First of all, let’s clarify. These are excuses, not reasons.
For some reason, people who love to travel still claim that they simply can’t. This article will outline the excuses for such claims and also explain why they are untrue.
Almost anyone and everyone can do some sort of travelling (especially if you’re from a western country), but we put limitations on ourselves and make excuses for why “we can’t travel.”
We had the same issues before we started travelling and we have even used a few of the lines from below! But the truth is that you CAN travel… you just have to make the decision to do so.
But I Just Don’t Have The Money!
This is probably the most common excuse used today. Travel can be expensive, there is no doubt about that, but it is cheaper than staying at home, paying a mortgage and going out to bars every weekend.
When we were living in Calgary, we would spend nearly $120 every day before we even got out of bed! That’s just paying our mortgage, car payments, bills, insurance etc.
That’s DOUBLE what we spend on average travelling. If you can cut down on those bills, and not go out on weekends, which can cost $100-$200 on drinks and dinners, you’d be amazed at how much you can save.
Example: We made less than the average annual wage in Calgary, yet after one year of working very hard, we saved enough to travel for 2 years.
For more on how to save money, click here.
I Have Kids!
Wait a minute! Since when is it impossible to travel with kids?
Surely we can’t empathise fully on this matter as we’ve never taken off with little ones, but have a look at Travelling Canucks and their amazing travelling family.
Travelling with children comes with its own set of challenges, but it’s a whole new type of adventure, and certainly having toddlers is no reason to miss out on travel.
We just met a Spanish couple who were travelling for 3 weeks with a 15-month-old child in IRAN! They said they felt very safe (as everyone does) and the Iranians treated their boy as if he was their own family. People all around the world love babies and you’ll have a great conversation starter just by pushing a stroller.
I Have A Great Job, I Wouldn’t Want To Jeopardize It
Let’s look at that statement for a moment. How great is your job if taking some time off to do something you love “jeopardizes” your position there?
Jobs allow for holidays and even though 2 weeks is pretty standard in North America, you should be able to extend this if you really want to.
In many parts of Europe, 6 or 8 weeks is the norm and people frequently take a month off to travel. If you’re from North America, this may not be so easy… but it is possible.
Bank some hours. Work overtime. Work from home. Request Leave.
There are plenty of ways to take extra time off, but most people are just afraid to ask. If you have such a great job, then the company you work for should be accommodating when it comes to doing something you’re passionate about. A happy employee is a good employee.
If you work for yourself… you simply can’t use this excuse. Hire a temp to take over. Ask your partner to cover for you. Close up shop for a bit, or work remotely from your computer.
If you’re your own boss, the answer should always be yes. Otherwise… what’s the point of being self-employed?
Still scared to quit? Read how we dropped everything to travel!
I Own A Home & Pets. I Can’t Just Pack Up And Go
This is a big one, and it’s true. It’s not easy to pack up everything and leave it all behind. But we did it, and thousands of others have done it before you. If you have a mortgage on your home you have 3 options:
1. Rent out your home while you’re gone. This can also be a great source of income while on the road.
2. Hire a Trusted House / Pet Sitter here.
3. Sell your house, store or sell your stuff, leave Fido and Whiskers with your family and go.
The above three options are only necessary if you’re planning on leaving for a long trip.
If you’re just going for a month, there’s no reason to rent, sit or sell your house. Just have someone check on it every couple of days. Your pets can still be left with your friends or family and you don’t have to store or sell anything.
-John Randolph
We owned a home, a car and a Uhaul truckload of stuff before we packed up and left Canada.
We sold the house and car and had everything put into storage. This is not a difficult thing to do, but it’s the hardest of the above 3 options. Many people simply rent or keep their house looked after while they’re away. Owning a home and pets shouldn’t keep you from travelling.
Homes and pets may hinder, but never halt your dreams of travel.
I’m Comfortable at Home & Travel Isn’t Safe
Humans are creatures of habit and that is not always a bad thing.
Sometimes Dariece and I even enjoy a little bit of routine in our lives. But, if you’re yearning for something new (probably why you’re reading this) then try to differentiate between a routine and a rut.
Mindset Test: Are You Happy? Are You In A Routine Or A Rut?
At first, it’s a lot to take on. Planning for a trip, selling your things, saving money and leaving friends and family behind can be overwhelming. But, we are telling you from experience, the minute the wheels of the plane lift off and your adventure begins, a weight will be lifted that goes beyond the pressures of the planning process.
You’ll start to realize that your job was putting more stress on you than you thought. You’ll understand that the drama of day-to-day life at home was draining. You’ll begin to realize that YOU ARE RICH, even more so without futile possessions. You can do what you want when you want. And most of all you will be awash with a new sense of freedom.
Conclusion… there are no excuses.
When you break it down and really look at it, you are the only thing getting in the way of your travel dreams. Just because 90% of people are working through the year, doesn’t mean you have to too.
There are a ton of ways to travel for cheap or even for free. There are easy ways to save extra money. There are even more ways to make money while you’re on the road.
Now is the time when you look at yourself and decide: “Do I want to travel?” If the answer is yes, then all you have to do is take the necessary steps towards your dream.
If you start moving in the right direction, everything will fall into place… believe me! Just make the decision and go, we can tell you from experience that you will never regret it.
Still have some excuses? Enlighten us in the comments below!
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