How I Afford to Travel – While Working Full Time!

I guess there comes a time in the life of every travel writer when they have to talk about this. I’ve had a few people ask me how I afford to travel with respect to time and money. It’s the end of the year and it feels like a good time to talk about this. so, let’s jump right in!

In 2015, I got bitten by the travel bug. I had just received my Schengen visa for a trip to France when a sudden realization dawned on me. I had always known that the Schengen visa granted access to over 20 countries in Europe but it wasn’t until my second trip to Paris that this information sunk in.

To put things in perspective, I have a Nigerian passport. According to the Passport Index, It is ranked No. 183 in the Individual Passport Power Rank, 2023.

This number has steadily declined over the years and even if you’re not sure what that means, 183 is not a good number to be ranked in anything! – Well, except if it is a ‘most likely to get diarrhoea‘ poll conducted for 183 participants!

Having a Nigerian passport and a love for wandering the world don’t go well together. For the average Nigerian, getting a visa to virtually everywhere is a daunting task and often involves several days of prayers, fasting and long nerve-wracking waits to see whether the first two paid off.

So, when you do get that one visa that guarantees you access to over 20 countries, you embrace the heck out of it and that brings me to ‘how I afford to travel point #1.

#1. I Afford to Travel by Taking Multi-Destination Trips Often

I do this for two reasons. First, I hate flying, so I typically try to visit as many places as I can within the region I travel to. It just makes sense to me after flying all the way.

Secondly, it is cheaper, in the long run, to move around from country to country within a region than it is to fly in and out of Nigeria. Sometimes, it makes sense to push my travel budget and extend my vacation a little further to accommodate trips like these.

I also believe that some multi-destination trips make sense, even if you favour slow travel. For example, in early 2023, I planned to visit Singapore, which is a relatively small country in South East Asia. Because of its size, Singapore can be experienced in a short amount of time.

To make the most of the trip, I decided to combine it with Malaysia, giving me maximum returns and saving me time and money in the long run.

Another reason why I can afford to travel is because I got a head start – but not exactly what you have in mind.

Trip Planning Resources

Book your accommodation: Find accommodation options for any budget on Booking.com

Purchase Travel Insurance: I use SafetyWing for both my travel and visa application needs

Activities: Find fun activities and tours in your destination via Get Your Guide, Viator or Klook Travel

#2. I Afford to Travel Because I Got a Head Start

In 2013, I took my first-ever international trip to Paris, France. It was a one-week trip sponsored by the company I worked for. Before this, I had visited 20 states in Nigeria and lived in about five of those but I had never been out of the country.

Paris was a great introduction to international travel; subsequently, I could afford to travel to other parts of the world.

But it all started in Nigeria, travelling locally as a child and then getting an incredible opportunity to join a company that took me around the world.

#3. I Can Afford to Travel Because I Have a Regular Job

Contrary to what my social media portrays, I am home much more than being on the road. I do have a regular “9-5” that takes the bulk of my time. I enjoy the work I do and love the balance and opportunities that it gives me to work and travel.

I take my vacation days seriously and oftentimes, I will combine this with public holidays to give me longer travel days. Also, when I get the opportunity to travel for work, where possible, I extend my stay – at my expense – to tour the country leisurely.

#4. I Can Afford to Travel Because I Cut Down my Expenses

I take living within my means very seriously as well and I do not own many expensive or luxurious items. Because I love to travel so much, I prioritize this over material possessions. Even when I travel, it is not an over-the-top luxury that I struggle to afford.

I try to avoid compulsive buying, and in the early days of my career, I lived with my Uncle and Aunt and saved up on rent and other living expenses. All of these cost savings here and there set me up for a practical, balanced and enjoyable life.

#5. Typically, I’ll Try to Get my Vacation Close to a Public holiday

For example, in March and April, I aligned my trip with the Easter holidays. That gave me about 10 days in total and I only took 4 days off work. The same thing happened for the Eid holidays in September. I took 6 days off work and got a total of 13 days for my trip.

I also make use of my long and short weekends to visit places within Nigeria or Kenya and countries that are close by.

I truly believe that everyone who has a passion for travel can afford to do so. It is more of a mindset than anything else. And while you do need a budget to travel, you don’t always need a large one.

You can start by visiting cities and countries close by (as a Nigerian passport holder, this is key because, from my experience, visa application processes tend to get easier with every new stamp or visa on your passport) and looking into more effective ways to manage costs.

So, start saving up and nipping costs here and there if you have to. Draw out a monthly budget and do your best to stick to it and make the coming year one where you seek out new adventures and travel differently!