Becoming a Backpacker on a Budget or Even for Free? Here’s How! It’s Also Possible to Get Paid for It!

Backpackers are smart travelers because they can seek opportunities to travel on a minimal budget while also making connections at tourist spots. Although the essence of a backpacker is not about low costs, but rather the independence of the backpacker in planning their journey. However, it cannot be denied that many people decide to become backpackers because they want to save on vacation expenses.

Well, friends can try the following five ways to save budget while on vacation. If lucky, friends might even be able to spend no money at all or even get paid! Who would refuse to travel without spending any money, and even get paid?

Find Acquaintances Living in the Destination City

Don't do it suddenly; that's the key to being a backpacker. Everything must be carefully thought out well in advance. Because of this, many backpackers take the time to find friends in the area of their travel destination. This way, the new friend might be kind enough to offer a place to stay during their time there, so there’s no need to spend on accommodation.

How to find them? You can use social media, such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Kaskus. From there, just tell them that you want to backpack to a city and need a friend who can be a spontaneous guide. If necessary, also mention that you are trying to save costs and need a place to stay while there. Ask politely, don’t pressure them. And, make sure that the person is genuinely kind and willing to help.

Plan Your Journey

Don’t forget to make a well-thought-out travel plan. Determine the destination city, how long you will be there, how many clothes to bring, and where you will go while there. Once everything is planned, break it down one by one. How long does it take to get from one tourist destination to another, and how much will it cost for transportation and food? If necessary, bring packed meals or snacks so you don’t have to buy food on the road.

Oh, and also research public transportation in that area to save costs. You can also think about getting closer to the locals. Usually, they are quite nice, and after spending some time chatting, they might offer food and drinks. Hehe, that’s a good way to save expenses while also building relationships, right?

Look for Ticket Promotions

Install several travel apps that offer transportation tickets, such as PegiPegi, Traveloka, Shopee, and Booking Lokal. Usually, there are many promotions offered there, and if you’re lucky, you might even get tickets for free if they are celebrating a special occasion like the app's anniversary or a massive promotion.

Bring Snacks and Resist Shopping Temptations

Being a backpacker means you have to be good at packing. Only bringing supplies that fit in a backpack certainly doesn’t leave much room, right? So, pay close attention to how many clothes you need to bring. If you pack smartly, there will still be plenty of space left in the backpack to include some types of food for snacks during the trip and at tourist spots. Bring non-perishable snacks that can last a long time so you can eat them at the tourist sites.

Besides bringing snacks, backpackers must also resist the temptation to shop! Don’t let the name “souvenirs” make you overspend! No need for expensive trinkets; choose something cheap, as long as there’s a story behind it.

Create Documentation and Share Your Journey

After finishing your trip, don’t just keep the travel stories to yourself. Take the time to photograph some activities during the trip for documentation. Well, you can upload that documentation on social media, such as Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, or even a blog. Share in an interesting way how the journey went, how much it cost, your tricks and backpacking tips during the journey, and any unique, unfortunate, or surprising experiences. If done regularly, you might catch the attention of travel agents who may offer you trips to certain areas without having to spend any money. You might even get paid! Exciting and tempting, right?