Travelling on your own

Mrs Garth Brooks

Hi there, I can’t believe I am writing this on new year’s eve but I am bored and its been playing on my mind for the past few days.
I will be finished college in May and I don’t know what I will be doing after. Ideally I would like to get work but if I don’t get work in what I want to do, what do I take, a shop job? Nothing wrong with that. But I have some savings still left. I thought I would be digging into the savings while in college but I seem to be fine on the back to education allowance. I budget well.
If continue on the same budget, I can probably finish college without touching the savings. So I should have about 4 thousand, which isn’t bad. But will it be enough to go travelling on one of those working visas. Im only thinking about it really but I don’t know when and where yet.
Its only an idea but if don't, what do i do if i dont get work in what i want to do, go on the dole, or get a dead end job?
Im 29 and I have never been away. But if I don’t do it now, when will I do it? I will probably be going on my own which seems scary but I can’t be waiting around for someone to come with me.
So has anyone went on their own and how was it? On my savings where can I go?

kerryman12

Hi HLW

I cant imagine travelling the world on my own - but that is just me! I would take my hat off to those that do, having said that plenty do and have a blast so its a option.

When I graduated I had a though time getting my first job, despite good results and some experience. The reason I say this is that if you cant get work and go walk about for a year say, then you will be still looking for a job next year against those who graduate next year and you wont have relevant experience - and the cycles goes on.

I am a practical guy so if it was me I would try to get that job first, even if you have to take a another job in the interim. You would be in a better position to go travelling, IMO if you have a few years experience under your belt. If you cant get that job down the tracks you may need that nest egg to relocate to some part of the world where you can find work.

Sorry to rain on your parade and give what I think is a practical answer, but there it is - for what its worth!

Regards
Kyman12

mikemac1

You don't have a lot of savings and while money goes further abroad, still it won't last that long

Maybe teach English as a foreign language?
Would give you great confidence to manage and control and teach a packed class.

There are places in Korea and sort your accommodation and give you a contract. And the end of it you could head off traveling for a few months

And if you wanted to do some study in your own time while you are out there you can do this also

mconigol

I'd recommend travelling on your own.

Lardy

I travelled on my own for a few years. I loved it and would recommend it to any young person before its to late. My only regret is that is that i no longer have the means to carry on travelling. When i was in my late teens/ early 20s, I learned a great deal about independence and looking after myself from travelling alone. Something that is mostly lacking in young people today... Enjoy and learn from it while you can!

coolcat63

Why not combined traveling and working? Sites like www.helpx.net and www.workaway.info will give you an idea of the opportunities. (I have no link with either other than as a volunteer host on workaway).

LegacyUser

4 g's won't last long.
You'd wanna make sure you have your sights set on getting a job ASAP when you get there, wherever you go.
When you're paying for accommodation by nights at hostels, and don't really have ready resources to cook meals and have to pay a little here and a little there for food, it's amazing how fast substantial savings can dwindle.

It can be a great experience, and if you're a little unsure of what path your life might take, I find throwing yourself into that unknown situation can make you significantly more defined as regards your goals and ambitions etc.

Traveling on your own is not a big deal, though just the leaving part can be a bit nerve racking.
Once you get a job and have your routine sorted out, you don't even notice it.

Just one personal note to add that may or may not help; one thing I've learned, is that when it's time to move on with your life, in whatever regard, despite your perhaps being a little ambivalent as regards the direction; you just gotta go ahead and do it.
Even if it's perhaps not entirely the correct direction, the fact that your progressing or moving on in any sense, is better than being static.

PS - if you just wanna travel for fun, I'd have to recommend eastern europe.
Romania, Bulgaria, Greece - the liviing is cheap as, you live good on very thin money, and it's meant to be really beautiful.

Loopie

Hey HLW,

Just felt I had to reply to this post - you've absolutely nothing to lose taking off for a while.

I went off on my own a few years back - all my friends were either in relationships or weren't interested and I certainly wasn't going to miss out on what places outside of Ireland had to offer. Best thing I ever did and I genuinely mean that. You learn a lot about yourself, and anybody who knew I was travelling alone (aside from the "be careful" talks) all thought it was great, and not something they could imagine themselves doing. But that's them and you're you! If you want to travel, do not wait around for "what if's" and "maybe..." . What's the worst that can happen? It doesn't work out, you come home. It's that simple. Saying bye to family isn't nice but it's more a "ha, see ya later". Give it some serious consideration, and if you do take off, I don't think you'd regret it!

Good luck with whatever you decide!

solerina

Go for it, as you have a limited amount of money you should go to chepaer countries, try central/south america (except Argentine, which is more expensive) and your money could last a few months !!