Life

I'm Moving Overseas And I'm Dead Broke. Here's How You Can Too

A working holiday is the best of both worlds.

I wasn't going to let my bank account stop me from experiencing the world. I graduated university, had my first real heartbreak and my job was coming to an end – what better time to plan a trip to Canada and go on a working holiday?

If you're dead broke but have a heart for adventure, here are some tips on how to make the move overseas. You'll be sight seeing and earning cash in no time.

#1 Think Ahead

This is the best plan of attack to move overseas. You may have been thinking about going away for a while and have a little bit of savings ready to go, so now you can start budgeting and planning how you can fund your move in the cheapest way possible.

Having a set destination will make things way easier to plan. There was no other option but Canada for me, and once I had the country the rest would come. If you are going through a travel company they have countries on their website which they work with, which narrows it down for you to choose from.

#2 Find A Travel Company To Help

This step pretty much ensures minimum effort on your part and will ensure smooth sailing. I signed up to a travel company and they've set up job interviews, helped me with visa applications and support when I'm over there. The company that is helping me move is called The Global Work & Travel Co. On their home page they have a number to contact and eligibility points to see if you can travel with them.

It's quite simple; you go through a phone process and they let you know if you make it through the interview and what costs will be involved.

#3 Save Those Pennies

This is the hard part. Every cent literally counts. You will have costs you never thought about – passport renewals, police checks, visas, flights, travel insurance and money to enter the country.

I've worked three jobs in the last six months to pay for my trip, I had to move back in with my family so I stopped paying rent and my Christmas money went straight to the trip. That shrapnel you find randomly around your room and car? Save it! I have scraped up $60 of loose change; hello spending money.

#4 Budget

Whatever income you make or whatever cash flow you have coming in, put away $20-$50 a fortnight and don't touch it! There will be weeks that you can save more or less and that's OK; just set yourself a goal and work towards it.

A weekly food budget will also help. Go shopping on a Sunday and bulk buy food, pack your lunches and cut down on your daily coffees.

#5 Be Flexible

You will be easier to hire and easier to work with if you're flexible about the job you want when you're there. You need to keep in mind that you're only working to fund your travel! So whatever job is presented, it's always best to jump on that opportunity. No one likes a travel diva.

#6 Plan, Plan, Plan

Once you do have a travel company helping you (if you go down this path) planning will still need to happen. I booked my trip six months in advance to ensure I had everything set out by go-time. You need to plan how long you want to stay (a working visa generally has a two year expiry date). Because I'm travelling to Canada, I had to choose which season I wanted to go; summer – bushwalks, kayaking, and summer camps. Or the famous skiing season in winter. I chose to experience both, leaving in February and coming back in December.

Planning can save you money especially if you're choosing to plan your trip without a company. You can book ahead for early bird flights and save yourself the extra bucks of hiring someone to plan your trip.

#7 Be Willing To Travel Solo

Travelling with someone was never an option for me, being able to do what I want when I want is exactly what I like. Yes I am a little worried about the whole "will I make friends" thing but at the end of the day, I know it'll all work out.

You can only grow as an individual if you spend time with yourself, and what better way to get to know who you are than travelling alone?

#8 Don't Overthink It And Just Go For It

I started to overthink everything! "I won't get to see my cousin turn two! What if she forgets me?" and it just kept going downhill from there. The truth is that's not going to happen. We live in a world of technology where Skype and Facetime is literally in the palm of your hand.

Just drop everything and go!