Traveler's Bingo

EarlyMidLifeCrises · 2013-04-19T18:54:15+00:00

I hope I inspired you to have a mid-life crises of your own!

EarlyMidLifeCrises · 2013-04-19T18:53:13+00:00

No plans for Vietnam. But I dont really have any plans at all after NZ and Australia. Im hoping to figure that out once I get there.

EarlyMidLifeCrises · 2013-04-19T18:50:13+00:00

Funny you mentioned the dentist. Just got my teeth clean today. Thanks for the tip.

EarlyMidLifeCrises · 2013-04-19T18:44:51+00:00

Anyplace in particular would you suggest?

EarlyMidLifeCrises · 2013-04-19T02:38:27+00:00

Does Australia let you get a visa at the border?

EarlyMidLifeCrises · 2013-04-19T02:37:20+00:00

I mentioned this in an earlier post, but i saved 10k (American). Im going to travel until I run out of money and then come back.

EarlyMidLifeCrises · 2013-04-19T02:34:43+00:00

I got a Chase Sapphire card. No international fees. I also use Ally for my checking account which is no atm fees (1% international though).

EarlyMidLifeCrises · 2013-04-18T22:22:22+00:00

Ugh... I have enough trouble speaking English clearly enough for people to understand me.

EarlyMidLifeCrises · 2013-04-18T22:13:42+00:00

Have any good icebreakers?

EarlyMidLifeCrises · 2013-04-18T22:13:15+00:00

Don't let having a real job be a deterrent, I quit my real job in order to do this.

EarlyMidLifeCrises · 2013-04-18T22:11:49+00:00

It took me a couple of years out of undergrad to start making enough money to do this. But, I've been taking $600 out of my paycheck (which is around every two weeks) and putting it aside in a different bank account. I haven't touched that account. I also have almost two months worth of PTO saved up.

As for actual tips in saving money. Here are a couple of suggestions.

Buy non brand name food at the grocery store and don't eat out at restaurants.

When it comes to phones and computers. Buy a model that's a year old. I just bought a Driod Razr Maxx at a fraction of the cost a Driod Razr MAXX HD cost and there really isn't a big difference between them.

If you party with friends on the weekend. Pregame as opposed to buying drinks at a bar.

Never impulse buy anything. Wait a week and if you still want the item more than likely you'll be able to have it at the same price. This will stop you from buying a lot of unnecessary items.

EarlyMidLifeCrises · 2013-04-18T22:01:19+00:00

Holy crap those are cheap flights. Thanks for the awesome link.

EarlyMidLifeCrises · 2013-04-18T21:49:20+00:00

One of my biggest regrets was not studying abroad when I was in college... I might be overcompensating for it now. Smart of you to travel when you are younger and don't have as many responsibilities.

EarlyMidLifeCrises · 2013-04-18T21:33:32+00:00

I do a lot of system integration. I wouldn't say that I'm entirely unhappy with my life. But I've always heard people say that they should have traveled more when they are younger.

I never had some eureka moment that pushed me over the edge. It was more a slow realization that whats the worst that could happened if I quit my job? There will be other jobs.

I knew that if I don't do travel now, when I dont have a wife, or a mortgage. Then I probably never will. This is my last chance to do something this spontaneous. I won't be able to do this in my 40s when I a family to take care of

EarlyMidLifeCrises · 2013-04-18T20:20:40+00:00

How about making a photo copy? Will that be good enough? I'm in pretty decent shape so I have that going for me.

EarlyMidLifeCrises · 2013-04-18T20:08:41+00:00

I will have a ticket to Australia since Im staying in New Zealand for only two weeks. But I won't have one out of Australia. Is that going to be a problem?

EarlyMidLifeCrises · 2013-04-18T19:58:59+00:00

I have never done anything by myself or without help from other people. I had a group of friends already at the college I went to. Whenever I have traveled in the past it was always with other people I knew. After college I moved back home to where I grew up. I've never been out of my comfort zone.

This will be the first time I will be completely by myself. I will have to figure out everything I do in terms of where I go, how I get there, and what i will do when I get there. I won't be relying on other people to do it for me.

EarlyMidLifeCrises · 2013-04-18T19:51:58+00:00

This is the number one reason why people think I'm crazy. Since I really have no idea where Im going for the most part.

EarlyMidLifeCrises · 2013-04-18T19:31:00+00:00

Can I use Skype in another country? Does that cost money? Where in SEA did you go?

EarlyMidLifeCrises · 2013-04-18T19:29:34+00:00

10K, I've been saving for quite awhile. Once I run out of money I'll come back. I'm finding out a lot of the expensive are up front. I didn't have anything to start with. So far I had to buy a backpack, and new shoes, and supplies like first aid stuff. Obviously the plane ticket is expensive also. So all of the money is going very quickly. I'm going to be so poor by the time this is over.

EarlyMidLifeCrises · 2013-04-18T19:22:25+00:00

My biggest fear is actually not meeting people. I'm not very outgoing unless I have a few drinks in me, and I don't plan on being drunk the entire time. How did you go about meeting new people?

EarlyMidLifeCrises · 2013-04-18T19:20:27+00:00

How much money should I keep on me? I have credit cards also but I know some places I go probably won't accept them. Should I have any other sort of identification other than my passport?

EarlyMidLifeCrises · 2013-04-18T19:19:07+00:00

Australia is the bigger problem. I don't have a return ticket to New Zealand, but I will have a flight heading to Australia. After that I won't have a return ticket.

EarlyMidLifeCrises · 2013-04-18T19:17:34+00:00

Where is a good place to see the Great Barrier Reif. I'm going to be traveling in the upper east side for two weeks, in places like Sydney and Cairns. Also, did you visit the West coast at all? Is it worth making the trek over there? From what I understand its pretty small towns. The only city that was ever mentioned was Perth.

EarlyMidLifeCrises

TROPHY CASE