It was a surreal moment as I reminisce the various episodes of my life journey, ending up to this very moment as I stepped on the stage in a graduation robe.
At a blink of an eye, I felt the weight off my shoulders as I casually disrobe myself.
Ten years ago, I would have never imagined that travelling over 10 countries could ever be possible under the circumstances I was in.
Today, I have decided to finally expose the secret to
‘How to travel the globe before graduation IF you aren’t from a wealthy family’
I am not a “Self-Made Man”. Instead, I am blessed with the opportunities and support from the environment I was born with. I am deeply grateful to everyone who contributed to shape the person I am today.
I believe that success is largely non-personal. It is the combination based on myriad of factors. Just to name a few:
- Birth place
- Family background
- Personal Habits
To put things in order, my story would be broken down to a few parts below.
- Prologue: List of countries visited
- Part 1: The Input(How I obtain my earnings)
- Part 2: The Output(How I spend my earnings)
- Part 3: The Thrifty Traveler
List of countries visited
The 2 Major milestones I accomplished before graduation & landing a full time job was ‘Leaping in America’ & ‘Leap in Europe’
I went to Purdue University for an exchange semester which lasted around 5 months. Most of the travelling was done during the final 3 weeks of the trip. I managed to squeeze a visit to London on a 12h layover before flying back home.
A few weeks before my graduation ceremony, I visited a total of 6 European countries. I spent the first half of the trip with my cousins & subsequently travelled solo, visiting a few of my friends along the way.
Phase 1: Leaping in America (Aug 2015 – Jan 2016)
List of Countries visited 🇺🇸 🇨🇦 🇬🇧
- USA(10 states)
- Canada(Toronto)
- United Kingdom(London)
Phase 2: Leap in Europe (June-July 2017)
List of Countries visited:🇨🇭 🇮🇹 🇳🇱 🇩🇰 🇳🇴 🇩🇪
- Switzerland(Zurich, Lucerne, Bern)
- Italy(Venice)
- Netherlands(Rotterdam, Amsterdam)
- Denmark(Copenhagen)
- Norway(Oslo)
- Germany(Frankfurt)
The Input
Humble Beginnings
Growing up with 4 siblings & my father being the sole breadwinner of the family, we did not have the luxury to travel anywhere that requires taking a flight. We could only afford to travel to Malaysia, where we could feel fortunate by doubling our currency. It was the only form of indulgence at that time.
The First Job
My aunt offered me a job as a cashier/dishwasher in her chicken rice stall when I was 16, upon completing my ‘O’ Levels. It was a fitting role as I was good with numbers & I could use this experience & learn to be independent. I worked from 8am till 4pm on weekdays & got paid $10 daily. I never had that much money given to me in a single day, it felt like a blessing.
At the end of the first month, I was surprised to learn that my aunt kept half of my income to be deposited to my bank account.It dawned on me years later, & I am so grateful for her actions.
Passion for Teaching
I started developing the passion for teaching when I entered polytechnic in 2009.
In the beginning, I only taught 2 students during the weekends. A 2-hour lesson earned me $30. I felt unaccustomed by the lack of effort needed to earn that amount.
I was grateful for the opportunity, and I made a vow ever since to be independent & support myself financially.
Through mutual recommendations, I gained a few more students & had my weekends filled with lessons. It was a tiny sacrifice for financial freedom.
Summary:
Cashier/Dishwasher: [$400/mth] x [3 months]
Part-Time Tutor: On average, [$600/mth] x [9 mth/year] x [6 yrs]
The Output
What can a few dollars buy? Not even a cup of Starbucks or a decent meal. It is a trivial amount if viewed as such. Let’s take it up a notch.
If one saved a few dollars every day for a year, the amount will come up to around $1000. Before you proceed, think: What could be done with a thousand dollars?
So what does it take to save that amount of money?
Without a drastic change in lifestyle, is it possible?
My answer is yes. Tiny habits, if practiced over a long period, will yield large results.
I made a “Table of Expenditures” which consists of 4 manageable spending habits. These habits serve a purpose not to eliminate, but to reduce the basic pleasures.
At this point you might ask, “Is it worth it?”
Answer: Does it hurt to wake up a few minutes earlier each day?
Breakfast
On weekdays, even as a student, I had only 3 options for breakfast.
- Cereal with milk
- 3 pcs of toast(with a spread, cheese or eggs)
- Biscuits with Hot Milo
On average, a breakfast meal would cost around $5 at a coffee shop or a cafe as compared to $1.50 for a breakfast at home on a weekday. I limit these meals to once a week, usually on a weekend.
Drinks
Instead of purchasing a beverage daily during lunch on weekdays, I would purchase it only twice in a week.That is more than 50% in savings.
Cinema
Every month, a blockbuster movie will hit the screens. Going to the cinema 12 times a year would be a reasonable. What about 4 times a year? That sounds absurd, but I still do it anyway.
Also, there are plenty of LEGAL ways to watch a movie. Go figure!
Dining
In many parts of the world, food is seen as a necessity to survive. But in developed cities, it can be turned into a form of pleasure & self indulgent. A weekly subscription to indulge in fine dining is quite sensible. I just do it once a month to feel slightly ordinary.
Table of Expenditures
|
ITEM |
Cost($) |
Frequency |
Yearly Cost($) |
Yearly Savings($) |
|
Breakfast |
5 |
Daily |
1200 |
840 |
|
Drinks |
1.50 |
Daily |
360 |
200 |
|
Cinema |
10 |
Monthly |
120 |
80 |
|
Dining |
20 |
Weekly |
960 |
720 |
|
TOTAL |
2640 |
1840 |
The Thrifty Traveler
Primary Expenses
A student J-1 Visa was needed due to the 5-month long duration of my stay in America.
I lived in a residence hall which included a meal plan consisting of 8 buffet style meals in a week. I had to create a weekly meal schedule to maximise the food consumed.
- Late Lunch on MON,WED & FRI (3 meals)
- Brunch & Dinner on TUE & THU (4 meals)
- Brunch on Saturdays (1 meal)
Primary Expenses
|
USD |
SGD |
|
|
Transport (Return Flight) |
1776 |
2487 |
|
Housing |
1723 |
2412 |
|
Visa |
337 |
472 |
|
Travel Insurance |
147 |
206 |
|
Food (8 meals / week) |
1499 |
2099 |
|
TOTAL |
5482 |
7676 |
Secondary Expenses
During the semester, there were plenty of organised trips to the various towns in Indiana, with occasional trips to neighbouring states. Most of the trips were subsidised which made it even more worthwhile.
I subscribed to Amazon Prime as a student at no cost. Services include: 1 day delivery & 7 day free return at the Amazon counter located 100m away from my hall. I do not wish to remember the amount of items I bought over that period.
I visited Toronto during the thanksgiving break. It was a memorable experience. The full story can be found in my previous post “Thanksgiving in Toronto”
At the end of the semester, a group of us travelled to California & went on a tour package to Las Vegas. Don’t be surprised by the prices of the tour packages mentioned below. To get between cities, the most economical method is by Greyhound buses.
Finally, I spent New Years’ Eve in New York, spending my last night in New Jersey.
Secondary Expenses
|
Description |
USD |
SGD |
|
|
Transport |
Toronto(Return) |
166 |
|
|
San Francisco |
137 |
||
|
NewYork |
148 |
||
|
Accommodation |
Toronto(2N) |
40 |
|
|
SanFrancisco(1N) |
39 |
||
|
LosAngeles(2N) |
68 |
||
|
NewYork(2N) |
56 |
||
|
Amazon |
Apparels/Shoes |
385 |
|
|
Tour Packages |
3D2N Las Vegas |
99 |
|
|
3D2N DC/PA |
132 |
||
|
Food |
Meals/Snacks |
860 |
|
|
Miscellaneous |
Shopping/Souvenir |
250 |
|
|
TOTAL |
2380 |
3332 |
|
Conclusion
From Table of expenditures,
Amount saved= [$1840/year] x [6 years] = $11,040
From Primary & Secondary Expenses,
Amount spent = [$7676] + [$3332] = $11,008
In other words,
6 years worth of savings = Total expenses for a 5 month stay in America
*Drops Mic*
That’s not all folks! Stay tuned for Phase 2.
Leap with Luqe 