but why so cheap?

I am not your average woman sharing budget travel hacks. I am not the supermom finding deals and clipping coupons. I am not the jet setter looking for travel rewards programs. I am a woman living under poverty level. I am a woman who has chosen a lifestyle in which I sacrifice a steady paycheck for freedom to roam. I am a woman who prioritizes happiness and self worth above what society dictates as traditionally successful.

And this is not your typical budget hacks list.

My lifestyle actions are extreme and radical.

And when I say extreme I mean I’ll sleep in my car when it’s 9degrees out and live in a tent for 4 months.

It’s not for everyone, but it’s what I’ve become accustomed to and fine-tuned over years of solo traveling around the world.

my main ways to travel cheaply are:

Human-Powered transport (Thru-hiking, bike touring, rowing)

Car Camping

House & Pet Sitting

Workaway/WWOOF gigs

Human-Powered Transport: You can find more detailed accounts of my adventures under my adventure tab. But in short, HPT is a way to move through a place slowly and really be present in a space. I also love that it reconnects you with nature and your basic needs, as well as eliminating fossil fuels from your travels.

Car Camping: My take on #vanlife -I’ve been sleeping in my Toyota Corolla for a decade and recently converted it into something I can comfortably sleep in. More info here- #Camperolla. I find free places to camp @ freecampsites.net

House & Pet Sitting: A recent addition to my traveling cheap repertoire, I house & pet sit in exchange for free accommodations. In 2019 I housesat for a total of 42 nights in 4 different countries. More info here - House & Pet Sitting

Workaway/WWOOF gigs: A classic way to live and exchange part-time work for room and board. I love this way because you get to know a place in a more localized way as well as gaining a sense of purpose and fulfillment by laboring for people, building community, and working in nature. I did a workaway gig in Puerto Rico.

Privilege

It’s clear to me that I can’t have a conversation about traveling cheaply or to share about my life in general, without addressing the enormous amount of privilege that I was born into, be it white privilege or socioeconomic privilege. Let’s get it straight- I am ONLY able to live this life because of my privilege. I am ABLE to make the CHOICE not to work full-time in order to follow my passions because of my privilege. And for those that don’t understand that I am not here to give you a lesson, do the work yourself. ..And I hope that with this privilege I can empower other women and inspire others to get outdoors, travel, and establish a relationship with nature, however that may look for them. All the while be in solidarity with other women and non-binary folks and listen to their stories.

life philosophy= lifestyle

[Taken from My Story page]

I find it difficult to sum up my philosophy on life to an unknown audience who does not know me. Every time I write this out it becomes long-winded and I get going on side tangents touching upon white privilege, society’s expectations, and so on. And I feel as though I need to explain every little thing so you get an accurate representation of me, but that’s just not possible. So bare with me as I try to spit this out.

I view my life as a radical alternative to what western society not only expects but beats into our skulls from an early age.

I reject what society deems worthy and successful and have instead decided to forge my own path, which I am making up as I go. I have sacrificed stability and security for a life of uncertainty and risk, which I translate into freedom with a side of fear and overwhelming anxiety. I have chosen this lifestyle and it’s a choice I question daily.

Now, after reading my blogs and watching my videos you might think that my freedom and adventurous lifestyle is glamorous (and at times it can be pretty amazing), but I want to stress that this is not an easy life by any means. In fact, I believe it to be much more difficult than a more traditional lifestyle. Yes I have freedom to pursue my passions and roam, but in that choice to pursue those I have essentially forgone the possibility of a career, husband, family, community, home, etc. I lead a life of solitary independence to where I do not have the comforts and security that most find in a loving and stable partnership, job benefits and retirement, a stable group of friends to socialize and connect with, nor a home to retreat to. Add in the fact that I am constantly being told by society, which has manifested itself into most people I interact with, that I should live a certain way. They don’t have to say it outright but it’s a conditioned response to always ask someone what they do and expect to hear about a career. Or you see it when an eyebrow raises after you say you’re living with your parents temporarily as a 32 year old, or that you are a single woman in her 30s who doesn’t want to have kids. You might not see it until you’re the one on the other side but once there your eyes are opened and it’s so easy to see how pervasive the traditional lifestyle narrative has permeated our culture.

I am also privileged to be debt-free. Since I live under poverty level I make it a mission to live a frugal life with few material possessions, and I've found this has not limited me by any means. This choice is also in-line with my beliefs and values of living lightly on this planet rather than an all-consuming, materialistic lifestyle. I recognize that I am far from perfect in this sense, as there are always ways to improve.