Hey TP'ers,

I am leaving in March for a five month stint in Europe, and based upon my current rate of savings, I ought to have just about $7500 saved by then-- roughly $50 for each day I am there. I know that for my spending habits and budget consciousness, that should be more than enough-- my question is this--

I have been reading travelogues on the net and there are people who appear not to have huge trust funds that have been traveling for many months, and even YEARS. How do they do it? What sacrifices to do you make, or work do you do to extend a trip like this?

Sooooo, let's say I was going to Europe for five months but want to keep on going, and going, and going-- How would you do it?

Iamlindoro
www.expatriateme.com

Most travellers aren't rich. But they are rich in experiences aaaah :D okay enough of that. I think if you wanted to keep going and going you could a.) get a job in a hostel (then you'd get free accomodation and mabye some food) b.) join WWOOF, which is basically a program that allows you to do some farmwork in exchange for room and board, look it up on the net if interested c.)marry a rich local girl/guy (depending on what you like)and steal her/his money d.) get a 'Real' job-depending on what country your from you can work in england and make the british pound which is the strongest currency and travel on that e.) work under the table for cash in hand f.) are ya artsy? I met many travellers who were making bracelets or other cool crafts and selling them OR you can buy a used guitar etc..and start singing.. G.) Instead of spending a whole lot of time in an expensive country you'd want to do the opposite and go to the czech republic etc..

so basically the underlining note is that ya gotta work at least a bit..you know the drill travel for a little bit, then work, travel, work etc...focus on casual jobs like bartending, or telemarketing..something that you don't HAVE to enjoy but will bring in some dough.

If this doesn't help you bring in some bling bling then steal! :crap: :cowboy:

Are we trying to turn the Tpunkers family into a bunch of criminals by suggesting they steal to travel? :nono:

If we are gonna steal we have to do it right and organize and rob banks or something. teamwork is the key. :D

Yeah, that's all I need, a throng of villagers running me out of each European town in succession.

:torch: :torch: :torch: :torch: :torch:

Good thoughts on the work thing, though. Dunno if I could make it work, but it's worth a try if I get there and can't bring myself to come home. :)

iamlindoro
www.expatriateme.com

and how do you think i paid for my trips!! :o I never said i was honest.


okay okay i'm lying..i'm no badass. :mellow:

or use your body. Yah know have sex with someone and they'll pay yah! :o

DIO,
you are such a bad influence on these 'young fragile minds'. :nono: How do you ever expect them to learn any manners? :D

Remember, only sell your body if you are reeeeeeaaaallly desparate for money. Or if they're hot. :wub:

No need to spare ME, how do you think I'm getting there in the first place? ;)

Stealing? or Selling your body?

I must have this all wrong... I actually have a job and am saving up for my trip. ;) :lol:

Yup. ;)

Really, though, I demean myself as a manager of a retail vitamin store-that-shall-remain-nameless-but-may-or-may-not-be-a-three-letter-acronym here in Boston, and I get commission on certain things, so selling insecure people thinness-in-a-bottle is sending me on an adventure. And frankly, the sooner the better. If I have to sell one more 107-pound girl diet pills because her "ass is too big," I'm going to have an aneurysm.

This is my life with a masters degree. *Sigh.*

Iamlindoro
www.expatriateme.com

Wow...
Hey I think I know that place. Where I work we have a mini version in our retail outlet. Yeah my company and your company made a great deal so I get to sell your products, but I don't get commission. Only if I can convince those poor folks to invest in one of those special cards to get a discount. But that's a waste of time. So I am doing it the old way and putting in the hours.

Ahhh, the Gold Card.

<Shoots self>

The commission isn't a waste of time on this end-- I make $50 my goal for commission every single day, that way I know that every lame, ridiculous, insulting day I put in at work is traded for a wonderful, amazing, poignant day living out in the world. Doesn't always work, but it's worth a try.

Just tonight I had a woman yell at me and demand the contact information for my superior because I wouldn't accept her return on an item purchased FOUR MONTHS ago. For reference, our return policy is 30 days. Sigh. The things we do to go on these little adventures, no?

Iamlindoro
www.expatriateme.com

Yeah, retail can blow. Most of the time it's not too bad, I see my regulars and its all good fun.
But those problem customers can just be a pain in the ass. I had some guy, write in blue ink on a receipt the product he stole, then wanted to return. He got ballistic because I refused to return it. It's a $45 item, screw him. :wacko: He told me to F off and wanted my name and he was gonna do this. I just said 'alright, have fun'. I mean these people. And then, he went to not 1, not 2, but 3 different stores that night to return it after mine. To put that kind of devotion into it. He could have gotten a job at mcdonald's and made more money and spent a lot less gas. People, they just annoy me sometimes. :angry:
I can't wait till I pay off my car and save up this money... I am out of here like there is no tomorrow.
I'll be on my plane waving bye to rite aid. Ready to embrace that which is europe :stoked:

don't worry i too am a retail store slave... :crybaby:

But I have no stories to tell because i've decided to take two weeks off work. I have taken my mind out of that goddamn store and am not thinking about it, the stupid management or the fuckin retarded customers. oh no i am in my lala daydream land. But if you wait another week and a half you just might get some stories! that's when i'll have reentered hell. fock. i can hardly wait. :mellow:

For easy money, I've been thinking about starting my own 1-976-CALLME line...I'd just talk with old horny men a few nights/week and make the big buckies! Hehehh! Yeah, my name is Samantha and I'm wearing red undies, me love you looonng time! 5,99/minute...Hahahaahh! That would be so funny! :stoked:

$5.99/min! :angry: is that in canadian or US dollars? We are all trying to save up for trips here, we can't spending that kind of money on you. :P

I'm new so I hope no one minds me adding my two cents. I like the idea of selling my body but personally I'd prefer robbing banks. I demean myself daily (like Iamlindoro) in a state job (yes I'm a bureaucrat but only during the day...at night my superpowers come out to play :greenguy: ) and I try look at my job similarly...the sacrifice I make to be able to travel where I want. Since I've started planning my trip to Italy I haven't thought of anything else, which makes my boring job tolerable. That's probably a good way to look at it - it's what enables me to get of the country once in awhile.

so...back to selling myself to only the hot folks...I hear the men in Italy are all hot. Is this true? ;) Perhaps I can support my trek through Italia by doing this.

P.S. I've been thinking about doing the phone sex line myself...how hard can it be, pardon the pun. You get horny men on the phone, get their credit card number and just read aloud from trashy pornographic novels. I wouldn't mind doing it, in all seriousness, if I could figure out how to get started. Also, I can't figure out what my call name should be.

LOL, The trouble with Italian men is, they figure they're entitled to a little "sample" anyway.

Today I hit the 2/3rds mark for my trip savings, which should put me completely saved by about January 1st. That's a lot of vitamin C. An AWFUL lot of vitamin C. In fact, I would have to sell 41,666 small bottles of vitamin C to pay for my trip. I swear, I just did the math. Roughly enough to keep a small midwestern town safe and healthy through the cold and flu season.

Wow. I'd better try not to think about it.

Iamlindoro
www.ExpatriateMe.com

Yeah Vanessa! Trashy pornographic novels...Heheheh! But I think I'd be good at the phone thing, because I've got lots of imagination...I think it's the only thing you need! ;)

Siju, I'll buy one bottle of vit. C to encourage you... :kisscheek:

What, MY vitamin C isn't good enough? ;)

I'll just hope that the encouragement was meant for me.

Iamlindoro
www.expatriateme.com

Yeah... uhh Moc, you got me on your mind or something... :wub: You are supposed to be buying Vitamin C from Lindoro. I don't get paid commission, but I would be happy to give you my 20% discount (excludes alcohol, postage, tobacco, prescriptions, money orders, etc.) :D on stuff in Rite Aid. You know, gotta make the customer happy.