Earn $5 a Day? You Can Travel Forever
“If you can earn $5 a day, you can travel forever.”
That’s Andy the Hobo Traveler’s motto, at least. And he can talk: for close to 11 years, Andy has been perpetually travelling the globe, with no intention of returning home.
For most of us, travel is a finite experience. Our trips may be long, but they always have a Point A and a Point B: a beginning and an end. Most of us return home; some people relocate to a new home; but we always arrive home.
Not Andy. Thanks to the success of his two websites, HoboTraveler and HoboHideout, Andy has been able to travel perpetually for over a decade, making his way through 77 countries across the globe. A little while ago, I asked Andy to share his story.
Andy’s story
I had a successful business. I was making good money, had a boat, two houses. But I was bored.
“I was bored with life in the United States. I had a successful business. I was making good money, had a boat, two houses. But I was bored. I wasn’t married. I was always waiting for the day when I’d get married. Then one day I just took off.
“When I first left, I went down to Mexico for a one-year sabbatical. I wanted to see if I could earn money from the internet. At the time, I was working as a real estate broker, I was very good at marketing and sales, and the internet was blossoming. So I decided to take a sabbatical, move down to Mexico, live in a hostel and work eight hours a day trying to make enough money off it. I didn’t plan to travel forever.
“After about a year, I realised I didn’t want to go home under any circumstance.
“Later, when I was in Costa Rica, I met a German guy, who said to me: ‘After being gone this long, you’re addicted. You’re going to have trouble stopping.’ I never forgot it.
“I decided almost eight years ago that I didn’t want a home. For the first two years I was still thinking I’d go back.
“I was in Khao San Road in Thailand and I’d just made $5 that day through my website. I thought to myself: ‘I don’t ever want to go home again.’ You have to be able to have perpetual income no matter where you are on earth.”
The art of perpetual travel
If the idea of travelling forever sounds appealing to you, you’re not alone. While I haven’t been able to find any other travellers online who have been travelling perpetually for as long as Andy, there are others out there living their lives on the road.
Over the next few weeks, TravelBlogs will be featuring a series of articles and interviews with some of these perpetual travellers. People who, like Andy, have decided to spend their lives on the road.
If you haven’t already, subscribe to TravelBlogs to receive updates whenever we feature a new blog or publish a fresh article.
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Posted by Eric on October 8th, 2008 in Articles.
#1Kara » October 9th, 2008 at 3:07 am:
I am so impressed. You are living my dream. I’m thinking as soon as a get my degree I will be on the road. Permanently.
Enjoy!
#2Beth Whitman » October 9th, 2008 at 6:48 am:
This is great in theory, but it’s very difficult to do.
I have been working towards paying my mortgage through my site and blog so I don’t have to “work”. But, all of my “work” is travel-related anyway, so is it really work?
Really, I just want to have the flexibility to come and go as I please and with the way the US news/fearmongers are going on about the economy, I want to hit the road NOW!
Beth Whitman
http://www.wanderlustandlipstick.com
#3Kyle Shields » October 10th, 2008 at 1:42 am:
Wow Andy’s is an amazing story. I still don’t understand though how he can make enough money on the road to perpetually travel. It sounds like fun, but I don’t think I’d have the guts.
#4Kent Walker » October 10th, 2008 at 4:03 am:
Beth, I think I see your problem in your post. How could you ever travel forever while forever tethered by being a homeowner? Even if it were paid off, you’d have to rent it, keep it fixed up during/after the lease, property taxes, etc. Granted in the current market this is easier said than done, but if you’re making enough through your website and blog to pay the mortgage, if you sell your house you are on your way. The common theme I see in people who want to travel forever but can’t is they’ve got themselves saddled with huge anchors like that but fail to see that that is precisely why they can’t do it. That’s the only thing that makes it difficult. We Americans are so driven by the need to possess things, and it’s a VERY hard habit to break.
Incidentally, I just sold a business in May, sold my truck, my motorcycle, and most of my TONS of possessions and bought a 27-foot sailboat, which is now the closest I have to a home. Break those chains, and when you travel to Belize, look me up! I’ll be in the pretty blue boat, hopefully anchored off Caye Caulker.
#5Joachim in Oslo » October 10th, 2008 at 6:39 am:
Impressed too!
I love to travel, although never thought of being away for so long.
Been away for 4 weeks at the most.
But what if more and more people are following this idea?
#6j » October 10th, 2008 at 7:24 am:
This sounds like a great idea:) It is good to see the world, no responsibility except providing food and shelter for yourself. Even so, I think it would get lonely doing it alone. But to see the world like that is great. But with rising food costs, don’t expect to spend only $5 a day forever!!! In Bosston, the only things you can buy for less than $5 is from the .99 meal at Burger King or McDonalds!
#7Erica Johansson » October 10th, 2008 at 8:22 am:
Inspiring interview and a beautiful photography. Thanks for this!
#8J Nizzle » October 10th, 2008 at 10:32 am:
5 bucks a day. I think that is totally possible. If you don’t mind those living conditions. How long can you sleep on the ground? Or better yet in some seedy places that work with a 5 dollar budget. What is the quality of food you are eating? How about not showering for a few days? Mexico, Costa Rica are not best places to be but I guess that you get what you pay for.
#9Melanie » October 10th, 2008 at 12:10 pm:
Mexico and Costa Rica are not the best places to be? Um, ok. I guess it’s all in the perspective. If you’ve bought into the standard American lifestyle deep enough, I guess other ways of living and other standards of living won’t necessarily work for you. But if you consider for a moment that maybe that attitude toward what matters in life isn’t the only one with value, well, perhaps Costa Rica doesn’t seem like such a “drag” after all.
For me, any opportunity to immerse myself in another culture for a significant length of time is beyond measure. To me, that’s the REAL measure of “quality of life”. YMMV, of course.
#10Eric » October 10th, 2008 at 12:54 pm:
Well said Melanie. This kind of lifestyle is absolutely impossible without foregoing a lot of stuff that people in the West think is necessary. In a way, that’s one of the most liberating things about it – the sense of ditching all the more or less unimportant stuff, in favour of the bare essentials: food, shelter, clothing, etc.
#11Arnold - Mr.Gadget » October 10th, 2008 at 2:30 pm:
Yes! I earn over $5 a day! Holidays here I come
#12Hardcore Geek » Blog Archive » Perpetual travel not for everyone » October 11th, 2008 at 12:04 am:
[...] Work Week proposes that we spend several months a year doing just that. This morning, I came across a story of a man, Andy, who’s been perpetually traveling for 10 + years. They’ve done it, why [...]
#13Traveller Thougts » October 11th, 2008 at 12:13 am:
lol i earn roughly over $50 a day and it works out on its own (no need for daily work), this looks like a possibility but even I don’t think that it would make sense to live off that – like $50 a day is lot but I mean I haven’t touched any of it – literally not even a dime. Straight into my savings – and yea I guess I’m building a nest egg. Doesn’t make sense how he could live off $5 – I mean hotel or boarding would be more. Unless you stay at some real dives or hostels, and eat garbage or whatever you can get. Kinda scary actually.
#14links for 2008-10-10 | Brewed Fresh Daily » October 11th, 2008 at 12:30 am:
[...] Earn $5 a Day? You Can Travel Forever : TravelBlogs.com [...]
#15Krazd » October 11th, 2008 at 4:44 am:
$5 a day pays for food/place to sleep? I would think it would be more in European countries
#16¿Ganas al menos 5 dolares al día? Entonces puedes viajar toda la vida [Eng] » October 11th, 2008 at 7:20 am:
[...] ¿Ganas al menos 5 dolares al día? Entonces puedes viajar toda la vida [Eng]www.travelblogs.com/articles/earn-5-a-day-you-can-travel-for… por bobalicono hace pocos segundos [...]
#17Ross Hill » October 11th, 2008 at 6:04 pm:
I can’t wait to read this series, as I consider doing it myself.
#18hoz » October 12th, 2008 at 11:55 pm:
I’ve been reading Andy the Hobo Traveler for a couple of years. Though he did take sojourns through Europe early on lately he has settled on tropical areas around the world. Second and third world countries where five bucks goes a long way towards food and shelter. Still, I don’t think the 5 bucks covers all his expenses now including travel.
Nowadays I think Andy makes much more then that.
#19Darren Cronian » October 13th, 2008 at 3:09 am:
Part of the problem is you get used to the luxuries you have in life. I could resign from my job, and live off what I earn on my blog, BUT, I am used to the luxury of living in a nice apartment, travel 2,3,4 times a year, have the latest gadgets and live comfortably.
If I was to travel the world I would have to give all that up.
Yes, it would be great fun, meeting new people and learning about different cultures but do I want to give up everything I have, be it materalistic, to do that.
#20» ¿Tienes 3.7€ al día? Puedes viajar para siempre » rataTravel.es » October 13th, 2008 at 7:08 pm:
[...] Si eres de los que piensan que para viajar se necesita un buen sueldo aquí te traemos a Andy, un estadounidense que lleva 11 años viajando con unos 5$ al día (3,7€). El artículo original está en inglés y lo pueden ver en http://www.travelblogs.com [...]
#21Marrakech Holiday » October 13th, 2008 at 9:19 pm:
That sounds incredible! What a life. I could only imagine what that lifestyle must be like but I can also imagine you might miss the regular lifestlye and family and friends at home. Also $5 in this day and age won’t give you anything but a flat stomach! Like Darren said, you will have to give up all the luxuries that are now a part of most peoples lives.
Having said that, if I was in the position to do the same, I would love to give it a shot!
Thanks for the interesting post.
#22Chris Smith » October 14th, 2008 at 2:28 am:
I’ve followed Hobotraveler Andy Graham through his website and Travel Blog for about 8 yrs and he’s the real deal … he prefers $5 days like it says but with a burgeoning travel presence on the Internet he can spend like a flashbacker and get a room with cable TV, WiFi and a private bath (OK, maybe a Suicide shower) for $10/day. He lives out of a backpack and though there are fast winds about him but he doesn’t sleep on the ground any more than the rest of us. If he didn’t travel so often, he could rent a house and spend $5 or less, no sweat. The less he spends the longer he can travel, that’s the math. Adventure travel is an ordeal but the world’s so worth it, don’t tell yourself you aren’t cut out for it or aren’t planning to leave in the near future. Don’t kill your dreams, they’re for living out without excuses.
The Hobotraveler put me ｓｏｌｏ on my 1st Chicken bus with 80-90 Mayans and waved goodbye － Happy trails, hahah. Ask around in 2 wks and you’ll find me in Panajachel, Guatemala renting an apartment for USD $150/month or a house with a gardener for 2 bills a month.
- Chris Smith
#23NewWrldYankee » October 18th, 2008 at 8:17 pm:
I have no concept of how this is possible – I am def going to check out Andy’s site and see just how he does it. Is that even possible???
#24How the Blogosphere Thinks I Should Solve Money Matters | Yankee in a New World » October 19th, 2008 at 6:01 pm:
[...] TravelBlogs, they are discussing lately about how Andy the Hobo Traveler, travels on $5 a day – “Earn $5 a day? You Can Travel Forever”. Maybe this is not possible in Europe, but still interesting to think [...]
#25Tajo » November 24th, 2008 at 8:27 pm:
I’ve been away for two years now, and I completely agree with the sentiment that once you’ve been away for too long, it becomes impossible to think of going home. For me, life is about having the freedom to stop somewhere for a while, get to know the people, and then when I feel like it, simply pack my bags and be off to the next place. To do that all I need is the clothes on my back, a camera, and a laptop, although to be fair I could probably ditch the laptop.
#26The Fitness Diva » November 25th, 2008 at 1:06 pm:
This is actually a dream of mine, and I’m trying to figure out how to fulfill it. I will definitely take some notes here!
#275 reasons to travel without a guide book | Voyageek » December 8th, 2008 at 3:43 am:
[...] the equivalent of several days traveling expenses. Let’s say you travel on $5 a day, like Hobo Traveler. Then a $30 guide works out at quite a lot. Would you prefer to buy a guide or to travel 6 more [...]
#28Travel for the Over 30s » January 14th, 2009 at 9:43 am:
Its funny to see the comments – people either get it or they don’t! Obviously if you can get a hotel room for $10 in somewhere like Asia you can get a longer rental for a fraction of that. Food is so cheap that the locals eat out rather than have kitchens. Unfortunately most in the western world need to surround themselves by “stuff”
#29Schnell Abnehmen » February 3rd, 2009 at 10:07 am:
What an incredible story! After seeing Andy travelling perpetually with a 5$ budget a day, I’ve just realized how badly we are ripped off in our daily lives: we couldn’t even live in the same place with 5$!
#30the candy trail ... » February 16th, 2009 at 11:33 pm:
Hi
Greetings from Korea … I find $5 way too very lean a budget, I find work along the way so life is fun on the road. I’ve been traveling, wandering since 1988, since age 21 – originally from New Zealand but since been to Iraq to Antarctica to Sierra Leone, to about 100 countries beyond. I am an extreme global nomad …
Regards – MRP AKA thecandytrail.com
#31Tiffany » July 31st, 2009 at 6:36 pm:
I wish I could just wander the globe, at least for a year. I’ve wanted to travel for so long. I have a young daughter though and I wouldn’t want to raise her on the road. Still, this is a very fascinating topic to me. I’m going to go read the rest of the articles…
#32bill mann » October 23rd, 2009 at 3:33 pm:
Very few people know the real story here, though. Andy Hobotraveler is actually the twin brother of famous American actor William H Macy. His drinking and obsessive traveling and blog writing are a result of his disappointment and bitterness about his and his brother’s original plans to develop a comedy act together. Bill lost interest, started taking acting lessons, and made it big, while Andy was left behind. Andy (Hobo) is only now finding peace in his heart, and recently reunited with Bill after 22 years of not speaking to him. A heartwarming story, when you think about it….
#33Carlo » December 15th, 2009 at 11:03 am:
What a wonderful story. I am so very grateful with your story and with your life. I am Carlo Delos Santos from philippines and I am very much interested to earn $5 a day in the internet and go travel too. How I wish I could find a legitimate online job.
Thank you very much for this inspiring story.
God bless you always…
Carlo
#34Jordan St Claire » January 14th, 2010 at 10:01 pm:
God I hate when self-righteous ninnymuggins’ post on stories like this, verbally assaulting people who perhaps enjoy our standard of living here in the Western World, basically labeling us ignorant capitalist pigs for enjoying what our we, along with our ancestors before us, have struggled to build and provide for ourselves. Just because we don’t share the need to drop everything and run off to some corner of the globe (however cheap and ‘liberating’ it may be blah blah blah) does not mean that we are in some way stupid, blinded, or otherwise. We just happen to appreciate life here, get ahold of yourselves you hypocrites.
#35dan » March 10th, 2010 at 12:10 pm:
I met a person name Eric in Muang Sing, Lao last summer. He have been travelling for years as well. (Can’t remember how long) His ‘occupation’ was jewllery trader. Often he would go from countries to countries swapping stuffs at stores, markets and even tribes that would value his possession. It is a very interesting life. You see and experience different parts of the world. Make friends and come and go as you wish. But it also would require lots of ‘giving up’ to do to make it work. No family, home, stable income or sometimes food. You would also have to quite witty and entertaining to live out some situation. But if you can do that and have less obligations in life, why not? At least for few years.
#36Clicint » June 5th, 2010 at 10:08 pm:
I’m about to enter high school, and I’m really considering this as a way to live. I write constantly so I could be an author for my money, or a trader. I like to collect so I could have a constantly changing collection of things to sell, and keep some of the things for me if I really like them. I would travel by houseboat, keeping it well fueled from my work, and getting food this way as well.
I just want to travel the world, I want to actually LIVE before I die. There’s better things in life than working at Cellular South forever.
I talked to my stepdad and he said whatever I wanted to do in life I could do if I tried.
I think I’m gonna do it.
What do you guys think of my ideas?
#37Dom » July 2nd, 2010 at 10:45 pm:
I love the idea of this story. For me there is little in life as liberating as traveling. I think the internet is opening up travel for people who in the past would not have gone traveling. The internet is global and therefore if you are web savvy you have a global skill that can take you anywhere. I am rapidly trying to come up the ol’ internet curve to benefit from this.
I still look back a few years however, to before the internet, and look at the people who took off traveling then without the fallback of the internet. Those who trusted themselves to be OK and then learned to be OK. Making friends and enough to get by wherever they went – what freedom in mind, spirit and body – although on my own journies there have been times when I wished I was safely tucked in behind a desk!
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