How can I travel for free?
<div class="user-question">Hi Kristina! How do I save up enough money while still having enough to go on trips with my friends?</div>
Hey there! Thank you so much for submitting this question - trust me when I say, there are so, so many people in the same position as you (even those 10+ years older than you 😅)
That being said, I’m sure you’re not interested in hearing the usual answers that go something like “just do something cheap!”, “you can’t do them all, just choose one trip!” etc. The Frich team is pretty young as well so we remember how annoying it is, when older people keep telling you that you should just wait until you can afford things. We get you!! You have no patience to wait, you want to enjoy your glorious 20s!!!
So the whole Frich team sat down to find resources specifically for you to try to get you as close to having it all as we possibly can (with the budget of a 20-year old). So we’ll keep this email short and sweet, so you can go off and enjoy your best summer yet☺️
🐶 Pet-sitting
You want to travel with friends but you don't have the money (yet!) to pay for a place to stay. That makes sense - paying for a hotel / AirBnb is usually the biggest expense of a trip. So why don't you offer to pet-sit in exchange for staying for free in the owner's home? It's a win-win, truly. You get a cute new buddy AND a free place to stay in.
🐶 Rover - you can stay with the pet in the owner's home or just check in on the pet if you're staying somewhere else as extra income during your trip
🐶 Wag! - pretty much the same setup
🐶 Trusted House Sitters - take care of a cute pet and water someone's plants in exchange for a free place to stay in!
🏡 House Sitting Platforms
🏡 Workaway - this could require a bit of sifting through. Although you can find some incredible places (Puglia, anyone???), they might require you to do some garden work or help with some other small tasks. But it can still be a great option!
Hear us out😅 Think about where you can find a boomer that has a beautiful house in your dream location... Yep, Facebook groups! Research Facebook groups for house sitting & pet sitting and you could find an absolute gem for free!
🏙️ House Swapping Platforms
Now this might not necessarily be the perfect solution for you since you still live in college, but keep this in mind for when you move out!
🏙️ Home Exchange - you quite literally swap homes with someone who's in the same situation as you. For all our Frichies living in popular travel destinations, this one's *the* tip for you!
🌍 Volunteer Abroad & Get Free Housing
This one's a bit more adventurous but it can also be such an incredible way to bond even more with your friends!
Not only do you get the chance to help those in need, you can also use this opportunity to build your resume, learn new skills, explore cultures & travel for free!
🌍 Go Overseas - explore limitless opportunities here! Maybe something to keep in mind for a potential gap year :)
Btw - here's how others are doing👀
Like we said, you're not the only one finding yourself at loss when trying to have it all on a salary of a 20-year old. So we went through our archives to show you how others are doing ⬇️
How do you feel leading up to a trip with a group of friends?
🎉 33% Excited & ready to go - I've planned for everything!
☺️ 61% A bit anxious how much it will cost me, but still excited!
😰 6% Freaking out about the cost & ready to bail any minute
Would you go on a group trip with your friends, if you couldn't afford it?
💳 25% Yes, I'd pay with my CC
😓 26% Yes, I’d make other sacrifices to make it
👏 39% No, I’d tell my friend I can’t afford it
😬 10% No, but I’d come up with a fake excuse
Hope these help! Let us know if you end up using any of these platforms & send us pics from the trip!✈️
xx, Kristina
