Have you ever wondered how you can make money while traveling or how you will possibly fund your travel escapades?
Travelling can be quite expensive, and most people have to save for a long time to explore their dream destinations.
The good news is that you can make money while traveling to finance your lifestyle and travel comfortably.
Below are some activities that you can do to earn cash while you travel.
1) Online freelance work
The advancements in digital technology have made it possible for people to work online as freelancers.
There are several freelance online jobs you can do to earn extra income. The great aspect of these jobs is that you get to choose your working hours.
When traveling, you can set about five hours every day to do these jobs and earn money.
The most important thing you will need is the skills and knowledge to do the online work. You will also need a computer or phone and reliable internet to do the tasks.
Some of the online freelance jobs you should consider include;
- Proofreading and editing
- Virtual assistant
- Social media marketing
- Freelance writing
- Affiliate marketing
2) Become an influencer
Becoming an influencer can also be an excellent way to earn money. If you love traveling, consider being an influencer in the travel industry.
What this means is that you will be enlightening people about traveling and giving them guidelines on aspects like the best destinations, how to travel on a tight budget etc.
With such information, people are likely to trust you as an expert in the travel and tourism industry. You can sell them guides or do paid online meetings.
You can also earn money being an influencer by creating visual content and posting on your YouTube Channel. You will get paid when many people get to view and engage with your content.
3) Travel blogging
People are always on the lookout for travel information.
If you love traveling, you can keep people updated about your adventures.
Note that this might not bring in sufficient money at the beginning.
But with continued effort and effective SEO strategies, you will attract traffic to your blog and appear as a thought leader in this field.
You can do advertising and affiliate marketing to earn money through the blog.
4) Create passive sources of income
Having passive sources has never run out of style, and it would be a great way to earn extra income while traveling.
One of the best ways to do this is by writing an eBook. You could teach people about something you know by compiling an online book
It could be on cooking, cleaning, parenting, law, construction, and so much more.
A course also acts as a great source of passive income.
5) Online surveys
Even though you will not be making lots of money, doing online surveys is another activity you should consider to finance your tours.
Most surveys require you to fill out forms answering specific questions. Your responses aid in market research.
Some of the best companies to work for in this area include Swagbucks, InboxDollars, and SurveyJunkie.
6) Be a brand ambassador
Being a brand ambassador is also a great way to make money while traveling.
Most companies today rely on people who can market their businesses by representing them in the right way and increasing brand awareness.
Brand ambassadors can work remotely as long as they meet the requirements of the job contract.
Even on vacation, you can still tell brand stories through written or visual content as you market and sell the products of the company you are representing.
7) Rent your house
When on vacation or traveling for an extended period, you do not need your house.
And instead of it staying idle, you can rent it out and earn some extra bucks. Renting out to your family and friends is excellent.
But if they do not need the house, consider using Airbnb to rent it out. There could be people who are traveling to your home town and need a place to stay.
Consider this as a way also to ensure that your home is safe. The person who rents it can help protect it from damage and theft.
8) Rent out your car
Chances are, if you are traveling to a far-off destination like overseas, you will not be using your car.
Instead of leaving it in the garage, why not make money by renting it out?
You can try out companies in the car rental industry like Turo. You are allowed to set the prices and rules on the dos and don’ts of using your car.
Such companies insure your car, and so you can travel comfortably knowing that your vehicle is protected from damage or theft.
9) Selling products online
An online business whereby you sell physical products can also be an excellent income-generating activity.
You can sell or resell items on social media platforms such as Facebook and Instagram. Setting up eCommerce websites would also be ideal.
All you need to do is put systems in place such that when a customer orders an item, it can be delivered to them at their convenient location.
10) Take and sell photos when traveling
There are a lot of unique structures, sceneries, and events out there, particularly in places that you have never been before.
And chances are you want to capture your adventures; so why not do it for money?
If you are skilled at photography, you can take excellent and creative photos and sell them. Some of the best places to sell include 500px, Foap, and Shutterstock.
If you travel as a group, your team members can hire you as their photographer and pay you.
11) Get paid to deliver packages
Did you know that you can earn money doing deliveries as you travel? This is mainly an ideal income source for people who love to take road trips.
Some companies can pay you to pick a package from your home town to another city or country.
An example of such a company is Roadie. Once you sign up for this platform, you will be allowed to select deliveries that you can manage within your schedule.
You will be paid about $15 for every trip and delivery that you complete. This may not be a lot of money, but it is good since you will still use your car.
12) Affiliate marketing
Affiliate marketing is a form of marketing whereby marketers earn a commission by promoting and selling other companies’ products.
Most affiliate marketers use their blogs to achieve this. They create optimized content that brings traffic to their websites.
To earn money through affiliate marketing while on vacation, you will need to have worked on your blog for some time. Learn SEO, and you will be good to go.
13) Offer services at hostels
Hostels are meant for you to stay and relax after a long day of having fun as you travel.
But you can still make money by offering services that you are good at.
For instance, if you love to sing or dance, you can entertain people in the same. Some hostels have stages for performances.
You can also teach people how to play musical instruments at a fee.
If you intend to offer such services, always inquire beforehand to know if the hotel will allow you.
14) Become a tour guide
If you have been traveling, you are probably familiar with the nitty-gritty of traveling and even several destinations.
You can use your experience and knowledge to guide people who are traveling. The truth is that most people need guidance, especially when they are traveling.
You can charge them for your services and even have fun while doing that. Do not let your knowledge about various destinations go to waste. Make money!
15) Seasonal work
Travelers today can do seasonal work to learn about different cultures and make some money.
If you travel to places like Australia, you will find seasonal jobs that include picking flowers and fruits. If you are not afraid to get your hands dirty, consider engaging in these activities.
In some instances, you might find farmers providing accommodation for seasonal workers in exchange for work done. Take advantage of such opportunities.
Other seasonal jobs that you can take up in your travel destinations include bartending, being a DJ in a club or party, helping small businesses advertise their work, etc.
However, always be careful with whoever you associate with to avoid getting into trouble.
Indeed would be a great site to search for any seasonal jobs in your destination. Just type specific keywords like “seasonal work” or “fruit picking” plus your destination.
16) House sitting
House sitting has also become a popular way for travelers to cut their expenses and even earn money while on vacation.
Some people need others to look after their houses while they are away, and they do not mind assigning such tasks to travelers.
All you would need to do is stay in that house as per the agreement. You will enjoy accommodation and explore that area as long as you ensure that the place is safe.
Some people might pay you money, while others will give you that job in exchange for accommodation.
If a home has pets, you could also be hired to look after the pets.
If you are interested in house sitting, you can check out MindMyHouse. This platform is a global house-sitting matching service that connects homesitters with homeowners.
17) Work overseas as an expatriate
If you work for an international company, you can talk to the management about your intentions to work and live abroad.
Let them know that you are looking for an opportunity on the same job overseas. If possible, you can have the chance to explore new places.
You can also search for work in a foreign country and get settled there. This might not be an easy thing to find, but you should keep trying.
Other income-generating activities you can consider when traveling include doing street performances, public speaking, teaching yoga, teaching languages.
You can also consider taking up jobs that allow you to travel as you earn. Consider becoming a pilot, flight attendant, air hostess, or sea captain.
18) Bonus Tips! How to find jobs when traveling
These listed ways to earn money while traveling might seem easy, but you need to know how to package yourself and your services so that people can buy.
Here are bonus tips on finding these jobs;
- Learn a skill: It is always good to have a skill and perfect it. This will come in handy when you want to teach people about something or when offering your services.
- Travel with groups: You can form your group or hop onto others. Most of these people can buy your services like photography.
You can also become their tour guide, especially if they are traveling to a place you are familiar with.
- Learn the problems travelers are facing and address them:
Often travelers face issues such as being scared, lacking information about the destination, planning trips, and so much more.
If you can find a way to address such issues, you can earn money as you travel. You can establish your own tour company, create guides, hire out cars and houses, etc.
- Market your services:
Do not be afraid to let people know the services you can provide.
Even when you travel to new destinations, network with people, and seek temporary jobs to earn money when traveling.
Conclusion
Traveling is fun, but you can make the experience even better when making money during your trips and vacations.
The tips listed above will help you get started. The good thing is that you can implement many at ago; do not rely on one source of income.
Otherwise, traveling is expensive, and if you do not find ways to make more money, you will be exposing yourself to financial risks.