The Reality and Challenges of Making Money While Traveling

It is currently POURING outside. The kind of violent rain I never got to see while living in Los Angeles. The kind of weather I can appreciate because traveling and living abroad now in New Zealand allows me to experience different seasons and the temperatures changing. I considered for a long minute to call out of work so I can stay in to focus on writing this. However, I know that for now, working at a job I don’t love in order to save up money is how I can continue to live this dream of mine and to keep traveling.

There’s no magic trick to becoming a ‘digital nomad’ – It works like any other career, you start at the bottom, learn all you can, invest your money, time, energy, and dedicate yourself to advancing in the field. This is a personal post, but I hope one that finds its place amongst all of us who are trying to chase and reach our goals. I want to share my own challenges so that you know you’re not alone.

What does being a ‘full time traveler’ mean to me?

Being a full time traveler aka digital nomad means I can provide a sufficient source of income to maintain and keep myself on the road. It means not being tied down to an employer’s schedule or location demands. It means working for myself creatively, providing value to my audience, while living my dream full time. Essentially, having abundance and freedom. (my words for 2019)

At the start of chasing the ultimate goal for this career or lifestyle, therein lies the simple fact – You’re not there yet. There are choices and sacrifices, fears and tiny victories, frustrations and new friendships. There are obstacles both real and ones made up in our minds. So let’s jump right into it.

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Challenge #1. Not having enough money while traveling and working abroad

If you weren’t born with a silver spoon in your mouth and you dream of being a full time traveler, chances are you had to work a ton to save money before each trip and continue to find ways to earn money. I see so many blog posts and videos online about “How I afford to travel full time”, so let me summarize it for you now: Work hard and spend little. At least that’s where we all start.

My story: I left Los Angeles in September 2017 with a one way ticket and credit card debt. You might be thinking “what now!?” My initial plans of leaving home with around 10k of savings shattered when I had to leave my job earlier than intended and was unable to find any work for the months leading up to my departure. The small sum I had saved up from waitressing jobs were either tied up in investments or spent while living at home. But I was lucky. The first stop on my indefinitely long trip was to see family in China.  Unexpectedly, I was given some money that allowed me to pay off my credit card debt and continue on my trip. I know not everyone will relate to this bit of my story, and I fully acknowledge and am grateful for this privilege and luck.

Fast forward to now(November, 2018), It’s been a little over a year since I started my journey and I have traveled through Asia, Southeast Asia, a tiny bit of Europe, and ended up in New Zealand.

I can lie and say I’m here because I’ve always wanted to see New Zealand. While this is partly true, I’m currently doing a working holiday here because I have to. I am working 5 days a week to pay the bills and 7 days a week on my own business. If I don’t make money, it means I forfeit my dreams.

 

Challenge #2. Insecurity and fear of not having what it takes

There are COUNTLESS bloggers, vloggers, influencers, millions of people who are trying to do exactly what I want to do. What makes me good enough? Do I have what it takes? Those are questions that I asked myself before deciding to take the plunge and jump off that scary cliff.

This may be shocking to read, but working and dedicating myself to becoming a full time traveler is the FIRST TIME in my life I am choosing to believe in me. Traveling and working abroad anywhere in the world IS my dream.

I am turning 28 in a few months, and it’s scary to realize I’ve never once believed I was good enough to go after my dreams and goals, that is – until now. I was that wanderer who didn’t know what she wanted ‘to do’. I took my sweet time, working at odd jobs since I was 17 years old, and didn’t get my bachelor’s degree until I was 26 years old. I don’t need to tell you that there’s no magical lightbulb that goes off after graduation, and all of a sudden we’re on our soul path to achieve what we’re meant to. All I knew was, I wanted to see the world.

While I was preparing for my own big trip in 2017, I read so many blogposts and watched countless hours of travel videos. Those women paved the path for me, to be fearless and know that solo traveling was not a scary thing to be feared but a fulfilling life-changing experience. I was inspired by them to create my own digital stories and guides. I believed all the work I put into researching destinations and all my experiences and trials on the road could also reach an audience. I wanted to help clarify confusion, give insightful tips, and inspire others to continue forging the path.

So yes, I am good enough. I believe in myself this time because I am truly doing what I love. I am going after the calling I always felt inside. I want to not only explore the world on my own terms, but to encourage and help others to do the same.

 

 

Challenge #3. Negative reactions and ‘you can’t be serious’

I still feel hesitant to tell people what I’m trying to do. In this day and age of Instagram influencers and famous YouTubers, what we are trying to accomplish sounds like a scary cliché.

I know my family may worry for the stability of my future, and many others’ doubt my ability to ‘make it’. When I tell people “I make travel videos, guides, and run a blog”, I see the pause they take as they try to maintain a neutral face and come up with something nice to say. And that’s okay. If you’ve ever felt the same way as me, I just want to take a moment and say it’s okay if they don’t get it.

The generation before us thought the only way to succeed was through a fancy college degree and we now know that that’s not true. Today, we are bombarded with a seemingly saturated market of people trying to make it big on digital platforms that it sounds like a foolish attempt to even think about joining in. No matter which way you take to arrive at your goal or dream, I believe what matters is in the process. What separates dreamers from doers is the dedication and mindset. There will always be the small percentage of people who are just ‘lucky’, but what people don’t usually see are all the other success stories and how much hard work fueled the outcome.

So yes, I am very serious. I am fully aware of how difficult achieving my goals can be, and all the countless challenges and obstacles that stands between us. But I am willing to put in the time and energy and I am choosing to believe that it is possible.

 

Challenge #4. Envy of others’ success

A big part of getting there is to see how others did it. The downside in seeing people’s success is comparing it to your own beginning. This is actually how many successful blogging coaches make their money! They attract audiences by dangling their delicious ripened apple of success and promises to get us there too. The key to using their stories and lessons to help us is by weeding out the fake promises and find courses that have actual substance and value.

In any other field, people invest in classes and intern for free in order to achieve their goal, being a digital nomad is no different. The thing here is to not let others’ success discourage us from our humble beginnings, and instead to leverage it as motivation for us to keep going.

Every single big boss in their field started somewhere. I often have to remind myself to not get caught up in comparing statistics and numbers. Whether it be luck or dedication, we are all on different paths and timelines, not one of them identical.

So stop feeling jealous of the influencers who gets paid to travel and a ridiculous amount of money for a photo of them chillin in a bubble bath. Instead, find a way that works for you, even if it’s a slow process. Even if it feels like so much more work than getting pruney fingers.

 

Challenge #5. Not traveling and mostly working abroad

Everyday I get about 5-8 emails in my inbox with promises of cheap flights and deals. (I literally just deleted 3 right before typing this sentence) I am living in New Zealand while having the BIGGEST FOMO about where else I could be.

Honestly, since we’ve arrived for our working holiday in June of this year, there’s been basically no holiday and all work. We did a month of pruning in vineyards, and since then have been living in Auckland and working 5-6 days a week. This means as a travel content creator, I have to really get creative about my videos and posts. How can I provide fresh travel content when I’m not even traveling?

I really love the façade of online platforms. It truly looks like I am living the dream, hopping around the world and having new exciting experiences on the regular. However, the reality is: I wake up around 6:30am, work on my blog and videos, go to my job that actually pays the bills from 2-7pm, come home, eat, watch Netflix, and fall asleep. It is literally the most routine and mundane lifestyle one can imagine. But I am guilted into feeling ungrateful constantly. “How dare you feel stuck and unsatisfied when you get to live abroad in Middle Earth?!” (me to myself)

However, if you have ever needed to stop and work on the road to keep going, you know what I mean. I don’t have enough money in my budget or the time to go explore this amazing country. But, this is not forever. I have to remind myself that there will come a time to travel and actually ‘holiday’. How can we combat feeling stagnant while traveling and working? Think smaller. No I cannot afford to take long road trips and camp under giant beautiful mountains at the moment, but I can take a cheap day trip to a nearby island! Whatever you’re doing and wherever you may be, I hope you find your daily dose of adventure and magic to keep going.

 

Challenge #6. When will I make enough money while working abroad?

This obviously will be different for everyone. Here’s how I’ve made some small victories: YouTube ads, affiliate marketing, and Patreon. I am no where near sustaining a lifestyle that allows me to travel full time, but I am getting there. There’s honestly a ton of strategies and tips you can find online, some free and some costly. Most of the information dense and intimidating.

Especially if you’re just starting out like me. Or if you’ve been doing this for a while and are just now starting to think about monetizing. What I find to be helpful is setting small and big goals, short term and long term. Setting smaller goals means I can track realistic growth and feel encouraged by them. Setting long term goals help me manifest and set intentions on making those big dreams a reality.

For example, my initial short term goal was to make 500$ a month by the time I leave New Zealand. Luckily I’ve been working hard and recently adjusted that to making 800$ by the end of November 2018. I am merely 30 days away from that goal and it’s scary as hell! But I won’t give myself a hard time if I don’t make it, instead I will do everything in my power to try.

It also helps to have fellow online friends who are trying to do the same thing as you! Your real life friends are amazing but they might not understand why you’re stressing over followers or readers or viewers. However, your online sisters and brothers are all out here trying to chase those goals. I myself am a huge advocate for supporting others, and this can be done by sharing a link or pinning a post, or a simple retweet.

 

Challenge #7. Have my friends forgotten me?

Luckily for me, I was never a social butterfly or even a social caterpillar. My friendship circle is small and I like it that way. However, being gone for nearly a year makes me miss them. If you’re traveling long term, especially if you’re doing it solo, I feel your pain. Staying connected online has been really helpful. We can always check in via a text, a call or even a Skype session.

READ: Useful Tips for Solo Female Traveler | What I Learned

It’s also been helpful to have online friends. Like I mentioned earlier, having people who are motivated in achieving similar goals and lifestyles supporting you can feel like a true sisterhood. I honestly would love to meet all my online friends IRL one day. Don’t ever feel hesitant to reach out to someone. If I read a relatable post or watch an inspiring video, I’m so fast to track them down and say hello. (Hi friends if you’re reading this!)

 

I hope you found solidarity in my thoughts and fears, and motivation in my determination. Please feel free to reach out if you’re feeling lonely or stuck on your journey, whether that’s traveling on the road, working on becoming a digital nomad, or both.

We are so many of us out here, scattered all over the world, the most far reaching community there is. LITERALLY. It’s refreshing for me to put my own thoughts down, as I’ve been feeling quite in the dumps about my current situation. This is an open letter to you and to myself, and I hope a small slice of magic to motivate us and get closer to our goals of Freedom and Abundance!

If you want to reach out via any platform, my social links are scattered around the sidebar and homepage. 👩🏻‍💻😄

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