5 side gigs to help make your travels longer

A digital nomad on an empty street.

Travelling, it’s something many of us don’t get to do as much as we’d like for various reasons. For some it simply doesn’t appeal - although in those cases it’s simply because the travel bug hasn’t  found its way to them yet. For others, there’s a genuine fear of the unknown.

However, the facts don’t lie and - save for the last year and a half - more people are travelling than ever before in human history.

A major contributing factor to the growing numbers of global travellers is the way the very concept of work has changed. As the internet has become more entrenched in our lives and bandwidth has improved, it’s given rise to the digital nomad - people who work and travel simply by way of a laptop and a solid internet connection.

There are various ways in which you can subscribe to this type of lifestyle, and you don’t even have to be that tech savvy. If you can channel your skills via your PC or laptop in exchange for money, you can be a digital nomad and afford the travel amenities that come with it. With all this in mind, here’s a look at five side gigs you can do to earn money and make your travels last longer.

Freelance writing

This one is by far one of the most effective means of travelling and working. Armed with nothing more than your laptop and an internet connection, you can pen articles, and get paid decently too. Freelance writers are a dime a dozen, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t find work. The net is littered with websites that can promote your services or point you in the right direction.

Online trading

This one is also perfectly suited for the digital nomad lifestyle, although it should be stated that returns aren’t guaranteed and you’ll really need to apply yourself.

Outside of having to learn how indices trading works, you’ll need to read up on as much applicable literature as possible and follow global news and politics.

You should also set up a budget for this and make sure not to get carried away after a few successful trades as it can quickly turn around and the best way of learning this craft is to slowly build your portfolio.

If you’re mathematically inclined and have a fondness for graphs and flow charts, then this will only aid you in your financial pursuits.

Affiliate marketing

If you are a little tech savvy and can navigate your way around the inner workings of a website, then this one might be suited to your needs. Affiliate programs or affiliate marketing lets you promote a product or service and upon the purchasing of the product or service, you get paid a percentage of the money spent.

It would be wise to utilise social media to create awareness of the service you’re providing. Getting things up and running takes time, but once you’re set up, this can prove quite lucrative.

Travel photography

These days it might seem as if anyone with a smartphone can take a photo, but the truth of the matter is that photography is a talent, and while it can be nurtured, it would be advantageous if you’re passionate about it.

The appealing thing about travel photography is that you’re not just getting to explore interesting places, peoples and culture, you’re also exposing others to it and in the process educating people about matters they would not know of were it not for your documentation.

TESL teaching

Teaching English as a second language is immensely popular and it’s something that many native speakers pursue. The salaries are generally quite competitive, accommodation is usually provided and because the industry is mainly situated in Asia, you can both work and play.