One more, does that ATM card come only with a checking account, or with the high yield savings, too? And if so, I'm assuming it would still regulate you to 6 withdraws a month? Not that it'd really be a problem, as I'd plan on using the account for long term savings, anyway, but just so I know...

Umm.. I couldn't be bothered to read ALL of these posts so this has prob already been said.

Ever heard of a *working holidy*. Just go somewhere, chillout, work, move on. seems like the endless holiday to me. Obviously lots of stuff to figure out (work visas and stuff) but it's an idea.

I ended up just selling everything I owned and cashing in all my investments (even (especially) the govt ones). I figured that I am young enough (under 30) to start all over again once I returned home. I was right. And it was worth every penny and more.

quote:

Originally posted by Benny Gill:
Umm.. I couldn't be bothered to read ALL of these posts so this has prob already been said.

Ever heard of a *working holidy*. Just go somewhere, chillout, work, move on. seems like the endless holiday to me. Obviously lots of stuff to figure out (work visas and stuff) but it's an idea.

Good theory - if you're not American

It's almost impossible to get WHV's as an American, you either have to a)Pay an agency like BUNAC several hundred dollars to sponsor you b)be a student or c)teach English, which isn't for everyone.

Hence, me still looking for someone to marry me and get me that handy EU, Aussie, or Canadian passport

Check this one out - shows you can earn and travel at the same time...

http://www.workingnomad.com

Hello Katerina,

You have received some good ideas here .

Here are some more:

1. ID any skills you have that are transferable, worldwide.

Example: If you do a pretty good job of cutting hair, then refine your talents before you leave. A friend of mine payed for a 2 YEAR RTW just by cutting hair along the way for cash in hostels, etc. She then returned home to her small cottage that had been subletted x 2 years with two more years of equity courtesy of her renter.

Think about a sublesee for your home if you owe it.
Be very careful, however. Vet them!!!

If your car is paid off, sell it. When you return, you can put a minimum down on another car. You will also save paying auto insurance in your absence. If you want to keep the car, suspend the insurance. Either way, you save.

Cut out CABLE, 'net access at home and CELL PHONE! You will will be able to save at least $100/month. Use the time not watching TV to go for runs, bike rides to toughen you up for the road.

Learn Spanish. Perhaps, trade some ESL/Spanish instruction with a Hispanic who wants to learn English.

Health Insurance: Ideally, you could do a COBRA thing if feasible. Otherwise, some sort of travel insurance. Yes, this is a cost but a health crisis overseas without health insurance could bankrupt your great-grandchildren!

Invest in an above average digital camera. See if you can sell your pics and travelogues. Not an easy market to break into but once you sell a few articles, you may then be sought out by publishers.

Suggestion: Contact LLBean about sponsoring you in exchange for travel pics to them wearing their gear.

Eat plain, active culture yogurt every day, starting today. Good way to keep your gut healthy whilst on the road.

It is great that you both have very different places that you would like to visit. Do all the research you can so you do not get hit unawares by unexpected costs.

Check out thread on Ultimate Travel List. Last thing you want is two albatrosses of "stuff" to drag around the world!

Bottom line is this...be creative, have vision and flexibility and have FUN!

Goudaluckatoyou...says this grandson in honor of his late grandmother who emigrated from the old country.

Highcountry

I quit smoking pot .after 10 years, cold turkey. im so proud of myself . it was quit easy and i dont miss it one bit. sur i still like gettin high but traveling is more important than fryin my brain! dont drink so thatsnot a problem. now i am able to sav an extra 3-4 hundred cdn $ a month.

Those who know where they are going in life may never get the chance to go anywhere else

quote:

now i am able to sav an extra 3-4 hundred cdn $ a month.

That's a lot of pot.

I moved to Korea and taught English. The school pays for the airfare, your apartment, gives you a decent monthly salary (about $2,000/month), and gives you a pension and bonus on top of that (an extra $4,000 at the end of the year). Also, you can make about $40/hour teaching private lessons in addition to your normal job.

I went out to bars and clubs quite a bit while I was here. Plus I took 2 short vacations to Beijing and Hanoi, Vietnam and I was still able to save about $17,000. (I'm sure if I would have sacrificed things like meals out, massages, new clothes etc. I could have saved alot more.)

Well Saturday afternoon finds me trying to raise it on the nags. Won well in Feb and March. Square with the card April and just a little sad at the moment as just got pipped by a short half head on a sixteen to one shot. Give it another go next week.

Warning: Results neither representative nor easily reproduced

But since you asked......No limit Texas Holdem.


I wouldn't recommend it for most people, but that's how I've made my money.

Some of this may have already been said, but here is what has worked for me and should make my RTW trip in a few years an easy one:

1. Set up a spreadsheet that has your debits and credits shown on a weekly, monthly and yearly basis. This is pretty easy to set up - I did mine with my income listed at the top with a subtotal, followed by expenses listed with a subtotal and then a final total at the bottom. It sounds tedious to set up, but it's pretty easy to track. I want to mention that before I did this, I lived in debt. Once I set this up, I was able to see week to week what my unnecessary expenses were and i have since saved an incredible amount of money just from this spreadsheet. In fact, I would be willing to bet that I could go into any household and save them at least $1000 in unnecessary expenses based on this methodology...includes cheaper utilities, lunches brought to work, eating dinner at home, etc.

2. Set up a savings account with someone like ING Direct. I started that about a year ago and the interest rate keeps going up. ING is around 4.15% right now and creeping up slowly.

3. Take advantage of any 401k matches or ESPP programs that your company provides...free money!

4. Pay off your credit card every month. Get a credit card that give you FF miles and use it regularly and pay off monthly...I get a ton of miles using this method and that translates to free flights!

5. Any time you have to buy something at a store, try to negotiate the price. This wouldn't apply to basic items, but works with higher cost goods. Most places will negotiate with you even if you don't think they would...tell them that you saw a rate that was 30% lower online and then see if they can match it. Chances are that they will. Put the savings made into your ING account. (I do this regularly with most purchases and it usually works...of course, you won't be able to negotiate your grocery store clerk down, but for clothes, electronics, cars, entertainment, etc. it will work!)

I haven't "rasied" the money so much as I'm still "raising" the money. But I have a great method!!

I opened a savings account with ING Direct (www.ing.com) online and it's been a tremendous help. They have the highest interest rate I've found anywhere (that doesn't tie you to a credit card) at 4.15%, and the account connects directly to your checking account so you just log in and slide money over.

Once I put my money into the ING account I do what a lot of folks here seem to have done: I tell myself it's not mine to spend anymore. It's my adventure fund My plan is to give notice at my job, work two more months (until my lease is up), and then take off and live on what I've saved. I'm whittling away my laptop payments and I only put fuel and auto insurance payments on my credit card (purchases I have no choice but to make as I work 40 miles across the county from home), which I pay off immediately.

I can only imagine how much more I'd have to save if I started picking up odd jobs on weekends- it could all go straight into savings!!

Where do you go to find opportunities like that? Little things to keep small cash coming in, that is. I don't want to put too much time into it as I'm away from home 60 hours a week with the traffic and the stress of the city so my weekends are extremely precious to me. But two weekends a month of side jobs would be great for added income!

*******TERRIBLY COOL EDIT*******
I just rememebered something phenomenally cool!

If you're looking into starting a savings account and ING sounds good to you, email someone you know that already has one. They can send you a referral email and if you follow the email and start an ING account from it with a minimum first deposit of $250 or more, ING gives you $25 and gives your friend $10. Pretty sweet, eh?

I wouldn't mind being your ING friend Hehehe...

HSBC currently pays 4.65%, and it keeps going up.

quote:

Originally posted by nerokerr:
HSBC currently pays 4.65%, and it keeps going up.

Whoa. That's-- Whoa.