Exploring Stuttgart And Beyond On A Shoestring Budget

how to travel the world with almost no money stuttgart

How to travel the world with almost no money, starting from Stuttgart

Travelling the world with little to no money is possible, but it requires creativity, flexibility, and a shift in mindset. Here are some tips to help you get started on your journey:

- Plan ahead: Calculate your savings and expenses to determine your budget. Consider selling or downgrading possessions to reduce costs.

- Embrace frugality: Adopt a minimalist lifestyle and cut down on unnecessary spending. Cook your own meals, stay in cheap accommodations like hostels or dorms, and take advantage of free activities like walking tours.

- Utilize sharing economy platforms: Websites like BlaBlaCar, EatWith, and Turo offer ridesharing, home-cooked meals, and car rentals at lower prices than traditional travel options.

- Volunteer or work in exchange for accommodation and meals: Consider programs like World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms (WWOOFing) or Workaway, where you can volunteer or work on farms, hostels, or other locations in exchange for room and board.

- House-sit or pet-sit: Sign up for house-sitting platforms to find opportunities to stay in comfortable accommodations for free while taking care of someone's home or pets.

- Hitchhike or carpool: While it has its risks, hitchhiking or carpooling can be a way to travel for free. Alternatively, consider train-hopping, especially in Europe and Central or South Asia.

- Work on a cruise ship: Find employment on a cruise ship, which provides room and board, healthcare, and the opportunity to travel to different places.

- Take advantage of credit card rewards: Sign up for travel credit cards that offer rewards programs. Accumulate points by using these cards for everyday purchases, and redeem them for complimentary flights or accommodations.

- Get bumped from a flight: Voluntarily give up your seat on a flight, especially during peak travel times, to receive a free flight voucher.

- Connect with locals: Build a network of friends and connections who can offer advice, accommodations, or other travel perks. Utilize social media groups and travel communities to find like-minded individuals.

- Freelance or find remote work: If you have marketable skills, consider freelancing or remote work to earn an income while travelling. Websites like Freelancer, Upwork, Craigslist, and TaskRabbit can help you find opportunities.

Remember to always prioritize your safety and well-being, and consider investing in travel insurance like SafetyWing. With perseverance and creativity, you can make your dream of travelling the world a reality, even on a tight budget.

Characteristics Values
Transport Hitchhiking, carpooling, train-hopping, walking, cycling, free road trips with car delivery, sharing the driving, flights
Accommodation House-sitting, home exchange, couch surfing, camping, hostels, work exchange
Food Dumpster diving, cooking your own meals, eating at home, picnics, eating at food trucks and street vendors
Money Credit cards with air miles, work overseas, teach English overseas, work on a farm, work online, bartend, wait tables, dive instructing, tour guiding, work on a cruise ship, work at a casino, seasonal work, work on a yacht, teach yoga, sell skills, use points and miles
Other Take free walking tours, use free apps, grow your network, be realistic about money, set a budget, earn goodwill on resource sites

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Hitchhiking or carpooling

Hitchhiking is illegal in some places, so always check the laws to make sure it's ok to do where you are. Take precautions by noting the license plate of anyone who picks you up and texting it to a friend. Keep your valuables on you, rather than in your bag if it goes in the trunk.

Train-hopping is another option for those starting out in Europe and heading east into Central or South Asia, particularly in Russia and other former Eastern Bloc nations. This involves using freight trains as a means of transportation for free. It is an extremely risky, legally grey, and potentially dangerous way to travel.

BlaBlaCar is a ride-sharing app that connects you with drivers who have extra seats in their car, mainly for medium and long distances and in Europe.

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Train-hopping

To find a train to hop, you will need to locate a train yard or big train station and spend time observing the different types of trains, what looks rideable, and keep track of timetables and frequencies. In the US, freight trains are the most common trains to hop, whereas in Europe, it is more common to hop on passenger trains. In Asia, riding on the outside of trains is extremely common due to overcrowding.

If you want to try train-hopping, there are several rules and tips you should follow:

  • Avoid railroad police or "Bulls" at all costs. Train hopping is illegal in many places and you could be fined or even jailed.
  • Be patient. Train hopping requires a lot of waiting around for the right train.
  • Keep your arms, legs, and head inside the car at all times to avoid hitting something or someone.
  • Never jump on or off a moving train.
  • Never crawl under a train car when in a train yard. Always climb over the cars or the coupling between two cars.
  • Wear earplugs. Riding trains is loud and you will want to protect your hearing.
  • Wear good gear, including boots, gloves, and durable pants.
  • Stay low and out of sight to avoid detection.
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Working on a cruise ship

There are a variety of jobs you can do on a cruise ship, and you're probably already qualified for many of them. These include working in gift shops, casinos, spas, cruise staff, youth staff, purser, internet manager, and stage crew. There are also customer-facing roles such as bartending, housekeeping, and serving, but these are usually filled by workers from Southeast Asia and Eastern Europe as they can be paid less. Native English speakers are often sought for entertainment staff roles.

The hours can be long and tough, and you might not get to go exactly where you want to go. However, if you don't have a set destination and just want to get out there and see the world, this could be the perfect career for you.

Some things to keep in mind:

  • Americans will be taxed on their income, whereas other nationalities are not.
  • It can be difficult for Americans to get hired as servers on cruise ships.
  • You will likely share a small cabin with one other person.
  • You will have to pay for your internet and any alcohol you drink.
  • There may be rules restricting intimacy between crew members and prohibiting drinking.
  • It can be challenging to adjust to life at sea, but many cruise lines will help you with this transition.

Overall, working on a cruise ship is a fantastic opportunity to travel the world, meet new people, and gain valuable professional skills. If you're willing to put in the hard work, the rewards are definitely worth it.

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WWOOFing

How it Works

WWOOF links visitors (or "WWOOFers") with organic farmers, promoting an educational and cultural exchange. Visitors participate in the daily life of their hosts while receiving educational opportunities, meals, and accommodation during their visit, with no money exchanged between hosts and WWOOFers. WWOOFers learn to grow their own food, help on the farm, and experience a new culture.

To find WWOOFing opportunities in Stuttgart, you can visit the WWOOF website and select Germany as your destination. You will then be able to browse a list of organic farms in the area that are looking for volunteers.

What to Expect

As a WWOOFer, you can expect to work 4-6 hours per day in exchange for your accommodation. The type of work will vary depending on the farm, but may include tasks such as weeding, harvesting, packing, or participating in winemaking processes.

Benefits of WOOOFing

Things to Keep in Mind

Before committing to a WWOOFing opportunity, be sure to clarify your expectations with the host. Outline details such as the farm location, the duration of your stay, and the type of work you will be expected to perform. It is also important to have a backup plan in case the opportunity does not work out as expected.

Overall, WWOOFing is a great way to travel to Stuttgart on a budget while learning new skills and experiencing a unique lifestyle.

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House-sitting

There are several websites that can help you find house-sitting opportunities, including Trusted Housesitters and Workaway. These sites offer house-sitting opportunities all over the world, including in Stuttgart, Germany.

To become a house-sitter, you'll typically need to create a profile on one of these websites, highlighting your relevant experience and providing references. It's important to be flexible, competent, and trustworthy, as you'll be entrusted with someone's home and beloved pets.

While house-sitting, your priority will be taking care of the pets, which may include daily walks, feeding, and cuddles. You'll also need to keep the home clean and tidy and send regular updates to the homeowners about their pets.

Overall, house-sitting can be a great way to travel the world affordably and experience new places and cultures while caring for pets and connecting with locals.

Frequently asked questions

There are many ways to travel the world on a budget. Here are some tips:

- Get a job overseas.

- Teach English overseas.

- Do WWOOFing and work on a farm.

- Use the sharing economy to find cheaper accommodation, rideshare options, etc.

- Cook your own meals.

- Sleep in large dorms.

- Use student and other discount cards.

- Get city tourist cards.

- Capitalize on your skills.

- Collect points and miles to earn free flights and accommodation.

- Hitchhike or carpool.

- Work on a cruise ship.

- House-sit.

- Try dumpster diving.

- Connect with kind-hearted locals.

Here are some tips for travelling on a budget from Stuttgart:

- Use a site like Workaway to find volunteer opportunities abroad in exchange for free accommodation.

- Try house-sitting or pet-sitting through sites like TrustedHouseSitters.

- Look into travel hacking to find promotions, deals and special arrangements that can help you travel for less.

- Use Couchsurfing to find free places to stay.

- Consider dumpster diving as a way to save money on food.

- Work on organic farms through WWOOF in exchange for free room and board.

- Get a job on a cruise ship.

- Teach English online.

- Use travel credit cards to earn points that can be redeemed for free flights and accommodation.

Here are some ways to travel with little to no money:

- Get a job overseas.

- Teach English overseas.

- Do WWOOFing and work on a farm.

- Use the sharing economy to find cheaper accommodation, rideshare options, etc.

- Cook your own meals.

- Sleep in large dorms.

- Use student and other discount cards.

- Get city tourist cards.

- Capitalize on your skills.

- Collect points and miles to earn free flights and accommodation.

- Hitchhike or carpool.

- Work on a cruise ship.

- House-sit.

- Try dumpster diving.

- Connect with kind-hearted locals.

- Get a free flight by getting bumped from an overbooked flight.

- Hitchhike.

- Get free accommodation by house-sitting or couchsurfing.

- Camp for free.

- Work in exchange for accommodation at a hostel.

Here are some general tips for travelling the world on a budget:

- Be persistent and don't give up on your travel dreams.

- Embrace a shift in mindset and abandon any limiting beliefs.

- Learn basic money management skills.

- Adopt a minimalist approach to travel.

- Earn points and miles to get free flights.

- Get a free flight by getting bumped from an overbooked flight.

- Use hitchhiking as a way to get around for free.

- Work on a cruise ship.

- Do WWOOFing and work on organic farms in exchange for free room and board.

- Try house-sitting.

- Connect with locals who can offer advice and support.

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