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Digital Nomad How To Make Money

The average digital nomad salary in 2021

This post was updated in May 2021

We get this question a lot: how much do digital nomads actually make? If you are wondering the same, then this post is for you! We’ve done some research and will pass it on to you. Today, we will talk about money and show you what an average digital nomad salary can look like.

In times like this, the nomadic part of your digital nomad journey will have to wait until who knows when. But it’s a great moment to spend some time working on your digital nomad skills. One day, we will all be roaming this planet again and then you can enjoy the freedom to choose to work from anywhere you’d like.

Hands of a woman on opened laptop, a cup of coffee next to her on the table.
No matter where you work from, your digital nomad salary needs to be set.

Are you looking to connect with digital nomads and travel families? Expand your network, learn from others and discuss important topics in our Facebook group.


So, today, we are all about the question: How much is a digital nomad income on average? And what jobs are super-hot, especially at the moment, that you can start today. Yep, today. There are work-from-home options out there that don’t require long preparation AND they are legit!

Bonus: Being a digital nomad family ourselves, we will reveal in this post how we have managed to live the digital nomad lifestyle since 2011. Excited? Great, lets’ go!

First things first: Digital Nomad Meaning

Before we start and because you might be wondering what exactly is a digital nomad after all, here is the meaning of this term that we are using in this post and on this blog A LOT. 

Funny side story, someone claimed in a discussion of a Facebook thread that they don’t consider X person a digital nomad because X person ‘only makes money from their travel blog’. I had to laugh out loud: OF COURSE, this person is also considered a digital nomad. You’ll see why:

When we split the term “digital nomad” into two and analyze the parts individually, we have the following fields of definition:

  1. >digital< 

A digital nomad makes money online, that’s why he or she is called a “digital” nomad. For this, all you need is a laptop and high-speed internet (and so much more, but that’s a whole different story).

  1. >nomad< 

The “nomad” part is my favorite element of the term: digital nomads roam the world hence why they are called “nomads”. This means, they get to choose where they want to work from. Of course, there are very different types of nomadic levels, some travel fast, some slow, some have several bases around the world and move only in between those. The point is, digital nomads CAN travel as much as they want to. It all depends on one’s taste and the phase of life you’re in. 

We, as a digital nomad family, for example, prefer to stay in one place for at least six months before we move on. We have found that with kids, it’s nicer to roam slower because everything takes longer and it also helps with staying sane.

Now, without further ado, here comes the real talk:

PIN THIS AND SAVE IT FOR LATER!

Let’s debunk making money online

When I first started traveling around the world, friends and family asked me on a constant basis how long I would be going on like this. Between the lines, they were asking: when will you ever return to live a ‘normal’ life and settle down. This question was usually followed by the worry that ‘this phase’ would not be sustainable and could fall back on me one day…

Well, lucky you, if you are looking into becoming a digital nomad today, you are one of many others and not an outcast like me back then. It has become a normal thing and now, especially during this worldwide pandemic, remote work and work from home jobs (aka what digital nomads have been doing like forever, duh), are now getting serious attention from people all around the world.

But the question is if you don’t sit in an office and work your hours in front of your boss’ eyes, how does that actually look like? And will they pay you as much as they would if you were physically present? Well, they should and in most cases they do. Think about it, you are saving them quite a bit of money by not using up office space! Digital nomad work is as legit as any other jobs and therefore deserve as much pay as you put in.

Related: How to be a digital nomad with no skills


Top paying digital nomad jobs

To talk about the salary a digital nomad receives, you will need to know what a digital nomad actually works to get money. And here is the thing: it is a bit like asking ‘how much do doctors make?’. Tricky, right!? It depends if you ask an allergist, a dermatologist, an obstetrician/gynaecologist, a cardiologist or a plastic surgeon. There is certainly a broader answer than just one number. And it’s similar to digital nomads. 

So, here is a list of typical jobs digital nomads can do and that are also well-paid*:

  • Coaches: $120/ hour
  • Software-engineer: 54$/ hour
  • Web Designer: 41$/ hour
  • Graphic Designer: 35$/ hour
  • Digital marketing Consultant/coach: 33$/ hour
  • Virtual Assistant: 31$/ hour
  • Marketing Specialist: 26$/ hour
  • Social Media Manager: 25$/ hour
  • Freelance Writer: 24$/ hour

Just to name a few.

Essentially, any job that you can do from your computer can become a remote job, which will then give you the freedom to choose your way of living – being it travelling or working from home. Therefore, my initial story of the travel blogger now should make sense to you, of course, a travel blogger who lives off his/her blog, is also considered a digital nomad. There are so many ways to make money online, you can choose yours too!

*All numbers are shown in USD and the majority is based on the compensation estimate of this source.

Not sure if the digital nomad lifestyle is your thing?
Are you stuck and don’t know how to start? 
Perhaps you want to take your online journey to the next level?  
No worries, I got your back!
In my 1:1 coaching sessions, you can ask all your burning questions and get help with specific problems you are dealing with. 
Get in touch to get your free 20-minute discovery call today!
Digital Nomad Coaching


Classifications of Digital Nomads

Type A: The Freelancer

The majority of people will probably start their digital nomad journey as a freelancer. In this case, you offer your service/skill set on the market and work on projects for a certain amount of time. Some online gigs are one time contracts, some turn into returning customers. It’s always great to deliver high quality work and leave a very good impression. This way, you’ll be able to get recommendations for your work and also fill your pool of happy customers for future jobs.

Examples of freelancing jobs:

Copy writers, social media managers, graphic designers, translators.


Type B: The Remote Worker

If you can convince your current employer (or pitch a new employer) that you will be doing an equally good job – if not even a better one – from a tropical island, you can consider yourself a remote worker. The company you work for will keep paying your salary as before, the only difference is that you will have to join their regular meetings via Zoom or other remote project tools. This type of digital nomad job is a very comfortable one because it gives you the feeling of stability as you don’t have to constantly look for the new project offers as it is more common in the case of a freelancer.

Examples of remote work jobs:

Software engineer, digital marketing consultants, accountants, translators.


Type C: The Entrepreneur

I’d say, the ultimate goal for every digital nomad is to have their own business. Why? This makes this lifestyle more sustainable, it resonates more with the freedom lifestyle we are all after and it usually means a better pay than Type A and B can ever get. This being said, it is, of course, not mandatory to aim for this level of income or work ethic. It’s not for everyone to be your own boss. It requires a lot of discipline and other organisational tasks as discussed in the following video

You can even make a full-time income from podcasting!

Examples of entrepreneur jobs:

Coaches, sellers of products on Amazon, owner of a blog/website for own brand/influencer, affiliate marketing business, running a SEO or social media marketing or digital marketing agency.


Do you consider a coaching business where you can share your passion and help others by teaching them a skill/tool that you are really good at? Our mini-workshop COACH UP will help you get started as a coach:

Helping others as a coach is one great way to increase your digital nomad salary!

Digital Nomad Income Types

Now that you know what a digital nomad is by definition and what job models are out there to work remotely, here comes the numbers part that you are all here for today:

Income Type 1)

Between 10-20$ USD is the average entry level. But perhaps you are asking: how to be a digital nomad with no skills? And that is a good question, because your digital nomad salary will depend on your skills and the places your clients are coming from. So, let’s say, you have no skills whatsoever, you might need to start offering free sample jobs to friends or your family in order to build your portfolio. As soon as you can show five successful jobs you’ve done, you can start pitching paid gigs.

Income Type 2)

Most of us have skills that can be translated to the web. Think about it, you know how to write emails, so you could manage someone else’s emails as their virtual assistant. We all know our way around on social media, so why not learn more about this field and become a social media manager?! 

If you have a skill (either from before or because you mastered one in preparation for your nomad journey), then you are in a position to charge an average medium hourly wage anything between $20-30. Again, it also depends on where your client or employer is from on how much you can make per hour.

Income Type 3)

Anywhere above 30$ USD, you can consider yourself in the top-notch area of digital nomad salary. There is one out of five digital nomads who earns more than 100.000 USD per year as of this article. 22% of the digital nomads who participated in this survey said that they make between $50,000 and $99,999. This is higher than the average American employee earns. 


Skills that allow you to work from anywhere

No matter what digital nomad salary you are aiming for or currently receiving, let’s have a look at the skills that will help you on your transition to a remote job or work-from home job.

  • Computer savvy
  • Having a good level of English (knowing more than one language is a plus, for sure!) 
  • Creative skills like photography, design, writing
  • Basic knowledge of business matters (for the entrepreneurs)
  • Good level of communication skills

These are good qualities that are great to have in order to succeed with your online career, no matter if you are a nomad entrepreneur or if you perceive any other of the above mentioned digital nomad careers. 

Additionally, it helps a lot if you are versatile in any of the following areas:

  • Disciplined
  • Structured
  • Persistent
  • Focused
  • Open-minded
  • Reliable
  • Service-oriented 
  • Positive 

How much do we earn as a digital nomad family?

Your digital nomad salary defines how much quality time you can spend with your family.
Curious to know how much do we earn as a digital nomad family? Read on!

Last but not least, here is what our digital nomad salary looks like – spoiler alert: there is no short answer to this.

Looking back onto our journey since 2011, there have been good years and bad years and in the beginning, we did not even know that we were considered ‘digital nomads’. Our mind was still focused on getting ‘normal’ jobs, so we took on backpacking jobs of all sorts, amongst them bartending, waiting, we worked as receptionists in hotels, tour guides, chef cook in a small restaurant, and so on.

During those two first years, from 2012 to roughly the end of 2013, we made many great experiences and earned on average 20.000 Euro per year each.

But, of course, we knew that this is not the way we wanted to live like forever. So, by 2014, we were searching for more options – digital ones. And it happened that former clients and from my network reached out asking for help with some marketing and social media projects. Claudio transitioned to graphic and web design at the same time and so we were able to take on remote client work together.

Our digital nomad income has ever since been anywhere between 25.000 Euro to 45.000 Euro.

Additionally, Jey Jetter was born, and with the help of this digital nomad and travel brand, we have been able to work together with brands and companies on various different projects. Check out our portfolio here.

Since 2016, Claudio and I have scaled our social media and digital marketing business so that we can comfortably live and work from everywhere. No year looks the same and 2020 was affected by the Coronavirus crisis but we spent the entire year in Thailand, so the cost of living was considerably low.

Check out our video series about life in Thailand during Covid-19.

What does 2021 look like so far?

In 2021, we’ve noticed a shift in people’s mindset, which has our coaching business boom. We are super excited and grateful to be able to help so many ambitious and thriving entrepreneurs to start and scale their online businesses! Are you one of them? You’ll want to join our free Facebook group to hang out and learn from like-minded people like us!


Did you like this post? Did we miss something important? Let us know in the comments below! We’d like to hear your thoughts.

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How To Make Money

8 Top Paying Digital Nomad Jobs

The digital nomad lifestyle comes with its ups and downs. One aspect many people struggle with, even before they start on their adventure, is how to make a living. You want to earn enough money to fund the lifestyle you want and begin saving cash down the road. You might have already researched ‘top paying digital nomad jobs’ but have yet to take the leap into the digital nomad life.

As a digital nomad, you have the chance to experience new places, cultures, food, etc., so you don’t want to be working around the clock. You want a job that gives you freedom but can also support you financially. We’ve compiled a list of the best digital nomad jobs that will allow you to earn what you deserve and make the most of your experience.

Note – Most of these digital nomad careers take time and hard work to start earning the big buck. If you are working as a contractor and start in an entry-level position, you can increase your rates after six months, and it will only go up from there! 

Top paying digital nomad jobs can be done, even from a hammock like this woman does.
Spoiler alert: top paying digital nomad jobs can be done from anywhere… even from your hammock 😉

Related: The Average Digital Nomad Salary in 2021

8 Top Paying Digital Nomad Jobs

We’ve gathered eight digital nomad job ideas to help you find the best career for your nomadic journey.

*Prices are estimates of what to charge at an entry-level position. If you already have experience in the area, charge more!


Website Developer

Website development is a highly sought after skill. As a Website Developer, you can charge high rates because clients will pay for their perfect website. A website is the face of a company online and can impact a business, so companies are willing to spend what they need to get their dream site. As a Website Developer, you can work with a range of clients in different industries and work from anywhere! 

But what about the free sites you can make a website on? There are free website builders, where anyone can build a website, but you’re not able to specialize the site to the company’s preferences – you’re limited with what the builder gives you. 

How much can I charge as a Website Developer?* $30 – 40/hour

Computer with a coding application on the screen


Virtual Assistant

Virtual Assistants (VA) are becoming more common, and it’s one of the best digital nomad jobs because it can involve such a variety of work. Virtual Assistants can offer a range of tasks from project management, content creation, or social media management to all the tasks a regular personal assistant would do in an office, such as email and calendar management, but online. A Virtual Assistant can make a business owner’s life easier by providing services in fields that they don’t have a lot of knowledge of or don’t have time for. 

Many business owners don’t realize they need a Virtual Assistant, so it’s up to you to sell your services and show how you can help a company! Once a company realizes how much time and money they can save with a VA, word spreads quickly, and you will be able to expand your client list easily!

How much can I charge as a Virtual Assistant? $20 – 30/hour


Writer

There is a wide variety of writing skills needed in the online world. Writing jobs can range from writing blogs, social media posts, landing pages, and ebooks to writing resumes, curriculums, product documentation, and even ghostwriting books! These are just a few of many items a writer can do as a digital nomad. 

A great way to narrow down the available writing jobs is to find a topic you enjoy and then look for writing jobs in that area. For example, if you love to travel, you can find a travel blogger who needs blogs written for them. Or if you enjoy writing books, there are genres to pick from that are looking for writers to make the book come to life. 

A writer is one of the best remote jobs because you can do it on your own schedule. You will have deadlines to meet, but you can choose when and how you work!

How much can I charge as a Writer? $20 – 30/hour

As a writer, you can also charge per word – this usually starts at $0.10/word.

Girl typing on computer


Online Business Manager

An Online Business Manager, also known as OBM, is responsible for a company or person’s online presence – they handle everything related to the digital world. For example, if a business hired a Virtual Assistant and a Graphic Designer, these two roles will report to the OBM and the OBM to the Business Owner. They ensure everything gets done correctly and on time – they keep the show rolling. If you like to keep organized in all aspects of your life and career, this could be an excellent career for you.

Since an OBM has so much responsibility and has to keep track of multiple moving parts, you can charge higher rates than a Virtual Assistant. An Online Business Manager is an investment to a company, as you will free up a business owner’s time and help move the company forward. 

How much can I charge as an Online Business Manager? $40 – 50/hour

 

Graphic Designer

Everyone needs to use the power of design at some point in their business, but not everyone is graced with the artistic ability to do so. In the online world, anything that a potential customer might come in contact with needs to look good! 

Graphic Designers can be in charge of a company’s branding and logo or design a website or social media content. They could also create promotional flyers for upcoming events or design ebooks that will be available online. The best way to get clients as a Graphic Designer is to have a portfolio to show what you can do. It’s easy to create something on Canva, but to create something unique is another skill to have. 

How much can I charge as a Graphic Designer? $30 – 40/hour


SEO Specialist

SEO is a skill that many people struggle to wrap their heads around, and it is so vital if you have a website or a blog. What’s the point in writing and creating online if no one sees your content? That is where you come in! 

As an SEO Specialist, you have the solutions to get the website to display on Google’s first page. SEO takes time to learn, and there are things constantly changing, so it’s essential to keep up with the trends. It is too time-consuming for a business owner to keep up with SEO as it evolves. However, if you can stay on top of SEO and see results from your work, you could significantly impact a business!

How much can I charge as an SEO Specialist?  $30 – 40/hour


Social Media Manager

Most companies and businesses have a social media presence and will want to reach more people through the power of social media. As a Social Media Manager, you have control of a company’s online presence through social media. You can plan out a month or more of social media by creating the content and scheduling it. After the content goes live, it’s also up to you to engage with users and track how the posts are doing. You can specialize in one social media platform, such as a Pinterest Manager, or you take over all things social!

Many people think being a Social Media Manager is easy – you just post on Instagram, right? However, the research and planning that goes into creating the perfect social media strategy take time and SKILL! Not all Instagram feeds are born pretty.

How much can I charge as a Social Media Manager?  $20 – 30/hour

Girl holding phone with Instagram feed displayed on phone


Interested in becoming a Social Media Manager, but not sure where to start? My book, Kickin’ It on Social Media, is a great place to start. Understanding which social media channels can be used for what purpose is key to attracting and maintaining the right audience. You can learn more here.


Computer Programmer

Female computer programmer

Programming is a job that will earn you a high salary in the office and also working remotely. Programming is a difficult skill to learn and takes a lot of time and practice to master. If you are interested in becoming a programmer, you can learn one of the more popular languages, like Python or Javascript, and focus your job search on that.

Programming is hard work and takes a lot of time, but if you put in the hours, you will definitely see the rewards!

How much can I charge as a Computer Programmer? $40 – 50+/hour


BONUS: 9. Coach

We added this profession because it has become high in demand and makes so much sense for digital nomads to look into this great online career option. If you are a people person and have a skill that you want to share with others, guide them in your coaching sessions to help them learn what you already know!

We created a guide to help you get started as a coach – check it out!

Top paying digital nomad jobs

Not sure where to start your Digital Nomad journey?

I can help! 

When starting to work online, many people overlook crucial steps to succeed in the digital world. That’s where I come in. I can help you take the next steps to start your digital nomad journey so you can begin applying for top paying digital nomad jobs you can do from anywhere! 

We all have to start somewhere, so if you are currently charging lower than you want, don’t worry! Give it six months and revisit your rates because as you continue to work, your experience and portfolio will grow, and that is priceless.

Learn more about my Digital Nomad Coaching services here!

 


And don’t forget to join our FREE and awesome Facebook community of Thriving Digital Nomad Families and Entrepreneurs!

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Digital Nomad How To Make Money Top Travel Posts

World Travel Tips for Digital Nomads

Have you ever wondered how life on the road really looks like? It’s a complex form of living and then again it’s the simplest way you’ve ever dreamed of. It includes living out of a suitcase, travelling to anywhere you want (and where there’s WIFI) and so much more. But it also means that you have to take care of a few things that common life doesn’t require. Want to know which are these things? Here is your ultimate guide to a digital nomad’s life!

A person standing in front of a building

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This post contains affiliate links. See affiliate disclaimer here.

Life on the Road: All You Need to Know About How to Become a Digital Nomad

The Eiffel Tower, Great Wall of China, the Taj Mahal. What does each of these spectacular world landmarks have in common? Well, for some of us, each of these locations could be an office with a million dollar view. Remote work offers the best of both worlds to the tech-savvy and adventurous among us. Sightseeing while you work can be a dream, and you don’t need much to get started. Oftentimes all you need is a functional computer, a good internet connection, and an entrepreneurial spirit to become a modern-day digital nomad!

For today’s digital nomads, the possibilities are just emerging as increasingly more companies offer remote contracts or the ability to work from home. With a bit of planning and determination, you can join the ranks of other global nomads making a living on the road.

1. Establish Your Goals

For digital nomads, the end goal is generally to travel while working and create some kind of sustainable income. Although the popular image may be one of whipping out your laptop poolside, enjoying a cocktail — it’s not that simple (or practical!) to do.

The digital nomad is often envisioned as a 20 or 30-something Millennial having the right profession to combine travel and work, but you can hit the road at any age.

The life of a nomad is a balance between working on-the-go and enjoying new culture and sightseeing. It doesn’t always mean you have to leave the country — plenty of nomads spend their time exploring the diversity of culture in their own backyard without ever setting foot on the tarmac. A simple camper van and a sense of adventure can easily satisfy your urge to get out of town for a while.

Check out how one day CAN look like in the life of a digital nomad family!
The video is in German – English subtitles are coming soon!!!

2. Identify Your Skill Set and Income Sources

A person using a computer

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The most common question asked by nomadic wannabes is how they can get started. It’s not that hard if you already have the right skill set. If you aren’t lucky enough to have that perfect work-abroad job offer, develop your talent and create a situation where you can work digitally. Create sources of passive and active income as you embark on your journey.

Active Income:

  • Have a journalism degree? Establish a freelance practice before you set out.
  • Are you an educator? Many tutoring programs have moved online.
  • Have some other tech-savvy skill? Try blogging, web design, or creating a podcast.

Passive Income:

  • Rent your permanent home while you travel.
  • Create an online store to generate income.
  • Write and promote a book and publish it online.

Whatever your talent, you can move it abroad under the right conditions. Develop your income before you set off. Have a plan in place and create a timeline. It’s not a bad idea to have more than one source of income just in case.

Click HERE to get my FREE cheat sheet on how to find remote work!

3. Expect Hurdles to Your Nomadic Life

Many a global nomad enjoys the good life for several years, only to find that things get… complicated. Marriage, changes in health, babies, ageing parents, long-term plans and retirement plans all begin to emerge as potential hurdles. You may miss the boat on buying your first home or begin to see cracks in your social circle as you travel. Just like in any job, being a digital nomad means accepting that:

  • Loneliness is to be expected.
  • One day, you can return home, wherever that may be.
  • It’s never too early to plan for retirement.

Just as in the typical “day-to-day” grind, you will find yourself with items to take care of on your personal agenda. Health insurance, paying the bills, and taking care of family do not disappear when you venture on the path of global nomadism.

4. Complete a Trial Run

If you find yourself questioning whether or not life on the road is for you, it’s not a bad idea to complete a trial run before you throw in the towel on your 9 to 5. Take a break or a holiday first, and see if you can make it work.

Before putting in your notice, book a ticket to your location of choice with the intention to work as you go. Your aim here is work/life integration, not a vacation. This will allow you to work out the kinks before the real departure.

5. Choose Your Location … Wisely

A large crowd of people

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The global nomad can live anywhere, but that doesn’t mean they should. Choosing your locale to suit a budget is not only smart but it saves you the headache of relocating when things go south. Choose your location based on your income and don’t overstretch your budget. The same rules apply anywhere. Here are some tips:

  • Try affordable locations first. Southeast Asia, South America, and Eastern Europe are all great budget starting points. It’s like finding a starter home — once you know you can make it there, move on to pricier areas if you feel ready!
  • Stay long-term first. It takes several months to establish yourself in a location. Before bouncing off to the next country or city, plan to stay in each location for several months or a couple of years at a stretch. This helps you get to know the ins and outs before moving on.
  • Save before you go. Never start your nomadic experience in debt or without a financial plan. It’s a recipe for Couchsurfing disaster! Pay your debts before you go or at least know that you have enough saved to pay the bills for the next six months before setting off.

Remember, if you have financial or personal problems, they won’t go away just because you did. Whatever baggage you travel with (be it emotional or financial) will follow you wherever you go. Deal with your reality before departure to make sure you plan is successful.

6. Say Goodbye to Tradition

As a digital nomad, your life may diverge quite drastically from others in your social circle. This adventure comes with a trade-off. There will be no white-picket fence in your nomadic future, and you may find yourself cutting ties more frequently.

  • Be prepared for a moment when you question your decisions and be prepared to adjust accordingly.
  • Check in with yourself from time to time. Are you okay missing out on milestones and trading that for the travel experience?
  • Surround yourself with other nomads who “get it.” Don’t be afraid to let go of friendships temporarily as you experience this new lifestyle.

The quiet life, working at the same place for your entire life and settling down just don’t always work well when you’re spending more of your time on the road. Be prepared to hunker down wherever it works in the moment and move on when opportunities have been exhausted.

7. Don’t Brush Off Visas or Taxes

If there’s one piece of smart advice we can offer, it’s this: taxes and visas are a given. Neglecting these two areas can leave you in some pretty serious trouble. Many an adventurer sets out without obtaining appropriate financial advice regarding taxes. Or perhaps, it seems adventurous to “just go” and “see what happens.” We strongly advise against doing this. You still need to have a plan!

  • Depending on your country of residence, not filing taxes can come with swift penalties.
  • As a global nomad, you are likely self-employed. Seek out advice on filing taxes before you go.
  • Never enter a country without the appropriate visa or travel document and always register at the embassy if you go abroad.

In the case of a natural disaster or other unforeseen event (it happens more often than you think), be prepared to have an escape plan. Make sure you copy all your documents and have a close friend or family member guard them back home just in case. Or, keep copies of important financial information including taxes close to you at all times.

8. Protect Your Most Important Companion

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Speaking of cutting corners, this is one you don’t want to mess with! We’ve heard it all. Journalists who go abroad only to lose entire interviews and data on the road. Designers left with no editing equipment. Videographers with no tape.

  • Protect your gear and guard it with your life! Insure it, hide it when not in use, and back it up.
  • It’s likely most of your work while on-the-go is done via your laptop or even your phone or iPad, so don’t leave your gadgets unprotected. Invest in cases or other protective gear that functions as a barrier against drops and damage.
  • Invest in luggage and gear that doesn’t impede transit through customs. Keep things moving along with a suitcase that is versatile and modern.

Get your travel and tec gear before you start your digital nomad life:

Pick a few simple tricks of the trade if you plan to venture abroad on your nomadic journey. Take it from us, time saved equals money earned while you wait for your flight!

Get Started Today

Being a digital nomad does involve a lot of forethought and work, but the payoff is worth it. With the right attitude and willingness to plan, your business could be up and running within a few short months. In search of more advice? Many digital communities are thriving on social media, so do a quick search and connect with other nomads in your area of choice. Happy travels!

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About the Author:

Katie Tejada (McDaniel) is a writer, editor, and travel enthusiast. With a love for adventure and the great outdoors, she spends much of her time writing outside.

Categories
Digital Nomad How To Make Money

How To Make Money While Traveling

The most frequent question I get asked is how I can afford my lifestyle. People are also always looking at how to make money while traveling. Or how to make enough money to help them pay for their travels.

Travelling is mostly considered a luxury expense, something you save up for, or only do once in a while. On the contrary, as a digital nomad, you are free to choose wherever you work from and where you live.

So, for me, it has become plain logic to choose destinations that also offer some sort of value for the time that I don’t work on my laptop. People who have followed my blog, know by now that my perfect place is at the ocean and the beach – this means paradise to me.

But there are obviously many more ways to design your lifestyle as a digital nomad. I know a lot of people who prefer the city or they stay in one place for a long time and have a second base somewhere else.

Earn money as a digital nomad

Most Obvious Ways To Make Money While Traveling

If you are looking at how you can travel and make money at the same time, you are not alone. Many people dream of becoming digital nomads, the thought of working while traveling appeals to the masses, it seems.

There are two ultimate ways to travel and make money at the same time:

  • Use your travelling to make money
  • Continue working while you travel

How To Travel For A Living

If you are able to leverage your skills in a way that allows you to travel, this is a great way to go. Getting paid to travel is an amazing way to use your talents.

Some of the professions that will allow you to make money travelling are:

  • Photographers – travel guides and websites are often in search of top quality images of the places they write about.
  • Travel guide researchers – while not as glamorous as it sounds, researching a place for a travel guide will allow you to see the most of any destination.
  • Flight attendants – the oldest and most stable way to see the world. Although a tiring profession, and not as flexible as other traveling jobs.
  • Cruise ship employees – Cruise ships have many different positions for you to apply for, from waitressing to beauty therapists.
  • Au pairs – if you’re good with kids, living with a family as their children’s caregiver will give you a safe and fun way to see the world.
  • English teachers – spend some time in a foreign country teaching the locals English.

If you’re really not sure how to travel and work, the above-mentioned jobs will give you a great stepping stone. They do, however, require you to report to a boss, and may limit your choices on where you travel to, as well as how long you stay.

If you want more freedom, you’ll want to look at remote and freelancing jobs.

How To Work While Traveling

If you are lucky enough to secure a job that allows you to work while traveling, it is a lot easier to work from wherever you are. Being able to travel and work gives you almost complete control over where you go and how long you stay.

The list of remote jobs is longer than you’d think, some of the most popular jobs include:

  • Content writer – write content for online businesses and websites.
  • Photographer – work as a freelance photographer, selling your images to websites and magazines.
  • Virtual Assistant – as a virtual assistant you can work anywhere you find good wifi.
  • Web designer/developer – design or develop websites as a freelancer from wherever you find yourself.
  • Ghostwriter – ghostwriting is a great option if you have a talent for writing, and you’ll most likely not need to sit too still to do it.
  • Blogger – finding a way to monetize your own blog, especially a travel blog, gives you the freedom to travel and blog in your own time.
  • Influencer – if you can wrangle together a fair amount of social media followers, you can use your influence to keep you going financially while on the road.
  • Editor/Proofreader – as long as your English (or whichever language you decide to work in) is A grade, you can offer editing and proofreading services to writers and bloggers.
  • Social Media Marketer – use your social media skills to help businesses reach their audience in the best ways.

Any of these jobs will allow you to grab your laptop, book your plane tickets and head off to a destination office space. Whether you’re wanting to work while travelling across Europe or spend your office hours on a beach in Spain, you can work knowing you’re not losing out on any paychecks.

Of course, digital nomadism does not necessarily have to be combined with travelling – but in my opinion, it’s a lot more fun to do so! Check out the following guest post to learn about a few options to choose from if you haven’t started freelancing or earn money online and still want to know how to make money and travel…

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How to Make Money Traveling as a Digital Nomad

Guest post by Jenny Holt:

The first time I took a year off, before college, travelling and working meant finding an array of bar and waitressing jobs across America to get myself from Georgia to Hawaii, then on to Australia, and then Southeast Asia.

The last leg of the trip was trickiest workwise but luckily there was a lot of demand for teaching English. As I found out on a second trip a few years ago, there are a lot more options now for the digital nomad – you can earn from your hotel from your AirBnB or in a cafe with a WiFi connection.

How To Travel And Make Money

There are hundreds of ways to earn money online while travelling. The simplest of those is the ubiquitous travel blog. It is also a great way to keep in touch with friends and relatives back home, as well as those you meet on the journey.

These take time to seed and gain a following, but by using a weekly email blast, affiliate marketing, and advertising, you can begin to earn some money toward your travels.

The best part is that if the blog is your main business any expenses might be tax deductible. Affiliate marketing income can be gained from airlines, hotel sites, and travel rating sites among others.

How to Balance Work and Travel

While moving from one place to another, I often found myself losing work time. A tour across Europe meant using a lot of buses, coaches and especially trains.

This is great for the environment, but a bit more boring than driving or cycling somewhere, so like many commuters I turned to work during the travel times.

An easy way to fill in the time is to do micro jobs such as taking surveys, posting reviews, partaking in fora and moderate forums, or even delivering packages en route.

In addition to these tasks that many sites pay people to do, you can enter contests and sweepstakes as well. Some people who enter many of these are rather successful over a year, but there’s naturally no guarantee of a payout.

Make Money While Traveling – Teach a Skill

Yes, it is possible to continue to teach English or other skills while travelling. The wonders of the Internet and communication software like Skype means you can freelance teach people anywhere, so as long as both of you have a secure Internet connection.

Teaching online is not your only option as a freelancer. In addition to tutoring students, you can become a virtual assistant or be a call centre customer service Rep.

A Simple Answer to Making Money While Traveling

There are tons of companies who will pay you to participate in their surveys. Most surveys don’t take much time and simply ask you for your opinion or expertise.

Those questionnaires are mostly multiple choice questions which will earn you either points that you accumulate and get paid out later or some pay you per survey. It’s an easy way to do on the side.

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What are your ways of making money while travelling as a digital nomad? Do you work as a freelancer? Let us know, so we can get inspired and follow your example!

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About the author of our guest post:

Jenny Holt is a freelance writer and mother of two. She loves nothing more than getting away from it and taking her pet Labrador Bruce for long walks, something she can do a lot more now she’s left the corporate world behind.

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NOT DONE READING YET?

Check out this post to read which gadgets I use to stay organised as a traveller and digital nomad.

Or perhaps you’re still deciding if the digital nomad lifestyle is for you, read here how five years of full-time travelling have changed my life.

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Digital Nomad How To Make Money

7 Steps to Create a Location-Independent Business By Teaching Online

Teaching Online as a form of location-independent business option

There are so many ways to become a digital nomad and create a location-independent business. Teaching online is one of them. This guest post by Eduardo Yi is for all those of you who have some skills and knowledge to share and would like to know how to create an online course to become a location-independent business entrepreneur. 

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Teaching Online: A Location-Independent Business Modell

The online course industry is exploding these days, and for a good reason. The fact that you can share your knowledge with the world and make money for example by teaching online from anywhere around the globe has driven many teachers to craft and selling an online course.

It doesn’t even matter what you will be teaching online; there’s almost certainly a market for it somewhere, so if you’ve wondered about how to start an online-course that sells, you’re in luck.

First, here’s a few reasons why you absolutely should build an online course:

  1. Quicker Monetization – Launching a blog or even youtube channel can take months and sometimes even years to build. With a course, you have a product ready-made that has zero inventory costs and high revenue possibilities.
  2. Eager Audience – If you’ve taken the time to learn something, chances are, so have a lot of other people. That means you will have a large, ready-made audience hungry for your product.
  3. Easily Scalable – Need more income? Re-release the course again with an extra module. With low overhead and tiny incremental costs, an online course is one of the most scalable businesses out there for digital nomads.
  4. Satisfying Work – You’re not just selling another done-for-you service, creating and selling a course has the potential to change lives through education.
  5. Perfect Brand-Builder – Many people take a long time to become an authority in their niche. Skip the line and create a course, and you can position yourself as the go-to person for this area.

Now that you’re convinced (hopefully), what do you do next? Simple. Here are seven easy steps to create your online course.

 

1. Explore Your Niche

I’m sure you’ve probably heard this expression before but remember: the riches are in the niches. If you want to separate yourself from the pack and really cater to a hyper-specific, underserved market, narrow down your niche into something more specific.

For instance, it may be that you are a full-time digital nomad blogger and a successful one at that. In this case, you might consider catering to a specific genre, such as developing a course for finance or education bloggers, or even beginner bloggers. You could even narrow down further and focus on beginner education bloggers.

You definitely don’t want to go too deep, but having a speciality is key to finding an underserved market that you can capitalize on.

 


Not into creating a location-independent business? Get my FREE guide to finding remote work instead:

Not into building your location-independent business right now? Get your FREE Guide to Finding Remote Work!


 

2. Set Your Goals

How much do you want to make with your course? Prices, depending on expertise, can be all over the place, ranging from a couple hundred dollars to several thousand. The speciality you choose and the market you’re in can go a long way in setting these rates.

If you’re just in it for a side-hobby or you’re more interested in building an audience; in this case, consider pricing it a little lower. If you want this to be your primary source of income to fund your nomadic lifestyle, then price it a little higher. Regardless, you need to set your goals first and let the rest of your plan follow suit.

 

3. Find (or Build) an Audience

If you don’t have an audience already made, then you’ll need to build one. This can include running paid advertisements or creating a “lead magnet” so that people will opt-in on your mailing list.

They key is to create something of value, and continue delivering value to your audience before you eventually sell. Give, give, and give… then pitch. You have plenty of knowledge to give, so don’t be stingy with it!


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Create your Location-Independent Business By Teaching Online

 

4. Price It Right

What you ultimately decide to price your course it is up to you, but the key idea here is to create value. It doesn’t matter if your course is $50 or $50,000 if your students don’t feel like it is worth the money, then they won’t stick around long.

Consider also what a course like yours would go for in a physical setting. In some cases, a class on generating an e-commerce business would sell for $10,000 or more, specifically because, through the course, you will learn how to make much more. Do some research, and price accordingly.

 

5. Build a Sales Funnel for your Location-Independent Business

The first thing you need to do is build your foundation for the course itself, and that includes picking the platform that you want it to host on. Pick carefully, because an inferior platform will communicate to your students that the course itself is inferior.

Make sure that your course is mobile-friendly. Most likely, your students will be consuming it on-the-go, so you want to make sure that they have the capability to do so, and that the quality won’t suffer as a result.

Your sales page should have some key information: an attention-grabbing headline, a video or infographic to tease the course, explanation of the course itself, social proof, and a call to action. Make your course irresistible to potential customers, and you will have people lining up to enrol.

 


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or check out how you can earn a little extra as a digital nomad!


 

6. Create the Course

You may wonder why this is nearly the last step on this list. The answer is simple: there’s no reason to create anything if there are no students to buy it. Once you have the audience, however, you need to deliver in a big way.

The key to any good course is to create a transformation in the student, taking them from where they are to where they want to be. If your course is in affiliate marketing, then start with an introduction to what that is, and move them to more advanced techniques towards the end.

These days, course creation is simple too. Many of the supplies can be bought off Amazon, and freelancers are available worldwide to help with anything you may need.

 

7. Launch It!

Your course launch should follow a series of steps:

First, tease your course to your e-mail list. Second, answer any questions or concerns people may have about it. Then, open the doors to your students.

After that, you want to continue to answer questions that potential (and current) students have about it. Go out of your way here to be accessible; part of what people pay for is access to you, the expert.

Then throw in a bonus to entice more people to sign up and continue to convince people why your course is worth it. Finally, send out a few e-mails letting people know the doors are closing! Create a sense of urgency and grab the last few stragglers who are on the fence.

 

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There are plenty of ways to develop and launch a course, but these are the ones that I’ve found to be most successful. 

What about you? If you were to create a course to teach online, what would it be about? Write back and let me know!

 

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About The Author

Eduardo Yi is the lead content marketer at Teachable, a platform that allows everyone, from creative individuals to established organizations, to easily teach online and create profitable businesses.

 


NOT DONE READING YET?

Perhaps you are not into teaching but you love writing? Consider having a blog instead. You can generate passive income from your site if you write about your travels or life as a digital nomad.

Or perhaps you’re still deciding if the digital nomad lifestyle is for you, read here how five years of full-time travelling have changed my life.

Either you have a location-independent business or want to work remotely as a freelancer, read this post on the gadgets and devices all digital nomads should have!

 

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Digital Nomad How To Make Money

Anywhere In the World Can Be Your Office

Freelancing is on the rise, as 45% of people are choosing work flexibility over pay. Many people are now deciding to give up the traditional 9-5 office-based career and harness the vast array of technology available which allows people to pretty much work anywhere in the world. The digital nomad culture is growing, as one in three people look to work overseas.

Freelancing as a lifestyle choice

People are now making anywhere their office. Whether they’re based at home, in a hotel room, airplane or even the beach. This freestyle way of working allows people to fully combine work and life. Technology is key of course. But with Wifi more reliable than ever and even simple tools like Facetime and Skype, you don’t even need to be in the same country or time zone as your colleagues or clients anymore.

But it’s not just about working freedoms and flexibility. It can be even healthier to give up the 9-5. A UK sleep expert at Oxford University has found that having people under 55 start their workdays before 9am can actually be considered to be “torture”, leaving them stressed and exhausted.

Your alternative program when you are freelancing
Your alternative program when you are freelancing: Nothing beats a relaxing walk at the beach while watching the sunrise!

The challenges of being your own boss

Depending on what your work is and where you are doing it, there will inevitably be distractions. If you are travelling and try to fit experience the destination, you’ll be having trouble finding the balance to do so. Or it could be from your kids in the next room to the temptation to go for a walk instead of opening your laptop. But that’s when it comes down to discipline.

It’s not always an easy work life. But if your regular 9-5 just leaves you feeling bored and unfulfilled, with every day feeling like Groundhog Day, then you can change it. Wherever you want your office space to be, breaking away from the rat race could change your life forever.

In my case, the decision to becoming a digital nomad and determine has been the best in regards to personal freedom. The sensation of being able to work wherever and whenever I want is priceless. My biggest challenge is still to find enough time during the day to do everything possible to really experience the new places I travel to. But, I guess, that’s a luxury problem and not even really one, if I look at it from a “normal” perspective!

Part of the freelancing lifestyle while traveling is to find a good place to work. Your office CAN be a hammock every now and then, but sometimes your job requires to sit in a chair for a few hours 😉 Check out our video on three co-working spaces in Berlin. We asked the owners what the benefits of working in a co-working space are in comparison to a coffee shop – the video is German only, sorry!

What is your opinion on freelancing instead of working the “normal” 9-5? Would you be disciplined enough? Are you already doing it? What is the biggest challenge for you?

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Digital Nomad How To Make Money

Let’s Talk Money – Part 2: How to Travel Long-Term

To travel long-term is one of the biggest dreams of many people. Wouldn’t it be great to see the whole world before we die?!? But money seems to be the biggest issue and the number one limitation when it comes to travelling. It shouldn’t be though, as there are so many ways to stay on the road without being rich! If you’re eager to explore and travelling is your passion, for sure you’ll accept a bit of an effort in order to reach your goal and live your dream, right?! Check out my first post about how you can travel long-term here!

Mahahual, MexicoGorgeous sunset in Mahahual, a tiny Mexican fisher town close to the border of Belize.

What is it that stops you from following your dream?

Whoever I meet on the road seems to be in a similar situation: Life back home is ok, all sorted out: a job, a house/apartment, family/friends as well as the daily hobbies/leisure time activities. Great! But apparently for some of us wandering souls out there, this seems not enough. If you are happier on the road than in a routined life, you can probably relate to the following: if only money wasn’t an issue, we would all be traveling the world forever, right?

Life back home seems to make sense, though. Everyone chooses this way that society defines to be the ‘correct’ one. If no one would follow that system, the world would be a different place, for sure, and economy would turn into a very hollow concept. Before I take it too far, I should say that I don’t want to change the system or pretend that everything other than conventional is automatically better. In fact, I think we all should decide for ourselves what is ‘right’ or best.  And if that means that you don’t fit into the conventional system, you should at least be given enough creative space to develop your own way of living. Having said that, let’s suppose your mission in life is similar to mine:

MY MISSION IN LIFE: TRAVEL LONG-TERM AND SEE THE WHOLE WORLD

I haven’t had one conversation in my four years of travelling in which other people tell me that they do not want to travel long-term. ‘I wish I could do this forever’, is one of the most heard sentences in these conversations. But they’re running out of savings and want to go back to make more money till the next time when they get their days off from work. Eventually all have to go back and return to a life that is determined by a job and paying bills. Some lucky ones have found their dream-jobs and really don’t mind going back. But it strikes me how many people I talk to are actually unhappy.

Wouldn’t it be great to find something that allows you to travel long-term whenever you want to and for how long you like? Sounds too good to be true? It isn’t actually! Do what you love and try to make money out of it! It might be a bit more difficult or take you longer to set it up, because you have to become creative yourself, but it can’t be harder than following orders from other people or working every day 8 hours in something that you don’t enjoy! Trust me, there is always a way if you follow your real passion.

Vancouver HarbourDo material things really make you happy?

How to travel long-term and turn it into your lifestyle:

First of all, get rid of everything that you really don’t need: sell the ‘things’ that you bought only for that short exciting moment of pleasure, such as clothes, jewellery, decoration for your house etc. All these things that you would leave behind if your house was on fire and you’d have to run away. Make a list! Evaluate the list and start over, for sure you can find more things in the basement! Selling it all through eBay or other online marketplaces might give you the necessary cash to get started.

Tip: Keep your apartment and rent it out in order to see if you enjoy life on the road at all or until you decide to travel long-term on serious terms. 

Once you are on the mission to explore a new country, your main challenge is probably to keep your costs low. Travel more for less in an enjoyable way, right? I travel on a budget but never feel poor or almost every time I want to do something, I decide in favour for it. There is no worse feeling than missing out on something that is probably a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity! And the idea is to enjoy travelling without feeling guilty about the money you spend. And since you will be on the road for quite some time, beach bumming tends to become quite boring after a while. So, most people don’t mind to pick up a job – if that means that you can enjoy your sunset by the beach on a regular basis.

Mahahual, MexicoLuckily free Wi-Fi has become a standard facility in most places, and sometimes you can get lucky and even work at the beach!

How to make money on the road?

When I realised that I don’t want to go back into the 9-5 job routine, I started to do whatever it takes to travel long-term: I did a lot of research on work visas, ways to make money online and how to safe on your expenses. All I thought of was how to keep doing what I was doing. And it all came down to four major costs/spending areas: Accommodation, food, activities and transportation. I thought, if I can figure out how to live for free, eat like locals and not like a tourist, save on activities and transport, my costs will be very low and don’t need much money. So here is my momentary model of living:

Step 1: Live for free through a work-exchange:

Today we try to never pay for accommodation, ideally not even for food (which is mostly harder though but also a lot cheaper). There are some great websites that help you find voluntary positions that you don’t need a work visa for and where you still have plenty of time during the day to explore or do whatever you like. For me, the 4-5 hours per day in the morning leave me plenty of time to work on my own projects in the afternoon and I have sorted out my major expense, the cost of living:

Step 2: Cash up with a local job in countries where you can get a work permit!

In my case, I started off trying out different jobs in tourism and marketing which I found in each place by talking to the local people. In Chile, Australia and Canada I got a work visa and in these countries I made enough money to be able to travel again for longer periods afterwards. I recently found out about a fairly new website called JetSetterJobs. Here people like me can search for casual work anywhere in the world. Some jobs are paid, some are on a voluntary/exchange basis. Check it out, it makes your life so much easier when you travel long-term:

In general though, you need to do the legwork once you’ve arrived in your new destination. There are very few ways to find a job online in remote places. That’s why I find it a really great idea to set up a platform like the one from JetSetterJobs.com! These guys understood the need for a platform that helps nomads to find jobs easier!

Part-time jobSometimes you’ll find a really fun job not necessarily behind a computer desk! 😀

Step 3: Use your free-time in order to build up your own online-business and become location independent!

Even though I usually try to make money on the road (whenever I legally can), I also always keep my eyes open for freelance jobs, especially in the phases where I don’t work locally. These sorts of freelance jobs such as helping to build websites, translations jobs, copywriting and all sorts of marketing projects are great to move around and not spend too much time in one place. Here is a few example pages that I regularly scan:

Now that you sorted out your living costs and realised that you can actually live comfortably on a casual income, you might want to take your lifestyle to the next level. Who wouldn’t want to stop doing those little jobs and rather spend time at the beach or hiking in the mountains!? And that is the key if you travel long-term: Organise and plan well every step ahead. All my time and efforts go towards the goal to see the whole world. The timeframe doesn’t matter, as long as the journey is enjoyable. So, since I don’t have any regular bills like I used to have when living in one place, all I earn goes directly towards my travels. That means, with the money I make I can finance my life on the road without worrying about fixed costs.

But at the moment I am building up my own online-business of which I hopefully soon will be able to live off. Being fairly new to the blogging scene I can not yet speak for myself, but I’ve learned a lot and know that there are many bloggers out there that make profit from their websites. All you need is a product that is in demand or find a niche and position yourself as an expert. If you travel long-term, you gain great knowledge of all the travel related questions other people might have. I know how scary it can be and how many trial-and-error situations one has to go through before one figures out the challenges of a nomadic lifestyle. So stay tuned and I will hopefully be able to share soon more about my business idea…

Mahahual, Mexico
Enjoy the benefits of traveling…and where best can you do this, in a hammock, right?! 😉

Good luck to you all and happy travels!!! If you have any questions about how to travel long-term, please leave a comment below and I am more than happy to contact you.

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Digital Nomad How To Make Money

If You Aren’t Rich But Want to Travel…Change Your Attitude, Think Creative… and Touch a Koala!

You don’t have to be rich in order to travel the world, y. But last time at the border control the immigration officer wasn’t so sure about it. He looked at my passport and paused. Then he looked up and sent me over to one of his colleges. I wasn’t surprised about this. It happens almost all the time when I’m at the airport. I mostly never get waved through immigration immediately and usually have to answer a few questions before I can get into a new country. I guess too many stamps in your passport makes you look suspicious…

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And still, after all that travelling I must admit that so far I had never had someone being as blunt as the Canadian officer in Toronto a few months ago! Like his colleague before, he turned each and every single page of my heavily used passport and looked at it with a raised eyebrow before he asked me: “So…. are you rich?!?”

I think I am rich, but most people probably think I have a lot of money on my bank account when they hear about my travels and lifestyle. Truth is, I definitely have not a lot of money and each time I earn a little bit it goes straight towards my current or next trip. In fact, I don’t even have many possessions to call my own. All I own fits into my backpack that I have been carrying around with me for the past 4 years…it’s mainly clothes in there and I guess my camera, phone and laptop are the only considerable valuables that I posses…

So, how do I travel around the world without getting bankrupt?

Well, first of all, I changed my expectations and way of thinking. I said Goodbye to my career and re-adjusted my standards of living. Also my attitude has changed completely. I do not strive for a high job position at a fancy company any longer and I couldn’t care less if I drive my own car or have a chic apartment for myself. The less stuff you own the more flexible you are, I found out….

The security of a permanent job I happily exchanged for location-independence, adventures and the flexibility to be able to travel around – whenever I want. It’s deliberating and mind-changing. And I think it is the first transformation that has to happen in your head. For me travelling was eye-opening and helped me appreciating life differently.

 

So, I transformed my former mission of climbing up the job ladder into a mission of exploring the world. May each and every single day be interesting and hopefully exciting for the rest of my life, I thought. And I couldn’t help but feeling the need to take this challenge serious. I suddenly saw that a career did not fulfil me any longer. All I wanted was to learn each day something new, see different places, get to know people from other countries, learn about their cultures, try to challenge myself by pushing myself out of my comfort zone and never feel bored of life again.

Location-independent since 2011 and full-time traveling ever since: my life as a digital business nomad looks completely different than before.
Climbing a volcano in Southern Chile…at 4 am! Totally worth it to get up that early!! 🙂

And I think on top of my attitude it is my educational and professional background that helps me a lot to get around easily: I studied English and Spanish language, literature and culture at the University. After I graduated I wasn’t sure what to do with my Bachelor’s of Arts. So I thought it’d be a good idea to get a degree in something that is actually a bit more concrete. I decided to get an extra occupational degree in Communications/ Marketing and PR.

PR and Marketing Consultant goes full-time traveller: Today, I call myself a digital business nomad.
Back in the days as a Marketing Consultant…a very different me! Photo Credit: Mirco Taliercio

Being fluent in three different languages in combination with a skill that can basically be applied all around the world has helped me a lot on my travels. And I am lucky enough to work as a freelancer for different projects every now and then. This allows me to travel and work location independently… But I am not saying that this is the only way to be able to travel and it is clearly not the only type of work I do!

Actually, I find it very refreshing to pick up jobs that I wouldn’t even have considered back home in Germany. It’s funny when you take off the career pressure and turn a job into an experience. You can relax because you know it will not be for a long time and that you learn a new skill or simply something about yourself by throwing yourself into a completely new environment. I still give one hundred per cent when I start a new job. But I am no longer getting emotionally involved like I used to do.

Traveling full-time is an alternative lifestyle for people who work online and without being rich.
A peaceful sunset on one of my trips to Bali in 2014…

When I travel, I meet many people on the road with all sorts of professional backgrounds and many of them exchanged their careers in order to live a nomadic lifestyle like me. Some find the perfect spot to live and simply stay in a spot in paradise. They all seem to feel the same: Once you’ve made that step out of the routine you quickly realise that there is so much more you can do and somehow everything falls into place in the following.

I hardly ever know what I am going to do in a few months ahead of time. That might be scary for some people, but I find it exciting. The majority of people though love security and a predictable way of living. I guess everyone has to decide for themselves what is best for oneself… But I can totally relate to all those wandering souls around the world that get attached to the nomadic lifestyle as opposed to the conventional house, car and full-time job.

Long-term Travel: As long as you are open, not picky and a little bit creative you will manage to get around!

Traveling brings you in touch with so many interesting species...
Oh and touching a Koala will bring you luck too. May the holy Koala spirit will be with you on your travels! 😉 

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Digital Nomad How To Make Money

Let’s talk money: How to travel without being rich!

In Bariloche Argentina

Travel longterm: Here are some fast facts about how you can start travelling and finance your trips:

  • It sounds cheesy but that is really the first step: you GOT to believe that it is possible!
  • Once you convinced yourself, convince your friends and family that it is a good idea to quit your job and buy an open flight ticket to wherever you want to go. Of course, keep your job and ask your boss for a permission to get a longer break in case you are not sure and want to see first if you like travelling at all!
  • The money for your flight ticket is the first thing you should worry about: start saving today and stop spending on unnecessary things like clothes, eating out, drinks or the mandatory coffee at Starbucks in the morning on the way to your office….
  • You might get some funds by selling all that stuff in your apartment/basement which you won’t need on your trip anyways…and hey, think about it, you can always come back and get news things again, IF you ever come back…! And if NOT, you will have to CARRY all that you want to take!!

    Carrying way too much stuff on a 5 day hike through Patagonia’s National Park “Torres del Paine”…
  • Then, get excited and imagine all your dreams vividly! Again, mind setting is crucial for almost everything in life!! First you have to be able to see/ create it in your head before it can become true!! No kidding!
  • After that you have a few options to chose from on how to create your travels:
  • couchsurfing.com or housesitting might be an interesting option for those who want to save on accommodation and get to know places with the help of your hosts…it’s a great way to start and get a feel for travelling.
  • Whoever likes contributing whilst out there should have a look at wwoofing! This is a great organisation that connects organic farms with volunteers all around the world. Each country has a website and you can contact the farm owners for a small fee to see if they need help. You will receive accommodation and food in exchange for 4-5 hours of work per day, weekends are off, of course. There is no payment, but that means you don’t need a work permit either! Which is great!

    Harvesting baby carrots on one of the organic farms in Canada where I stayed as a woofer for 4 weeks!

    And there is still plenty of time to explore the surrounding area and you will see that the hosts are mostly more than happy to show you around! Almost anywhere around the world you can find wwoofing…my next stop will be Hawaii, just saying! Type into Google ‘wwoofing‘ and the country you want to visit. There you’ll find the website for the particular country and you can purchase the contact list for all the registered farms. It’s about 20-30 Euro depending on which country you choose. It’s the only investment you have to make, but then you won’t spend any money on food or accommodation…

    Wwoofing in the morning and canoeing in the afternoon!
  • You can always try to go deeper and obtain a new skill that allows you to travel and work online… I have worked on a freelance basis as a copywriter, translator, PR Manager and recently I am doing an online course to get a certificate in web design. You find jobs like that on freelance.com and this way you can easily travel and do a few hours per week from ANYWHERE around the world! Basically all you need is a laptop and internet access…so don’t visit for too long remote places! 🙂
  • If online is not your thing, you might want to think about teaching a language. English is pretty high in demand in Asia, Africa and Latin America. But even German is popular!! I taught German in Australia for several weeks. It started as a joke but in the end I had 5 regular students, who booked me a few hours per week!! No, I did not have any teaching experiences at all! But this showed me something plain and simple: If you are trying new things, you will always find new opportunities. So getting rid off old habits and routines helps to stay flexible in your mind! Try different things! Learn! Connect! Talk to other people and listen to their stories. You might get great ideas for yourself!

    Not one of my best ideas but a lot of fun: On a scooter in India’s Goa…being used to right sided traffic this was challenging, as it felt very “wrong” to drive on the left side of the street! Perhaps it felt strange also because it was my first time to drive a scooter and India’s traffic is crazy…but hey, I survived! 😀
  • Teaching German was simply an idea to try something different…and it worked! One of these five students was a business owner who sells products on Amazon. He wanted to expand his business at that time and asked me to help him translate his texts on their website. I agreed and up until today I have done several projects for his company on a freelancing basis.

So BE OPEN and trust that one door will eventually open and lead to another one!!! But most importantly, go out there and try it yourself…there are so many beautiful places to discover!!

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Travel the world: The stunning Iguazu Falls at the border of Argentina and Brasil!