Has it been on your mind to travel the world but never had the guts to actually do it? If you have, don’t be embarrassed… lots of people want to travel the world and see all that it has to offer but doing that requires some major life changes and it’s definitely something you want to give yourself enough time to plan for. It’s not like having to pack a bag for last minute trip to a city four or five hours away from you… it’s more so like packing up all of your belongings and never coming back or not coming back for a very, very long time.

The thought of it can seem exciting and terrifying all at the same time but if you know deep down that traveling long-term is something you want to do in the future, there are things you can start doing right now to make that dream a reality… you just have to be realistic with yourself about traveling long-term before actually doing it.

The Realities of Long-Term Travel

A lot of people will see travel bloggers on their social media pages taking pictures in front of majestic mountains in some of the world’s most beautiful countries. Looking at their pictures will make anyone want to drop the current life they lead and trade it all in for a walk on the wild side of life. The one thing those bloggers don’t caption under those beautiful pictures is how they’re really feeling. Sure, they’re smiling in all the breathtaking pictures, receiving all kinds of “likes” and comments about how lucky they are but are they still smiling once they’ve finished taking those pictures?

This is not meant to discourage you from traveling by any means but if you’re seriously considering making a huge life-changing event to travel long-term, you need to know what’s to come.

• You will miss all things reminiscent of your home. That refers to family, friends, the pizza spot around the corner from your house, and even the loud sound your car used to make when you would start it up. The Huffington Post states that homesickness is a real sickness that can trigger a fight-or-flight mechanism in your body. Knowing that this feeling will come can help you better prepare for this lifestyle.

• Adapt to the possibility of an unsteady income. Traveling long-term doesn’t allow you to stay in one location for too long because you’re going to be on the move. So, you’ll have to get used to the idea that you might make more money in one country than you did at another…

Now, there are jobs that allow you to travel and have a steady income such as being a flight attendant or traveling nurse, it just depends on what type of traveler you want to be: Do you want to have a job that allows you travel or do you want to travel and work while traveling? Because there is a huge difference between the two.

• You probably won’t make real, long-lasting friendships. When traveling long-term, you’re going to make short-term friends… that’s just the name of the game. It’s very rare that you meet people on your travels and become life-long friends with them. It’s is possible to make connections like that with people on your travels but don’t set your heart on it, that’s all.

What You Can Do TODAY to Prepare for Your Long-Terms Travels for the Future

Save, Save, and Save Some More!!!!

In order to travel long-term, you’re going to need to have some money saved up, for sure! From needing money for plane tickets, gas, accommodations, and food, you’re going to want to make sure you have enough money saved up to travel at least somewhat comfortably, you know? So here are some things you can start doing now to earn extra money to save for.

• Get a Part-Time Second Job: With a second job, the idea is to work smart, not hard. More than likely, you’re already working a full-time job and are probably tired by the time you get off, so the last thing you want to do is get off and go to another job but if you want to travel the world, this might be a sacrifice you need to be willing to take.

If you’re going to work a part-time second job, at least make it a job where you can benefit from it outside of work. Restaurants, hotels, and car rental companies all give you discounts on their products and services just for working there.

• Start Your Own Business: Again, work smart, not hard. If you open up your own e-commerce shop online, you will have the luxury to work as little or as much as you want and still be able to make money even while you’re not actively working.

It makes all the difference in the world to get off from your full-time job and not have to clock in somewhere else. If you’re interested in starting your own online business, the very first thing you need to do is create your business name and get it registered online. Once you have that, you can put your website together and let your business take off!

Cut Back on Monthly Expenses

There are so many people who waste their money without even realizing it. People have gym memberships but never work out or have food in their refrigerators but are always eating out. With that situation, you’re wasting money eating out and you’re wasting money buying food to put in your home and letting it sit and go bad from eating out so much. This goes for cable too. Lots of people are dropping cable because you have all these channels that you never watch. If you can find any area to cut back in, do it! It will contribute greatly to your long-term travel funds.

Sell What You’re Not Using or Won’t Need

It’s very common for people who are embarking on a life of travel to sell their big-ticket items to put towards their trip. People will sell their homes and put that money in the bank and live with family until they leave. People will also sell their cars too as a way to get money for their trip.

If you think about it, it actually makes perfect sense to do those things. You’re not going to be in your home for an extended period of time, and depending on where you’re traveling to, you may not be able to carry your car with you, so it just makes sense to sell those items.

Still Want to Travel Long-Term?

You’ve seen the realities of long-term travel and you’ve also seen how to prepare for long-term travel now, so in knowing all of this, are you still considering it? If any of those considerations were a deal-breaker for you, then you definitely need to give this a little more thought, and that’s okay! It’s better to know what you’re getting into ahead of time before getting into it and regretting it. There no rush to do it, just really think about it before making any jump decisions.