Hi,

Thought I would add my two pence worth.

Probably not the most sensible option for funding, but we have put our flat on the market, and recently accepted an offer, so the money we have made will fund our, trip.

The question/risk is getting back on they property ladder when we get back in late 2009/early 2010...

Dan

After travelling, you probably wont want to come back so maybe not as big a problem as you think.

__________________
Did some trips.
Rode some bikes.
Fix them for a living.
Can't say anymore.

Lets hope so,

I just read all the posts and want to say first THANK YOU ALL! I needed the inspiration today, and found it here!

I had the cajones to start...its keeping going that Im finding hard. I graduated from my university after 5 years of working full time, and saving like a mad mother. I managed to get three degrees and 10k saved up to start (I worked all summer too and sold what little I had before I left). Really the hardest part was leaving my girlfriend, but that scar is healing with time.

I did it before I knew that a lot of people did it (nieve, I know), and before I had found this website. Funny to think that actually I had just heard of Jim Rodgers and Ewen McGregor doing it. I wish I had known now what I knew then...would have definatly saved a lot of time and money, but now I know and am benifiting from the collective wisdom. Im seeking it again!

My plan was the no plan plan. I didnt know if I could do a RTW trip - or if I would just find a place to live...but I knew I needed to get out and see what I was made of. Though I still cant say I know, I certainly have a much better idea...and that is a great source of confidence.

I followed where the wind blew - even when it was off the road. I wrecked once in Morocco and had my lip sewn back on by doctors who speak no english. I came close again in Czech tring to get back to Poland. But in general it has been good to me and I have rode almost completly through western europe and into the east(my orrigional half plan was to find work in spain because I speak spanish). I am now in Hungary going south to keep warm.

Anyway a bit over 3 months on the road now and Im facing some huge decisions. How can I keep going? My 10 gs has shrank to around 2.5. Im in Greece. My parents with a friend working for AA bought me a ticket home for Christmas (Im 23). My plates (export plates from germany) will expire in december, and my ADAC insurance run out. I dont know how to get new ones but I think it can be done...though costly.

Ive already sold all I own. My university education would allow me to get great paying jobs in countries where I have a visa...and am willing to stay for a few years (currently just the US and I dont really want to settle there now). I have almost no expenses except for gas and a miniscule amount for food and bike repairs (I need to get a new chain now).

I want to go through turkey down through the western part of the middle east and into africa. Any suggestions on how I can get the money to do it? Can I work on the road? I dont mind staying places for a few months...but I dont speak any of the languages in the places I will be...and tourist season is done. Ill shovel shit if I can get enough petrol for another day on the road...I just need some advice on how to find the stalls to do it in. And maybe some real numbers on what I will need to do Africa.
Thanks again to you all, and I hope to see you on the road!

i will be selling my flat, and using some of my savings to fund my trip next year . i want to move anyway as my current flat is just too big for me now ,and even after anything from six months to a year on the road, i will still have enough to buy a smaller flat when/if i come back .
it took me many years of hard work, and saving to get to this position , but now the time has come to enjoy it . i can,t wait ... :-) .

I've been thinking about taking a short ride for a while. My plan is to sell everything I have (a house with a fair bit of equity), my truck, and some of my belongings. Really, even in the down housing market I should make an acceptable amount of money to fund a trip (I hope). I want to ride through Europe (Scandinavia is a big draw) and mostly I want (NEED?) to go to Iceland. It calls to me. I don't know why; but I will go. Same thing with riding to the James Bay in Canada, this summer. It's not the most exciting place to go, but I went.

Anyhow, I initially wanted to do a 6-9 month trip. I know Europe is expensive and the dollar is worth less and less each day. It hit me that I could still accomplish some of my goals in a shorter time frame; say 3-4 months. I figure 1 month just for the Iceland portion (Assuming my bike isn't crushed in a rough ferry ride over). From there we'll see how far my money gets me. I have a friend or two in Germany and a few friends in France... so if I get to those areas I have decent places to stop for at least a few days that won't cost more than food. I may have time to ride the Alps while I'm over there.

My problem arises with returning "home". I've considered moving for some time, so this seems like the perfect opportunity; sell the house, travel, come back and buy another house elsewhere. The trouble is GETTING the new house. I start out at square one, so to speak. By the time I'm done I may very well have no money for a down payment. Do I just not worry about that; hold back a certain amount of cash to get going again upon my return... or ? I want to go, but I also know it's not going to be a multi-year tour. I will be coming back and getting some type of job, unless I find a job on my travels. I want to "put it all behind me" and just go; but I have a problem with not planning for my future. I have to think about that, at least a little. I imagine getting a job could take a month or two; should I guess how much it would cost me to live in that time period and save that amount? Anyone want to host me upon my return, while I job search?

I think my "problem" may be that I've been working full-time since I was 18. I did schooling for a while, and then got an I.T. job that flew me all over the country, paid well, and led into a career. I quickly purchased a house (at 21 years old) and have lived there since. I have no debt at this point (OK, car payment and mortgage, but nothing on credit cards), and am doing well. I think I've always made the "responsible" decisions. Now I'm bored and NEED a change... but I can't let go of the responsible side.. or apparently my rambing side. Help?

How about getting a mortgage for the amount you think you will need to travel, up to the amount that you could make renting the house, and come back to it?

Regards

Nigel in NZ

__________________
The mouth of a perfectly contented man is filled with . -- 2200 BC Egyptian inscription

I was in the same situation, a few years ago, I got to the age of 40, working in the Corporate world earning a very good income, but spending loads on mortgages, credit card bills etc. Something had to change or else that would have been my life until I retired.

Step 1.

I decided i had to make a change..So I sold everything cleared all my debts and moved my wife and family to Spain with only what would fit into the back of the car. We now rent , have do debts and have no ties to any one place.

Step 2 is to create an income that isn't dependent on me working every day and that can be maintained by logging onto the internet for a few hours every week. Step 2 is 50% complete.

Step 3 will be to just travel and see what happens. We'll probably start off with a few 6 months trips around europe and the americas then go for a full RTW with no itinery just a map and a laptop.

Hey, old thread...but if you have skills that let you move from place to place...what about living in an RV? Escapees.com is a good place to start.
and not only "old"people live in rv's...
Mary aka Krashdragon

There are some insparational stories on this thread and I wanted to thank everyone for their posts. I love the Idea posted by Jef Imans about working for a Humanitarian NGO. Traveling and making a difference. If anyone has any personal experience with working for an NGO please contact me.
aglobetreker@gmail.com

Measure your wealth not by how big your bank account is, but by the quality of your life.

Andrew

Another way is by finding the right job. In the industry I work in, it is very possible to work a rotational schedule where you can do something like work a month, get a month off. What the company does is provide you with a plane ticket to anywhere in the world... and a plane ticket BACK to your job site.

Downside is that my biz is about as far from humanitarian as you get: Hydrocarbon exploration - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

But there is potential to get paid a bunch of money and live a lifestyle that provides lots of travel opportunities. Plus, alot of the exploration is done in interesting parts of the globe.

Too bad I live/work in Houston

__________________
http://davegtravels.com - RTW on a DRZ
All the way south - Texas to Tierra del Fuego in '08-'09

I know people have talked about the return to civilisation - and I know we were only in europe (so fairly comfy really) for 6 months but even so, coming back has been hard........in fact the only one who really enjoys being back is the dog!

We've both found work - both part-time, by choice - because after the time away, we thought going back to the 9 to 5 would really have a bad affect on us.

The silly thing that has been worst for me is separation from my other half - we were together literally 24/7 for 6 months - we had plans in place for the arguments - but there were none

But once we came back - along with all our normal responsibilities - suddenly we saw a lot less of each other.

Last time we funded the trip from three years of hard saving - I don't think we can wait three years for the next trip - so there could be some car boot sales to be done!

Im now on the last day of my 7 month South American venture. Im sitting in an apartment in Bogota waiting to book my cab to the airport...

I started in England with just my bike and ZERO money..

Now I owe £12,000 to the bank !!

I couldnt wait to save the cash so I borrowed it.... Do I regret it ???

Nope, not at all. Its been worth every single penny.

I now have 2 months of debt clearing ahead of me while I plan my next trip. If your sensible with borrowing money, then its not a bad idea. Learn about credit card shuffling and how to get cheap loans.. Just never borrow more than you can comfortably afford to pay back (even if its working in a bar at weekends)

The way I see it, you could be hit by a bus tomorrow or diagnosed with a terminal illness..

In the words of Bonjovi: "Ill live when im alive, Ill sleep when im dead"

__________________
Did some trips.
Rode some bikes.
Fix them for a living.
Can't say anymore.

Hey,
I'm funding my RTW with the skills I picked up in the Army and some say it's quite extreme but it's working...... so far!
I'm doing 'Private Security' in Iraq for various agencies and being paid a princley sum per month which will enable me to have the money required for the trip in no time. I'm finishing in Sept with a $100K in my account after 8 months. Not everyones cup of tea but I suppose it depends on how badly you want the trip of a lifetime. Keeping your life and bodyparts helps too but hey!... I could fall off the bike on the first day and 'Exit stage left..!'

__________________
Geoffshing

'Security is a product of one's own imagination, it does not exist in nature as a rule, life is either a daring adventure or nothing.'

Impressive, Geoffshing! If I had a security background I'd try Iraq as well.

For anybody: sell your car in West Africa with a profit. Bring back some Dogon masks or diamonds and sell back home. Trade anything that is small to take along, but produces big margins. Publish a press article. Get sponsorship from your local travel agent / expedition shop.

Most important: don't mix with backpackers or villagers. Stay in the lobbies of the best hotels and wait for the lucky contact.

A RTW-trip is the best university one can attend.