Complete Guide: Backpacking With No Money

Running out of money while traveling can certainly be a nightmare. Been there! When I first started traveling, I had debts back home and it was challenging to travel without savings.

Eventually, my financial situation changed, and traveling became easier! In this post, I’ll share some tips and tricks to help you travel without money.

We’ll also discuss your option if you do not have a place to stay abroad.

What to do if you run out of money abroad

You should know that you aren’t alone. Some other bloggers are also sharing their misadventures abroad which includes what happened when they ran out of money overseas.

Sarah from Sarah Alexandra George knows how to improvize:

I quit my job to live my dream of working on a ranch with horses in Mexico for 4 months and planned a month long trip around the US and Colombia afterwards. However after just one very painful month working on the ranch the owner dropped me off at the nearest town and told me not to come back. Not only was I stranded but I hadn’t earned anywhere near enough money to fund the rest of my travels! I was rescued by one of the cowboys who took me to stay with his own family in Mexico and since then I’ve been drifting a little from his relatives to the homes of people I’ve met along the way. A lot of my own friends let me down when I needed them, and a lot of people I’d just met stepped up and held out their hand in a way I’d never imagined. I’m on my way right now to spend 2 weeks with a 70 year old couple in Augusta, Georgia – I’ll tell you this, Southern Hospitality is a real thing! I also borrowed money from my parents which really killed me inside as I haven’t done that for a very long time. What I have learnt is that you should always have the money saved up BEFORE you go on the trip, but if like me, you don’t, the guardians and angels of the journey will swoop down and look after you. Don’t be afraid to trust them!

Courtney from Jet Set Brunette knows how to prioritize:

It was five years ago and I was backpacking Australia with my boyfriend. We were spending a few weeks in regional NSW, working on a lettuce farm to make some money and earn a second year visa. Our employment agency forgot to pay us (twice!) and, while we knew we had money coming in soon, we were a bit stressed as we were down to $18 between us!
Fortunately, we we had no accommodation expenses, as we were staying in our van in a free camping area, so we spent $12 on wine and $6 on the cheapest pasta we could find! #BackpackerPriorities

Luke from Backstreet Nomad knows how to ask for help:

As I was nearing the end of 6 months traipsing around the UK and Europe I was just finishing off a 9 day tour of Egypt to meet up with some friends in Pamplona, Spain for San Fermin (Running of the Bulls). Now that’s a pretty obscure flight so I had to change in Brussels, but it was cheaper to book two separate flights: one arriving in Brussels at about 10pm on the 4th and one leaving Brussels at 6am on the 5th. My problem became that when I went to check in at 4am they didn’t have a seat for me because I had booked the flight for the 4th, being the day I left Egypt – forgetting that the date obviously would change overnight. It cost me about AUD $400 to get me to Spain and wiped out all I had left (being so close to the end). There’s no real dramatic story on how I “survived”, because thankfully I was able to get a quick loan from the bank of Mum and Dad.

Tips when running out of money abroad

Without furder ado, here are some tips to keep in mind if you want to backpack without savings and what to do to stay safe abroad.

Become a volunteer

I use HelpX when I needed to. You can also try WorkAway or Worldpackers.  It’s all pretty much the same concept; you’ll work a few hours for food and accommodation.

It might slow down your travel pace, but it will help you save your money and/or survive until you come up with a plan.

Another great alternative is to work in a hostel in exchange for a bed. I did this a lot when I traveled. Sometimes, you can only show up in a hostel and ask them if they have volunteering positions available. It worked for me.

If you are in Australia (this is where I’m running out of money at the moment), you can check out Gumtree to find some volunteer opportunities too, which is also very popular around here.

Become an AuPair!

Do you have any experience with kids? Would you like to become a live-in nanny? This is a pretty good way of surviving and it allows you to dip into the local lifestyle. 

That also means you’ll be part of a family and it’s always great to have the feeling you’re not completely alone in the world during a rougher period.

Use your thumb

This suggestion is only for the ones who truly are confident with it.  I am most of the time, but it also depends on the country I’m in.

You might think it’s a bit awkward at first, but you might meet the person you need to meet to get where you need to be.

Hitch-hiking should only be done when you feel comfortable with the concept.

Find a job

If you are lucky enough to be somewhere with a working holiday visa, it’s not too bad! You might just need to volunteer until you can find a paid position.

Finding a job abroad is the best way to stay on the road longer but you will need to make sure your visa allows you to work first.

Start freelancing

If you have skills, it’s time to use them all. Writing, web designing, virtual assisting, blogging, etc. Be creative. You can check out platforms like these ones to get started:

• Upwork;
• Freelancer;
• Fiverr.

Read more about being a digital nomad.

Use your voice or any other talents!

If you have any artistic skills, go out there, make sure to get a license if required, and make it happen.  You have nothing to lose anyway, right? Once, I offered my social media skills to a hostel and they gave me free accommodation in exchange.

At this point, you probably have nothing to lose.