If money is a limiting factor to your travel dreams, you've come to the right place!

I've been traveling for years using creative ways to finance my trips and talked to dozens of other travelers who've done the same.

Here are some easy (and more complicated) ways to afford the trip of a lifetime!

Save Up

The easiest method.

Work a job and put money from each paycheck towards your travel fund. Figure out the cost of your trip and once you've reached that goal, head straight to the airport!

This method is how 90% of people travel. It's simple, straightforward, and convenient for people working most jobs.

Work Remote

Getting a job that doesn't require in-person work is an emerging tactic post-COVID for people looking to do some extended travel.

If you've heard the term "digital nomad," this usually refers to people working online and using that as an opportunity to live wherever they want.

The only downside is that combining work and fun can sometimes be the worst of both worlds–preventing you from maximizing your job performance and not fully experiencing the fun of travel.

To each their own though! I've done my share of remote work while traveling and find that it's very manageable in a part-time capacity.

Study Abroad

It might be too expensive to travel, but what if it's just baked into the cost of a semester of university?

At Georgia Tech, it's cheaper to study abroad or do an exchange program than it is to pay out-of-state tuition. Plus, you're taking college credit so it's not slowing down your graduation plans.

I studied abroad in Singapore and France; they were great opportunities to broaden my perspective on the world and do a bit of traveling.

Work an in-person job in a new city

I'm currently working at a hostel in Barcelona and enjoy this method of travel. Serving other travelers and settling in a city you love can be a nice change of pace if you're constantly on the move.

There are other in-person options as well. I've met people who work as au pairs, on a farm, or teaching English. These have advantages; you'll either be paid or receive free housing and food for these roles.

It makes travel much more affordable and the work is ideal for the broke backpacker lifestyle. Your expenses are nearly zero, and you see the world from a new perspective!

Find Scholarships and Grants

You'd be surprised how many sources of money exist that you can tap into and use for travel.

I was very fortunate to receive a full-ride scholarship to college, which meant all my expenses were covered for four years.

But I also received an $8,000 scholarship in high school and it was now excess money on top of my college scholarship.

Boom! There was my Asia travel budget!

Through various means of funding, my university has paid for me to go to Tanzania, Qatar, Turkey, Singapore, and Alaska. That may be unusually generous, but universities are a bottomless pool of money if you know where to look.

A good place to start is by finding a conference that a department within your school would pay for you to attend!

Conclusion

There are always ways to fund the trip to your dream destination. Sometimes, it just takes time, creativity, or sneaky loopholes to get there.

I've used all of the methods above to travel to almost 40 countries and counting and approached every trip with the mindset that money won't be a limiting factor.

Through one means or another, I got to see the world and gain some amazing experiences.

I hope you use the suggestions above to do the same :)