Asia generally pays well to work as an English teacher.

Handymen

In rich countries, it is convenient to work and make money for less rich countries, working as a laborer, and looking for work on the spot, asking friends, at gas stations, reading advertisements on poles and in newspapers. So now, for example, the guys Lesya and Vital travel around the United States.

Artists

We meet street artists in tourist cities. For example, in San Cristobal de Las Casas in Mexico, we met a girl named Nadia from Russia, who paints portraits. It is often necessary to obtain permission from the local municipality in order to do this on the street, but it is not difficult.

Antarctic tour operator

This is for someone who is lucky :) and who really wants to get there. For example,