An eager wanderluster took saving up for travel to the next level by juggling several jobs in one go and sacrificing some luxuries
Taking on multiple jobs to earn a few pounds for the holiday of a lifetime is hardly new. However, Lauren Wright pushed things to extraordinary lengths, juggling five zero-hour jobs to fund her globetrotting adventures.
The 20-year-old paramedical science student from England has revealed her demanding schedule, though she maintains the gruelling effort has genuinely been worthwhile. She started worked at just 15 with the single aim of bankrolling her travels.
“I am very fortunate to have such supportive and loving parents who made my saving process easier than most,” she said. “I had very minimal outgoings, and therefore, every penny I made, I was able to save for my trip.
“I reached out to friends who had taken very similar trips and asked how much they had saved, setting myself a goal of around £14,000 as I never wanted to run out of money or feel like I couldn’t participate in a once-in-a-lifetime activity while I was away.
“I have always been good at saving my money, saving more than spending, from the time I started working at 15.”
Among the roles Lauren took on to bankroll her adventures included lifeguard, duty manager, team leader, receptionist and recreational assistant. The majority of these positions were zero-hours arrangements and the shifts were punishing – though she wasn’t bothered by the demands.
“I combined the money I had been saving since the age of 15 with the money I made during the six months I spent working various jobs, in order to make sure I had the money I needed in the pot,” she told travel agent Omio.
“I jam-packed those six months, sometimes working 60-hour weeks and 18-hour shifts, going straight from one job to another throughout the day.”
Setting money aside for travel demanded sacrifices as well. Lauren cut back on spending across numerous items she considered luxuries to keep her savings fund expanding, reports the Mirror.
“I stopped eating out as much, reduced the amount of takeout coffee I would buy whilst out and about and started making more at home to save money,” she added. “I also reduced the number of pub trips I went on with friends. Most importantly, I stopped all unessential shopping unless I was buying something that I was going to be able to take on my travels.”
Her dedication ultimately paid dividends and Lauren journeyed to distant destinations such as Dubai, the Philippines, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia. However, her adventure began on a difficult note as she experienced some personal heartbreak.
“I initially started travelling with my boyfriend, but we broke up on the trip, causing me to travel solo,” said Lauren. “This taught me so many lessons and helped me to meet amazing people I may not have met otherwise.”
Lauren also crossed off Singapore, Indonesia, New Zealand and Australia from her bucket list, where she elevated her money-saving techniques to new heights. She monitored her expenditure meticulously and stuck to her daily allowance of £60, which covered her lodging costs.
She said: “It was much more expensive in these countries. I also didn’t eat out as much in Australia and New Zealand, and often opted for grocery shopping and cooking in the hostel’s kitchen.
“I budgeted around £30 a day while I was in the more ‘budget-friendly’ countries such as Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Malaysia and Laos. This £30 a day would include my hostel or hotel, food, activities and basic fees such as my SIM card and laundry. I had a separate budget for activities, which was definitely needed to make the most of my trip.”
Lauren’s adventures highlight just how costly travelling has become. Research from travel insurance company Staysure showed that families have been compelled to slash their holiday expenditure by an average of £941 recently, with the typical getaway now costing just over £2,800. As a result, 44 per cent are now more likely to opt for a staycation rather than a foreign holiday.
Nevertheless, the desire to travel remains incredibly strong despite rising costs. Holiday bookings have increased by roughly 10 per cent across the UK this year, according to the Advantage Travel Partnership, even though overall growth remains close to zero.
Lauren’s top advice for those wishing to save money to globe-trot is to delve into other people’s experiences on social media, particularly TikTok. She said: “I did a lot of TikTok research, watching videos on how much money people spent per location and for their entire trip. I used all these figures to set a budget for myself.
“I wouldn’t change my travels for the world and I can’t wait to see even more of the world as I continue to grow.”
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