When it comes to your wallet, travel doesn't have to be a one-way street. Here’s how to come back from your travels with more money than when you started out…
Who wouldn't want to give up their job, commitments and responsibilities and take a few months off jetting around the world? But the all-too-common excuse for why we don't do it is money.
After all, flights are expensive, accommodation is pricey, and spending days sightseeing and Instagramming is a damn sight costlier than working in an office. Or that’s what we thought, until we realised there are plenty of ways to rake in the cash while happily globetrotting…
1. Put your photos to good use
If you're a keen photographer but tend to do anything with your travel pictures, you could well be sitting on a goldmine. Many sell their images through stock image sites like Shutterstock and 123RF, though the return is minimal. However, sign up to Picfair and you could make a nice buck.
Picfair lets you price your own pictures and ensures you get 100% of the money – the buyer pays a fee for the privilege. Today, 24,000 photographers from 130 countries are selling their images through the site.
2. Make the most of your home
It might pain you to think of your lovely home empty and unused while you’re spending good money on travelling. But you could actually make thousands of pounds a year by utilising the sharing economy to monteise your property: try short-term home letting service Airbnb.
If renting out your home feels like a bit much, why not rent out your car space? Just letting out the small space the car on your driveway takes up can earn you a pretty penny to be spent while you’re abroad.
3. Plan a working holiday
The very notion of work has changed hugely over the last decade, especially with freedom technology and almost-anywhere connectivity affords us. Traditional working holidays are still going strong: au pair work pays, as well as providing free food and accommodation, and working in a ski chalet allowes you to enjoy the best of the ski season while earning some cash.
However, the rise of flexible working means you could freelance from anywhere in the world, whether you’re a writer or graphic designer. Other jobs that pay well and afford flexibility include tutoring gigs, which can pay hundreds of pounds a day – in addition to being flown out to exotic locations across the world. Alternatively, consider applying to work on a cruise ship, or for a bit more adventure, join a yacht crew: the perfect gig for those who love sailing and don't mind working hard in exchange for travelling widely.
4. Build your own brand
Most of us look on jealously at bloggers, vloggers and Instagrammers with millions of followers and all the freebies one could dream of. But you don't need to have a huge following in order to make money from your social media accounts – if you have an engaged audience, brands might be interested in partnering with you to promote their offerings.
You could start your own blog and share it with family and friends to build up an audience, or just publish gorgeous pictures and stories on your social media accounts to attract like-minded users. Brandwatch have some great tips for becoming an influencer here.
5. Get paid to give back
If you’ve longed to travel widely, but also want to do some good with your adventures abroad, join a Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO) programme. VSO will cover your accommodation, flights and even pay you an allowance, and you get the opportunity to give back to the areas you visit.
If you’re a keen environmentalist, head to Canada’s Prince George, where forestry companies pay per planted tree, as well as providing travellers with the unique experience of living in a camp in the Canadian wilderness.
6. Work out – for yourself and others
If you’re jetting off for a city break or an active holiday, there’s no doubt you’ll be hitting your 10,000 steps a day and doing plenty of walking. But as well as boosting your fitness levels, you can also use your energetic strolling to your financial advantage. Download Pact: an app that will help you stay active by giving you cash every time you to reach your daily step count.
If you're feeling philanthropic, try Charity Miles, which donates the money you make through your steps to selectied charities.
7. Inspire other travellers with your smart itineraries
You probably spend plenty of time telling friends and family about your trips, no doubt inspiring them to plan travels of their own, so why not make some money from your travel expertise? IQPlanner is a new monetising marketplace that claims to allow travellers to earn money from sharing their own real-life travel itineraries. Once you’re an author on the platform, you can write, edit and publish your itinerary – including videos and images – on the site.
Each time another user books and pays for the trip you’ve recommended, you’ll receive a commission of up to 70% of IQPlanner’s revenue. According to the site, the most successful authors can earn thousands of pounds a month – leaving you plenty of time (and giving you plenty of budget) to travel in style.