Many of you have probably asked yourself questions like, “How can I afford to travel on a tight budget?” or “Is it even possible to travel with kids in tow?” Maybe your biggest concern isn’t money at all—but rather, what your family and friends might think if you decided to hit the road and embrace a different kind of lifestyle.
Chances are, those exact thoughts have crossed your mind (they do for all of us at some point). And maybe you haven’t found any solid answers—so you keep putting off that first step toward travel. As the months and years pass, you start to wonder if you’ll ever experience life beyond your hometown. For many, the “What ifs?” drown out the “Why nots?” Then, almost without realizing it, a decade slips by. You hit your late thirties and find yourself asking, “What the hell happened?”
We often convince ourselves that what’s possible for others just isn’t realistic for us. “If only I were younger,” “But I have three kids,” or “I can’t risk losing a steady paycheck”—these are some of the most common mental barriers we build. Yet the truth is, we’re made of the same stuff—the same brilliant grey matter—that once tamed wild horses, built ships to cross oceans, and launched shuttles to the moon. Human imagination has yet to meet a true limit; the only walls that exist are the ones we create ourselves.
For many of us, committing to a dream feels out of reach—not because it’s impossible, but because dreams are often easier to sleep through than to chase once we’re awake. But why not follow our hearts? What’s the worst that could happen? Failure? So what. At least we’ll know we gave it a shot. And when all is said and done, we’ll have something far more valuable than perfection: a life lived without regret.
The biggest difference between people living their dream and those stuck in jobs they dislike in towns that no longer excite them is simple: action. The ones doing what they love made a move. Sure, comfort is nice—your home, your steady paycheck—but comfort can evolve. There’s a different kind of security that comes from taking control of your life, being flexible with expenses, and waking up to snow-capped Rockies outside your window like your own living masterpiece. If adventure and freedom call to you, you’ll find comfort in answering. A life where each day is yours to shape isn’t a fantasy—it’s entirely within reach.
The phrase “vacation lifestyle” shouldn’t be mistaken for laziness or aimlessness. In fact, if there’s one trait shared by all of us who’ve chosen a life of movement, it’s the willingness to create our own work. This lifestyle isn’t reserved for hippies, vagabonds, or those rejecting society—it’s for anyone with the drive to carve out their own path. You don’t become a drifter simply because your home no longer has a fixed address. In fact, the word “hobo” originally meant a traveling worker. What you’re really doing is stepping into a time-honored tradition—earning a living while exploring the world. With modern tools and connectivity, today’s traveling workers have more opportunity than ever. From Columbus to Lewis and Clark to Kerouac, the common thread among history’s greatest wanderers has always been this: an entrepreneurial spirit.
Embrace the fear—then push through it. Opportunities are everywhere for the traveler who’s creative, bold, and willing to hustle. Whether it’s covering gas, groceries, or a night out, there’s no shortage of ways to make ends meet in every state across the U.S.
Sure, many of us dream of becoming rock stars, bestselling authors, or famous for… whatever made Snooki a household name. But the reality is, the world needs more baristas and gas station clerks than it does presidents. So stop defining yourself solely by your job title and start looking at your life as a bigger picture.
Maybe you’re better with people than with paintbrushes—great! Run a social media business for artists, musicians, and galleries. People make a living managing Instagram accounts, posting on Facebook, and tweeting for brands every day. Do that—and paint on the side until your art can carry the weight. Einstein swept floors. Columbus scrubbed decks. Snooki once wanted to be a vet. We remember them not for those early jobs, but for what they became.
Be someone who doesn’t see an “end goal”—just a lifestyle. Wander until you discover a place that feels right, and maybe, just maybe, you’ll realize it was never about the destination at all.
One day it hit me—chasing more money wasn’t worth the constant stress, especially if it meant missing out on actually living and seeing the world. I didn’t want to spend my life stuck in a cycle that left no room for adventure. And I realized I didn’t need to drain my savings to make it happen. The key? Don’t let work become a roadblock to travel. If you’re smart about it, you can take your work with you and build a life that allows for both income and exploration.
I quickly became a fan of slow travel—it allows me to truly experience a place at my own pace while still keeping up with work. Instead of rushing through a destination like a typical tourist and burning out, I can settle in, soak it all in, and stay productive. One of the biggest challenges I faced early on was the guilt of working while all the excitement of a new place waited outside my window. But I came to realize that work is work, no matter where I am. The difference? When I shut my laptop for the day, I get to look up and find myself somewhere completely new. That’s when the adventure begins. This lifestyle isn’t just about visiting iconic places like Yellowstone, the Pacific Ocean, or San Francisco—it’s about being able to temporarily call them home. And the best part? There’s no time limit, and no permanent commitment. It’s a flexible, fulfilling way to live.
Alright, enough of my rambling. Let’s say you finally decide to take the leap and live the full-time travel dream. You check your pockets—nothing but old receipts and a bit of pocket lint. What you’ve really got is an overdrawn bank account, a pair of worn-out socks, and a burning desire for adventure. Like countless others, you’re carrying that little fire in your gut—the one that’s been quietly smoldering, just waiting to break free and blaze a trail across the country.
Hitting the road with little or no cash can feel intimidating at first, but the challenge of tapping into your creativity to support yourself makes the journey far more rewarding and memorable. When you start seeing a paycheck not just as a number, but as a tool to fund your passions, you realize that true fulfillment in your work outweighs a bloated bank account. Only then can you truly appreciate that your salary’s value lies in how it enables you to enjoy the abundant free time you’ve earned.
“Oh, but I have kids—I can’t travel,” many of you might be thinking right now. Congratulations! Traveling with children is definitely a different experience than solo or adult-only trips. But here’s the truth: life at your fixed address in Your Hometown, America, isn’t exactly the same either. From the moment you made the “miraculous mistake” of having kids, your life changed forever. Yet, the path ahead with your little ones remains just as open as ever—you simply have to take the first step and walk it.
Living on the road lets you change jobs frequently, turning travel into your career. It’s incredible how much people can accomplish when they’re doing what they love. Once you hit the road, your expenses can drop significantly. Your rent becomes flexible—you might spend $300 a month on a rental spot, or, with the right setup, spend nothing at all by boondocking in free campsites. These spots can be tricky to find sometimes, but with a bit of online research, they’re out there waiting to be discovered. Here’s a link that will save you some time: http://www.freecampsites.net/ You can find campsites all across the country, some free, some you have to pay, but it’s never more than $12 and some let you camp up to fourteen days.
Nowadays, some full-time travelers call RVs their homes, while others stay in hostels, couchsurf, or rent apartments for a few months at a time. Over time, many come to appreciate slow travel—spending enough time in one place to experience it like a local rather than a tourist, all while making plenty of room for work.
Consider these innovative options for funding a life on the road:
Resort jobs, freelance work (the key to thriving as a freelancer is consistently delivering exceptional results), acting in films and TV (there’s always demand for extras), blogging, giving haircuts or massages, bartending, working in cafes or restaurants, construction jobs, and travel writing (though challenging, there are opportunities to share your travel experiences and stories). You can also edit English signs and menus, busk, teach dance classes if you know how to dance—basically, be creative! Put on your thinking cap, brainstorm ideas, and don’t be afraid to get inventive. You don’t need to be an expert to land a job—you just need to be willing to try and do better than those who never take the leap.
I truly hope this has helped you see that you can travel—whether you have kids or not, and even if you don’t have thousands of dollars saved up. Earning money on the road is far more doable than you might have believed. The one thing that’s certain is that we have the power to shape our own futures however we choose. If it were truly impossible, there wouldn’t be so many people from all over the world traveling, working, and exploring this endless land of adventure.
Of course, there are many more ways to earn money while traveling, so if you have anything you’d like to add or share, please leave your thoughts in the comments below.
Wander Woman 