I want freedom for a year… how do I actually make this work?
Posted by elvalilie@reddit | Shoestring | View on Reddit | 6 comments
Hey everyone,
I’m planning to take a gap year at the beginning of next year and defer my university for a year. My goal is to leave my home environment and travel abroad to explore myself, experience freedom, and discover what kind of life actually fits me.
I’m not really interested in luxury travel, cafes, or typical tourist stuff. I’m more drawn to nature, hiking, simple living, and real experiences. I want to meet new people, see different cultures, and live a slower, more meaningful lifestyle.
The problem is… my budget is pretty limited.
So I’m trying to figure out how to make this work in a realistic way. I’m open to anything — volunteering, working small jobs, living cheaply, moving between places, etc.
If anyone here has done something similar, or has advice on:
- how to travel and live with very little money
- ways to find safe opportunities (work/volunteering)
- or anything I should know before doing this
I’d really appreciate your help.
-Chris-peaduck-@reddit
Be careful with your decisions here! I spent 18 months travelling rd Europe, starting in Poland and covering most countries through to Italy France then back home in England. Walking about with a tent can be ridiculously cheap... You will be surprised how little you need to survive safely. I found getting Jobs, unless you have specific skills or can speak the native tongue, were mostly poorly paid, you couldn't save money to move on, so you ended up living there for the sake of it... You get bed and board, and pocket money for hard work, and end up staying in areas and doing nothing other than working... Bit like being at home!!! I ended up burning through my money slowly and seeing the sights.
1) Just make sure you have a credit card you never use unless it's an emergency to get you safe.
2) when you are running out of money, get an open ended bus ticket home before you are skint.
3) Go see some sights.
NiagaraThistle@reddit
Work and save until your budget is enough.
My first trip to Europe was supposed to be 2 weeks with friends. Our budget was $3500. My friends' parents were able to pay for their trips. Mine were not. I didn't have that kind of money as I was a broke college student.
I really wanted ot go so i took the semester off. I increased my part time job's hours to full time and found a second full time job. Busted my butt for 3-4 months, saved the $3500 and instead of spending only 2 weeks in EUrope with my friends, I was more frugal with my money and stayed an extra 2.5 months after they went home.
Work and save. Then be tight with your budget and find budget options for the places you travel to.
rainbowxstar@reddit
Where did you stay that you were able to afford over two months on 3500?
NiagaraThistle@reddit
It was 3 months.
But My first trip was years ago. I stayed in hostels that were $13-$20 per night. I slept for free on overnight trains using my Eurail Global Continuous pass. And once on a park bench in zoo in Southern Italy.
$3500 MIGHT get one through a month in some countries/regions of Europe today - maybe - but it is not going to be enough for 3 months any more.
WorryOriginal1989@reddit
WWOF. Have fun.
earmachine@reddit
Ask chatgpt to make you a list of volunteer retreats where you can farm and pull weeds and stuff for a bed