When we think of vacation, relaxation often comes to mind. The goal is to get away from the hustle and bustle of the real world, which includes work, bills and other responsibilities. But maybe you need a little extra money in order to fund your travel plans. Perhaps you’re worried about running out of money while on your trip and you need a way to earn some cash while abroad.
Did you know there are some ways you can earn a little extra spending money while traveling? If you’re interested in learning more about how you can mix work with pleasure while traveling in a foreign country, read on for some tips.
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You can often buy souvenirs from foreign countries at low prices and sell them for five times the amount in the United States. Garments are big sellers here in North America. Latin America, Southeast Asia and Africa are the best places to buy souvenirs for resale.
In order to succeed, you need to be able to hustle and haggle. A love for shopping a knowledge of what would sell well are also must-haves. You also want to start small so you can get a feel for what sells. It’s easy to buy things, but not always easy to sell them and make a decent profit.
Think you paid a lot of money for your iPhone or computer? In reality, prices of electronics in America are actually much lower than they are in other countries. You can make hundreds or even thousands of dollars buying low-priced electronics and selling them abroad at a marked-up price – 20% is the going rate. For a $500 item, that’s an extra $100.
For the biggest profits, try selling your electronics in Europe, South America, China, South Korea and New Zealand. You can also try posting your items on Craigslist or another local site. If you bought electronics specifically for reselling, make sure you keep your receipts. There are no guarantees, so as a worst case scenario, you may need to return the items.
Working as an on-demand courier for a company called Roadie can help bring in some extra cash. Local gigs can earn up to $50, while long-distance ones can bring in up to $650. Occasional local gigs won’t bring in a lot of money, but if you’re willing to drive a long way, expect to make more money.
With companies like Airbnb, you can rent out your home while you take a vacation of your home. By renting out your home for one week during the busy travel season, you can earn enough cash to pay your mortgage for the month.
This can be a risky venture, though. You never know how strangers will treat your home, so you could come back to a mess. Plus, your vacation may be interrupted by guests calling you wanting to know how to work the heater or reconnect the Internet.
While you’re gone on vacation, you might as well put your car to good use. You can loan it out and make about $600 per month by using a service called Turo.
Like renting out your home, however, this can also be a risky venture. You can’t be sure that renters will treat your car with care. It could end up trashed. If you have an expensive car or a sports car, expect it to be abused. The driver may do donuts with it, ride the brakes or run it through puddles.
If you’re on vacation, watching a bunch of unruly kids may not be your dream trip. But if you’re in need of extra money and have a night or two without plans, babysitting can be a decent money maker.
Sites like UrbanSitter and Care.com can help you find local parents who need babysitters. If you’re a responsible adult and don’t mind caring for children you don’t know, then you can make a few extra dollars.
If you own a professional camera or GoPro and have a ton of followers on Instagram thanks to your photography skills, this can be a decent way to make money. However, you must know what you’re doing.
The photos must be of very high quality. Sites like Shutterstock, Twenty20 and Foap.com are highly selective. To start, you may make as low as $2 per photo or as much as $32. Not a ton of money, but the more photos you submit, the more experience you gain and the more money you can make.
Making money while on vacation isn’t necessarily an easy venture, especially if you’re in a foreign country with a different language and laws. There are some disadvantages and some jobs are better suited for others. But if you’re in dire need of money, the ideas listed above may be able to help out in a pinch.
