{"id":16374,"date":"2022-08-01T08:33:31","date_gmt":"2022-08-01T08:33:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.battleface.com\/blog\/?p=16374"},"modified":"2023-04-05T15:39:22","modified_gmt":"2023-04-05T15:39:22","slug":"can-travelling-be-free","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.battleface.com\/blog\/can-travelling-be-free\/","title":{"rendered":"Can travelling really be free? – 21st Century realities"},"content":{"rendered":"Approx read: <\/span> 4<\/span> mins<\/span><\/span>

It was back in 1969 that economist and Nobel Prize winner Milton Friedman famously said, \u2018There \u2018aint no such thing as a free lunch\u2026\u2019 implying that everything has a cost \u2013 even when somebody was the fortunate recipient of a gift or favor.<\/h2>\n

In the 1980\u2019s, time-sensitive documents would be placed in briefcases and booked onto passenger seats to be flown across the world. Spending $50 could reward the lucky traveller a return flight between New York and Hong Kong, so long as they were prepared to carry a briefcase on and off the plane and ensure it went to the right office or representative at the other end.<\/h3>\n

Easy job. Inexpensive flights. Still not free, however.<\/h4>\n

The reality that Friedman expressed all those years ago sadly holds true for travelling the world for most mortals. Nothing comes for free. In the end, someone is always paying, if not with cash, then time or other resources.<\/p>\n

But that doesn\u2019t diminish the possibilities that the expenses of travelling can be subsidized by playing it smart or thinking creatively. Here are some options that may suit your need to travel for less.<\/p>\n

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Sign up to be a sitter<\/h4>\n

The price of accommodation can often be the killer cost to a trip away from home. House, or pet-sitting is a really viable choice for experiencing an unfamiliar environment while helping someone else out \u2013 a win-win on both sides.<\/p>\n

Sites like Trusted House Sitters<\/a>, Mind My House<\/a> and House Carers<\/a> match those with a need to move away from their homes with travellers needing a place to stay.<\/p>\n

Note that there are plenty of identity and background checks to get through in an onboarding process, but once you\u2019re in then the options for a new place to stay are endless.<\/p>\n

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Volunteer and do something positive<\/h4>\n

Taking a break from your own life focus to share your skills and knowledge, meet people from other cultures, or contribute to a cause that you\u2019re enthusiastic about are just some of the reasons to be altruistic and take on volunteering. Conscientious travellers can connect with hosts all over the world who need help on a myriad of projects across different sectors like education, environment, social justice, or construction.<\/p>\n

Check out the options for communities of hosts and travelling volunteers at sites such as Help Stay<\/a>, Work Away<\/a> or World Packers.<\/a><\/p>\n

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Seasonal jobs or overseas gigs<\/h4>\n

If the motivation to take some extended travel time is because your job is taking you nowhere then packing up and starting overseas could be the tonic for adventure and new experiences \u2013 just so long as you\u2019re not too fussy. It\u2019s a way to get money when you\u2019re abroad and not like building a career from scratch.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re adaptable and friendly, then here are some job options that will help fund new experiences and immerse you in new cultures.<\/p>\n