I work/travel 50% of the time. In 6 months I earn around $30-40k, and in that time can save around $15-25k. I am spendthrift and buy whatever want. I also return lots of merchandise (just "rented" an Xbox for my last month of work). I usually don't buy anything that:
-Can't fit in a backpack
-Isn't returnable
-Isn't either the cheapest option or the best option
This doesn't have much to do with travel finances, but I usually either buy the best/smallest/lightest or the cheapest/most disposable.
For example, I have $200 earbuds, a $40 safety razor (that takes 5¢ blades), a few pairs for $70 merino wool tshirts, a store bought $700 unlocked iPhone, but for shoes I have a pair of flip flops and an $8 pair of shoes that are getting thrown away on my flight out of the country. I buy $1000, 20 year old cars and sell them at a loss when I leave the country.
The totality of what I own and keep is around $5000 worth of stuff that all fits into a 40L backpack and a largish box that I mail to and from my family's house when I'm going to be working. The box has winter clothes, work equipment and outdoor gear, as I like to go backcountry camping here in the US. The $5000 includes my laptop ('11 MBA) and about $2000 of top shelf camping gear.
My gf and I have been together for a few years. She works full time min wage jobs to keep busy while I work. I support her while working and traveling. In 6 months of balls out travel in 3rd world countries we spend around $10-15k including everything.
I love this lifestyle and at this point get anxiety at the thought of staying on one place longer than 5 months.
When traveling I usually stay in each destination from 1-4 weeks. So in 6 months we'll usually see around 15-20 different places and get to know them reasonably well.
We generally make zero plans besides those broad and vague: ie "lets go to Mexico and then Cuba, and then maybe South America or Central America" or "let's go to the beach.
how about Southeast Asia?"
-Can't fit in a backpack
-Isn't returnable
-Isn't either the cheapest option or the best option
This doesn't have much to do with travel finances, but I usually either buy the best/smallest/lightest or the cheapest/most disposable.
For example, I have $200 earbuds, a $40 safety razor (that takes 5¢ blades), a few pairs for $70 merino wool tshirts, a store bought $700 unlocked iPhone, but for shoes I have a pair of flip flops and an $8 pair of shoes that are getting thrown away on my flight out of the country. I buy $1000, 20 year old cars and sell them at a loss when I leave the country.
The totality of what I own and keep is around $5000 worth of stuff that all fits into a 40L backpack and a largish box that I mail to and from my family's house when I'm going to be working. The box has winter clothes, work equipment and outdoor gear, as I like to go backcountry camping here in the US. The $5000 includes my laptop ('11 MBA) and about $2000 of top shelf camping gear.
My gf and I have been together for a few years. She works full time min wage jobs to keep busy while I work. I support her while working and traveling. In 6 months of balls out travel in 3rd world countries we spend around $10-15k including everything.
I love this lifestyle and at this point get anxiety at the thought of staying on one place longer than 5 months.
When traveling I usually stay in each destination from 1-4 weeks. So in 6 months we'll usually see around 15-20 different places and get to know them reasonably well.
We generally make zero plans besides those broad and vague: ie "lets go to Mexico and then Cuba, and then maybe South America or Central America" or "let's go to the beach. how about Southeast Asia?"
Everyone needs to do this.