How To Travel The World.. While Keeping Your 9-5 Desk Job

Let’s state the obvious: I like to travel.

Actually, I love it. I live for experiencing new things in new places.

I also work full-time. A typical 9 to 5 (or 6, or 7) behind a computer screen in a cubicle in a beautiful modern office in Manhattan.

Which might come as a surprise. Most people think that if you travel a lot, that maybe you’re a full-time blogger or get paid to go to far off places.

But there are many people out there who have corporate careers AND travel frequently as their hobby, just like me.

I work in digital marketing by day and as a content creator by night. Sometimes I’m a freelance lifestyle writer, sometimes a blogger, and most recently, devoting a lot of time to my podcast.

I’m a serial entrepreneur, always thinking up new creative ideas and dabbling with new projects.

So how do I manage to take so many trips every year (16 in 2017!) while working up the corporate ladder?

1) Work in the travel industry.

Whether I’m taking a scouting trip for a new client, organizing and chaperoning a press trip, or accepting to participate in a press trip for my freelance outlets, I sometimes get to travel for work.

2) Use Paid Time Off days very strategically.

I never (like hardly ever) take a sick day. Unless I’m dying and can’t lift my head or open my eyes, I am at work. In my mind, those PTO days are not going to be used so I can lay in bed and binge watch Netflix with a box of tissues. Thus, I travel on my own time.

3) Live at home.

In this way, my expenses are minimal. With no rent and utilities to pay for, a large chunk of my income can go into my own needs. I do have a car payment, loan payments, credit card payments, commuter expenses and some lots of meal expenses to cover. But I budget this against my desire to see the world.

I realize not everyone has this luxury of being able to stay with their parents. You may not want to, or be able to, or live close enough to commute to work and still reside at home.

BUT if you can, it helps.

4) Limit the amount of luxurious spending.

I don’t get my nails done every week. I don’t buy the newest iPhone every time it comes out. If something sits in my closet for too long without being worn, I sell it.

Because plane tickets > another pair of black jeans.

5) Make use of every travel promotion, point system and credit allowance.

Those TrueBlue points with JetBlue have taken me to Denver, Colorado and San Diego, California. My Capital One Venture points even bought my one-way ticket to Milan a few years ago.

There’s a reason The Points Guy was able to make an entire business off this concept. And there’s no reason why you shouldn’t cash in on it.

These are just some of the ways that I make it work and am able to travel very frequently while keeping my 9-5 desk job. You don’t always have to quit cold turkey in order to see the world.