How I Afford to Live Abroad in Thailand

Money’s always a bit of a sensitive topic. We’re nervous to bring it up and then when the discussion finally happens, it turns into a ballet dance on a withering sheet of ice so as to avoid insult or offence.

I’ve had a few people ask me, not without uncomfortable pause before, about how exactly I’m paying for all of my travels and life abroad – what with being a broke Millenial crushed by college loans. 

Honestly, I’m always happy to answer. If my advice helps other people realize that they can travel, too, then ask away! 

Before I begin, I have to be frank – it’s easy to only see the adventurous, spontaneous part of not just my journey, but every adventure bound Instagram-er. Packing up and making the leap of faith to Thailand – what a life! Yes, it’s been incredible, but that’s not to say it hasn’t come with its ups and downs. 

There are times when I’ve been really pressed for money. There were times when stress felt like it was eating me alive. There have been times I called my dad because I just had no idea what to do. I live cheaply – $10 a day, if even that. My life is very simple, but to me, it is beautiful. I wouldn’t trade it for the world. 

So first, you have to decide what kind of life you want to live. What are the things that you just can’t go without? From there, you can decide how much money you’ll need. To give you a bit of an inside peek, this is the work I do to sustain my lifestyle.

Waitressing

I didn’t realize how lucky I was until I left home. Waitressing is the best, easiest, and fastest way to make good money. I work my tail off during the summers to make enough money to go and travel during the winter. Every once and a while I definitely feel like dropping a tray of sticky oatmeal on the people at my table, but the months abroad make the nightmare inducing customers worth it.

Teaching English Online

Having gone to school for marketing and communications, teaching was the last thing I ever expected to do. It’s been a huge learning curve, but so rewarding. I get to work remotely from my computer and pick my own hours. When it comes to wanting to live abroad, this is totally a dream job! I usually teach two classes a night, 40 minutes each. 

The plaform I use is called SayABC. The application process is pretty easy and you only need a degree and TEFL to get started. If you’re interested I can give you tips and my referral code.

Graphic/Website Design

A pleasant accident, I’ve found myself working on websites recently. I love learning new things and a challenge, so this has been really great. This is also another job that is perfect for working remotely, so it’s well worth it. Contact me if interested!

Freedive Instructor

Still working towards finishing my requirements, but I’ve completed my course to be a freediving instructor. This is something I do because I absolutely love it, and am lucky enough to be able to do it as a job, although I would hardly call it work. One of the best parts is that I can travel and ‘work’ all over the world!

There are plenty more jobs that you can do abroad or remotely, but this is just an inside look at some of what I’m doing. If you have any questions about how to get started or try it yourself, leave a comment below or shoot me a message!