Being a young adult in 2024 can often seem overwhelming. We have seen inflation spiral out of control which has made it nearly impossible to make significant headway in terms of saving up for a house or paying off debt. Wages definitely aren’t increasing as rapidly as costs are, and our world seems more and more like it is designed to frustrate young people.

With all this stress, it’s no wonder young adults are looking for an escape and one way to do that is to travel the world, possibly in search of living a lifestyle where the cost of living is more bearable on a day-to-day basis.

There has been an online and social media-driven resurgence over the past decade for the desire to travel long-term. If you’re considering jumping on the bandwagon and wish to travel the world in search of happiness or to de-stress, let’s look at some financial side hustles you can do to earn a living and keep costs down during your travels.

Essential Apps for Financial Side Hustles While Traveling

Sell Your Digital Skills on Upwork

Despite the many difficulties that currently exist, one of the greatest improvements in today’s world is that you do not need to be physically present in a set location to earn an income. Long gone are the days where workers must check in to an office 5 days a week if they wish to get a paycheck.

The COVID-19 pandemic showed the world that value can be created and shared virtually from every corner of the world. If you have an in-demand skill, you can earn a living from any corner of the globe. Let’s say you’re an Excel Whiz. Register on freelance platforms like Upwork, Freelancer.com, or others to list your skills and certifications so you can quickly start earning an income online.

You might be surprised by how highly sought-after your skills are. You don’t need a specific skill set to earn a living from a single company. If your fluent in Spanish speaker for example, you can find a virtual job in customer service for a Spanish speaking company in the Americas.

Other ways to tap into the online freelancing world include working with businesses remotely to create brand logos, help build websites or apps, or create essential marketing materials. Many businesses also regularly seek virtual assistants where you may be able to perform various administrative tasks via a computer from wherever you’re traveling.

Online Forex Trading with Tradingview

 

Foreign exchange trading has created thousands (and possibly millions) of millionaires in the last few years. People from privileged backgrounds and those from the lower classes of “Third World” countries have nearly equal opportunities to make a meaningful future for themselves and their families.

Before you venture into the world of forex trading, you must conduct adequate research and know precisely what you’re getting into. Top-rated services like the TradingView app have helped many online retail forex traders achieve great things while making meaningful changes in their local communities.

Due diligence is the name of the game. The recent success of forex trading has attracted scammers who try to take advantage of the naivety and (sometimes desperation) of both new and seasoned forex traders. Online forex trading can do wonders in your life, but you must be willing to learn, unlearn, and relearn while using a reliable service such as the TradingView app.

Use Etsy to Create Physical Products

Arts and crafts are valued globally, and the clever things you can create in your apartment or hotel room can help you earn a living and finance your trips.

Let’s take the story of a young man from Oklahoma City who lived with locals in the Peruvian mountains for months. As a trained quilter, he learned how the locals make textiles and combined his newly acquired knowledge with his existing expertise to make unique products that were highly sought after.

Now, he’s backpacking through Southeast Asia, making products he can list and sell on websites like Etsy. He also has a website and advertises on social media. If you’re handy and know how to market to the right audiences, you can make a reasonable living by selling your creations. Once you start making money consistently, you’re halfway to achieving your financial and travel goals.

Content Creation Using YouTube, IG & TikTok

Travel content is a hit on most social media platforms. It’ll be hard to go a whole day without coming across someone backpacking through Europe, hiking across Africa, or traveling from North Africa to Japan by road and rail.

Travel content creation is a goldmine that many people have successfully tapped into, because you only need a phone with a decent camera and microphone and an internet connection to upload to your social media accounts.

A good storyline and a positive, likable personality will help you attract a large audience to your channels. If you’re feeling up to it as a traveler, you can add content creation to your other side hustles without much effort.

Naturally, if you plan to take content creation more seriously, you’ll need to invest more in gear over time such as a quality laptop and DSLR, and dedicate more time to editing and producing content to continue growing your following.

You can easily make money via a blog, whether it’s travel-related or some other niche, by monetizing your website with ads, sponsored posts, or affiliate marketing. If you happen to be really talented at travel photography, you may also find success selling your photos via your own website or on platforms like Shutterstock or Adobe Stock. There is also the option to write and sell eBooks or travel guides.  

Earth Hero for Local Tasks

If you’re interested in fully immersing yourself in the local culture, you should consider taking on odd jobs and offering value to your local and host communities. You can teach local kids English or other languages in return for room and board. Picking up jobs to supplement your income can also go a long way in helping you earn some much-needed local currency.

Alternatively, you can offer your skills to your host communities for free. It’s easy to travel across countries of the world without making much of an impact. Respectful travelers understand the importance of giving back to communities and that every effort they take to improve people’s lives in their host communities goes a long way to ensuring those communities improve or continue to thrive.

Depending on what country you’re traveling in, you can find apps like Earth Hero, Kindly, and Justserve that connect travelers to local jobs and volunteering opportunities. Some examples of local employment opportunities that are regularly available may include becoming a tour guide yourself, hospitality work such as bartending or serving in a local restaurant, or even doing a bit of busking on the street if you have a hidden talent you’ve been longing to showcase in public.

Passive Income Ideas

There are many ways to set up passive income streams before you plan to extensively travel, and this will ensure you have future income coming in without needing to do much work if any.

You can start investing money and earn dividends or interest from investments. If you do happen to own an apartment or home, you can choose to rent it out while you travel the world.

There are also lending platforms, where if you actually do already have a bit of savings you won’t be needing, you can then put that money to work earning you more. Lend money to individuals or small businesses through platforms like LendingClub or Prosper, earning interest on repayments.

If you’re artistic, you may be able to earn royalties from creative works like music, books, or art. You could also create and sell courses on platforms like Udemy or Teachable. We have already talked about passive income potential through affiliate marketing where you promote products or services and earn a commission on sales through a blog or social media.

There are also automated online stores like Amazon FBA where Amazon handles storage, packing, and shipping of items you sell. There really are endless opportunities to earn passive income in today’s digital world.

Lifelong Explorations as a Digital Nomad

As a constant traveler, combining multiple income streams will be in your best interest. For example, you can trade through the TradingView app while making TikTok content about your travel experiences.

By tapping into online freelancing, remote work, content creation, and local gigs, you can sustain your travels while exploring new cultures and landscapes. Whether you’re teaching English, selling handmade crafts, or blogging about your experiences, there’s a side hustle out there that fits your skills and interests.

Embrace the flexibility and creativity that comes with earning money on the go, and you’ll find that the world truly becomes very freeing. So, pack your bags, open your laptop, and start your journey towards a life of endless possibilities and unforgettable moments.