Here Is How Travel Bloggers Fund Their Travel Expenses

Ever thought of how travel bloggers fund their trips? It appears as if the majority of them live inside Nat Geo magazines and Lonely Planet Guides. It is a crowded field and it is getting more crowded each day. This lifestyle comes with a cost and that too is on the expensive side, so how do they fund their travels and live the dream of being a globe trotter?

Many people, over the years, have wanted to know how travel bloggers fund their trips, particularly because their trips are more international ones rather than domestic ones. Some people feel like bloggers get paid to travel the world and it seems like an amazing thing to try to do. Like all other travels, it requires savings, clear knowledge of opportunity cost, and particularly additional cash saved for any emergency.

So, here we have some amazing successfully tested hacks you should know if you want to be a travel blogger:

1. Get yourself a job that pays you well

This hack is not for everyone, because an individual’s career goals must be taken into consideration. For analysts, consultants, marketing wizards, or anyone who has typical desk work, this would seem impossible. All they can do is save their sick leaves and personal time off and extract the maximum out of long weekends and midweek holidays for that matter.

A popular travel blogger worked in one such job which required stepping in at 9 am and leaving at 1 pm. But she realized she wanted something more out of her life. So, she took the initiative to explore a different industry. And finally, one day, she applied to a company that could give her what she exactly wanted. When the company reached back to her with a better position, after a few rounds of interviews, she was selected for the position of product manager which involved international trips. She took it and has never regretted her decision till now. This was her dream job in a number of ways.

So, the first step is to apply for a job that pays you well because you need money for everything. This way you could do the two things you love the most, work and travel and it will allow you to explore various other things that you probably haven’t tried before.

But traveling comes at a risk and she was pushed out of her comfort zone again and again- her first solo international trip, the first time she lost her passport, and the ruckus of managing profit and loss- among other things. But she completely loved her job until one day she felt like it was time to move on. Till then, she had set up a travel blog and it was coming up with good income. During that period social media platforms suddenly became quite popular. A blogger wandering for sponsorships worked in her favor.

2. Invest in your blog

As said money spent wisely is an investment so try to invest and promote your website or blogs. Instead of creating a bad design yourself, hire good designers, conferences, video, SEO auditors, and audio editors, copy editors, etc. This will help you to improve the reader experience, work on other projects, develop useful products, and free up time to write or blog. Spending a little amount of money here and there can go a long way.

3. Get sponsors for your trip

This is more particularly for bloggers or for that matter for those who intend to start their blogs or just only Instagram pages. Take this into deep consideration that everyone out there who wishes to be a social influencer need not necessarily become a blogger, this is your personal decision, and give it careful thought.

Go for blogging only if you enjoy writing your thoughts. But luckily, this part will make up your mind to explore the world of blogging, as its numerous benefits go far ahead with the hours of hard work.

Here is how you can do it:

• It is generally not possible to get sponsorship for your entire trip; this is possible if only you work with tourism boards or travel companies. Travel companies are a tough bunch that doesn’t easily shell out money and are still learning the concept of social media influencers fully. Get in touch with hotels or airlines that could sponsor your stay and flight.
• The prime thing to remember here is to carve out your niche. You cannot be everything at once which is to say you could either be a travel or food blogger at a time. Going for multiple things can confuse your audience and sponsors.
• Content is of principal importance and should never be overlooked in the face of the number of posts or updates. There is no doubt that consistency is the key but go for something only if you have something new to add.

And the final piece of advice

“Do not opt to buy your followers!”

Brands can see right through it. Get your focus on collaborations, visibility, and engagement. Design long-term partnerships, focus on good brands, and lastly respect your work.

4. Save, Save, and Save

None of us wishes to hear this but this is the bitter truth. The good life of travel is also a life of lessening your expenditure, saving every penny, and going for long-term financial decisions. Travel is the decision you choose between going for a fancy Saturday night or getting a new H&M jacket.

Here are a few tips that will help you save:

• Decide where you want to spend the money

This goes well for your short-term plans. Start saving 3 to 4 months before your trip. This won’t work in the long term because, after all, we all are humans and we decide to go for things that tempt us the most, like picking up our favorite jacket. For a couple of months try not to spend on night-outs, decide not to buy clothes, and decide to skip Starbucks. It all ultimately boils down to CHOOSING travel over other things.

• Find an alternate source of income

We live in a country where an international trip once a year is also considered a luxury. Sometimes that goes for domestic trips as well. Due to our limited income, we have limited opportunities to travel. Go for an alternate source of income.

• Set aside a monthly fund

Like you keep a portion of your income to pay out monthly expenses, similarly, take out a part of your income and save it for your travels. You can also establish an online birthday present link where friends or family can add your present money to the given link.

• Use your credit card points wisely

Do not cash them out. A travel blogger once did it and this was her only regret in life. It always makes sense to take jet miles instead, since it’s more value for your money. Additionally, you can use these credit card points at the last minute.

• Stop being a hoarder

The stuff you don’t need anymore, go on and sell it. These can give you some good bucks.