Your twenties is the time to do the things you can’t when you’re in your thirties and forties. Not that it’s impossible as you get old, but your life view changes. Even seasoned travellers can’t stand living out of a backpack once they hit the big 3-0. And, there’s the issue of being a weird, old person who won’t let go of her dreams. Give it up, girl; you’re no spring chicken!
Yep, the time to travel is when you’re young, but there is a problem: money. Unfortunately, you might be free and single yet you’re skint and can’t afford the cost of the move. It’s a cruel world. But, the knife isn’t totally in just yet because there are ways to move abroad even if you’re another cautionary tale.
It takes courage and a “screw it” attitude, as well as small bank balance, but it’s not unworkable. Here’s what’s good to know for everybody who assumes it’s a pipedream.
Foreign Countries Are Cheap
The UK doesn’t have a low cost of living, especially if you’re in the Southeast of the country. And, to top it off, it’s not as if the job opportunities are abundant either. Thanks to Brexit, the future looks bleak for young people around the country. The good news is that towns and cities in Asia and Africa and even Europe don’t follow the same pattern.
In India, everything from the consumer prices to the rental rates is over 150% more expensive. In Thailand, in Chiang Mai, the average traveller spends less than £50 a day. As long as you choose wisely, the little cash you have now will go a long way and should set you up for a long time.
You’ll need to find extra sources of income, but that’s where the next tip comes in handy.
There Are Better Job Opportunities
Erin Grover is something of a living legend. To most people, her story is cool if unremarkable. For travellers, she’s the icon that everyone aspires to be in the future. In 2004, she left America for Afghanistan with no more than $100 (around £65 at the time) and no return ticket back home.
After two weeks, she had a job as a photographer with the UN. And, she attributed her “luck” to the fact that she took the plunge. Without being there on the ground, she would never have been given the opportunity. Even in Afghanistan, the prospects for skilled travellers are very high. Granted, you might not end up at the United Nations, but you will find gainful employment if you search in the right places.
Once you have a job, the usual money worries will go out of the window. After all, you have an income and live in a city with a low cost of living.
Property Isn’t Hard To Find
Like the job scene, the property market in a place like Asia is better than the UK. There might be lots of homes for sale in Britain, yet none of them are affordable for first-time buyers. Let’s face it – young people can hardly afford to rent which is why so many of us still live at home.
Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore and plenty of countries in the Southeast don’t fall into this category. With a skilled real estate agent who has lots of experience in the local market, you will find a diamond in the rough. Anyway, there is no reason to buy when the leases are less than £300 a month in Malaysia. You can live the big city life without the big city stresses.
Convince a friend to take the plunge with you and your monthly outgoings come to £150 p/m, which isn’t shabby.
Expat Communities Exist
The living costs and job opportunities are all well and good, but it doesn’t mean squat if you’re alone and can’t speak the language. The odds are you’ll be back on a plane home before the month is over because you need contacts. With the right friends, splitting the costs of living and finding a place to work is straightforward.
That’s why expatriates gravitate to places where there are large communities of travellers. These might not be English or British, but it doesn’t matter because everybody speaks English. Plus, they are on the same page and are in a similar boat.
In expat communities, people learn the language, the culture, and how to get by on a shoestring budget. Kampot in Cambodia is an excellent example for anyone who hasn’t been.
Cash flow isn’t the issue. The problem is taking the plunge when you don’t have all the answers.
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