How Traveling the World Will Save You Money

Katrina Julia
Jul 21, 2021
8 min read

Give You Adventure, AND Help You Pay Off Debt Faster

As I travel to 7 Continents, I started sharing my travel costs and living expenses. I started sharing with Costa Rica, and I most recently Guatemala travel costs and expenses.

Spoiler Alert: Your mind may be blown to learn that traveling is costing me less, saving me money, giving me adventure, and helping me pay off debt faster!

Let me shatter any misconceptions you may have that I am already financially free, have limitless amounts of cash, and am paying $100s of dollars a night. Nope. I believe I am walking through countless spiritual, mental and practical lessons in finances to help you and others be wiser with money. I am working on financial freedom & paying off debt!

If you would have told me years ago, I would have doubted you in more ways than one.

I would have doubts, disbelief & fears too! I am proof it is possible with results the last 6 months!

Interesting that Dave Ramsey and Susie Orman don't share how this is possible to increase your freedom and joy!

Let's talk about how traveling the world will save you money, give you adventure, and help you pay off debt faster!

Insights into My Travels Since Leaving Atlanta, GA in 2020

Last year, when I realized my lease was due for January, 2021, I decided I would leave Atlanta, GA the end of 2020 for about two years. I donated a ton & put things in storage & bold leap of faith to travel #7continents #katrinajuliaxtravelsin the middle of a #globalpandemic

For 2021-22 I decided to stay in #centralamerica #southamerica these aren’t the only continents & countries you may make this possible friend!

I chose to travel to Costa Rica for more reasons than one. I spent January to March of 2021 in Costa Rica exploring La Fortuna, Monteverde, Manuel Antonio and San Jose. My next destination March to May 2021 included Antigua and Lake Atitlan in Guatemala.

After 2 countries, 7 Airbnb stays, with the average stays at each destination about 3 weeks, I wanted to create some stability at my next stop. My Mayan Jungle Cabana in Tulum, Mexico ended up being the perfect spot to spend three months from May to end of July, 2021.

How Travel is Saving Money Even in Tulum

How Travel is Saving Money in 2021

You may be surprised that travel is saving me money in destinations like Costa Rica and Tulum, Mexico. I don't blame you. For years, I read blogs and posts with travel to destinations focusing on luxury and budget travel.

With most of the budget travel, I found the experiences included staying in hostels. I didn't want to do this due to protecting my energy and for privacy purposes past a certain point.

It is absolutely possible with private stays to lower your living expenses over $700 monthly with rent, cable, electricity, WiFi, and groceries at a minimum.

How I Am Saving Money All Around the World

I have successfully lowered my rent every single month in each destination over $700 compared to Atlanta, GA. I have done this by negotiating long-term and media stays. For each stay over 3 weeks, I have successfully gotten discounts over 20 to 50% off.

With Airbnb, Many of these discounts are automatic when you put in dates of 28 days or more. With Workaway, similar platforms, and pitching press stays, I have successfully scored four press stays in 2021 coming up. As a result, my living expenses will continue to lower the remainder of 2021.

In addition, I have not paid an electricity and WiFi bill. With my Tulum, Mexico stay, I did pay $40 monthly for electricity extra and $20 for WiFi because it is satellite in the jungle.

Not only that, but groceries are over half less weekly for the week. When you use a bike as your primary method of transportation and/or public Collectivos, your average transportation in even Tulum, Mexico will be $10 USD weekly!

I am innovating in every way with projects, collaborations, and adventures by spending less than $25 weekly on adventures!

This decreases pressure with expenses and increases the ability to increase paying off debt faster with putting most or all of rent towards an emergency fund, investments and paying off debt faster.

I think you will agree is what is absolutely process is increased presence, joy, and living fully.

I am living proof you don’t have to wait, have tons of 💰or do things one way.

Pray, have faith ,think outside the box because there is no box, and leap and live a limitless life!

Highlights into My Transformation

The transformation from the inside out is not easy. Creating a life and business you love is worth the struggle, strength and satisfaction you experience along the way. Transformation is required to create what you love. Increasing your online presence is too.

If you are anything like me, you have challenges with lies, fears, and resistance. We all do.

It's called being human. Take down the mask, and put on the gloves.

Fight.

Fight for your freedom.

From the inside out.

It is and You Are Worth It.

Creating a life and business you love will cost you who you were and many things about your life.

It will gain you freedom, purpose and passion beyond what you imagined.

The end of last year, I took another leap of faith much sooner than I thought I would. I cast a vision to Travel to 7 Continents years ago starting the end of 2021. At the start of 2021, I spent almost three months in Costa Rica.

After travel to Costa Rica, I originally thought I would travel to Nicaragua. However, with both pandemic challenges, as well as logistical issues with flights, I decided not to. For years, Antigua and Lake Atitlan in Guatemala have been on my bucket list with travel to 7 Continents. So, I decided to take the leap. I am so glad I did. Guatemala surprised me in countless ways!

Like thousands to millions of others, I have visited Mexico before. However, Tulum, Mexico kept capturing my attention via blogs, bloggers and instagrammers like Tripping with my BFF, Christina Galbato, Aggiem and Christine via @tourdelust.

So, I decided to put Tulum on my list next for Mexico. I am so glad I did for 3 months!

After Tulum, things have lined up for a press stay in Bacalar, and Valladolid for a visit!

You'll be amazed at how low I kept travel costs and living expenses even in Tulum, Mexico!

Let's talk about Mexico Travel Costs and Living Expenses in 2021.

Travel Costs and Living Expenses in Mexico

I evaluated my travel costs and living expenses in Mexico prior to arriving. In essence, travel costs and living expenses anywhere in the world include your four walls with living, food, transportation and clothing. I substitute a lot of clothing for adventures.

In addition, I tracked the 6 Pack of Wealth daily including creating, giving, saving, investing, leveraging, and spending to continue to improve my relationship with abundance in all forms.

There are creative ways to make money and reduce expenses whether you stay somewhere long term and/or travel.

I am pulling back the curtain on travel costs and living expenses in Mexico in 2021 during my over 3 month stay in Tulum, Mexico; two weeks in Bacalar; and a week in Valladolid.

Mexico Stay Expenses

During my almost four months in Mexico from May 6, 2021 - August 15, 2021 I experienced three different stays across the country. My stays in Mexico included a Mayan Jungle Cabana Airbnb in Tulum, Mexico, press and Workaway stay in Bacalar, Mexico, and week stay at a Pink House Airbnb in Valladolid.

To give you insight into the expenses, keep in mind pricing will vary by season, length of stay, and media collaborations. In addition, prices are subject to change based on owner discretion.

Some of my stays were private homes and some private rooms as well.

Tulum, Mexico

I paid $600 for my monthly stays at my Mayan Jungle Cabana Airbnb. Keep in mind, this includes a 50% long term stay discount. In addition, I did pay an added $40 USD monthly for electricity ($40 USD) and for added WiFi ($20 USD).

So, if you thought you had to break the bank to come to Tulum, Mexico, you are mistaken friend. The place I stayed at is about 1 mile from Cenote Cristal and Escondido, and about 3 miles from Tulum Center. The property has additional cabanas and Airbnbs too!

Bacalar, Mexico

I am staying from July 22 to August 9th with a Workaway and Press Trip Project helping the owner of an outdoor, chic restaurant called Pico Flor with their business plan, marketing, social media, and menu with wellness ideas and more!

As a result, I am not paying anything for my stay! I will share more with highlights coming soon!

Valladolid, Mexico

I found a beautiful pink house with a private pink room! If you know, you know I love pink! For the weeks stay, I am paying about $150 USD. I am staying from August 9th to the 15th. I will update with images coming soon.

Feel free to find me via Airbnb Katrina Julia and look at my stays!

Let the owners know I sent you if you book!

Food Expenses in Mexico

I balanced my food expenses in Mexico between grocery shopping and eating out on average 1-2 a week.

My average weekly to two-week grocery shopping at local markets and spending about $35 dollars including oat milk, bread, beans, fish and/or chicken, and snacks.

Weekly, I would eat out about twice a week spending about $7 each time.

Last, but definitely not least I order Herbalife Global Nutrition monthly totaling about $40 to $60 for the month.

As a result, my total weekly expenses ranged from $50 to 65, and monthly expenses ranged from $205-$260, respectively.

You may find these foodie favorites via Top 10 Tulum, Mexico

Transportation Costs in Mexico

During my stay in Tulum, Mexico on average I have spent $10 USD weekly on Collectivos. Each ride costs about $1 USD in a small public bus. The majority of the time I have biked as well.

For some of my day trips to Coba and Playa del Carmen, I spent $2 to $5 USD one way for the Collectivo or the Bus.

From Tulum, Mexico to Bacalar, Mexico, I spent about $12 USD for the Ado Bus.

Adventures, Clothing and Souvenirs

With my adventures in Mexico, I spent an average of $25-$35 weekly on adventures, coworking and eating out.

Before my travel to Mexico, I fasted for a month with souvenirs. I did get some clothes online with Shein a great friend of mine shipped. Unfortunately, the items did not make it so I got to file a claim. I am getting the items again, and my friend Priscilla will bring them to me in Costa Rica.

I previously bought souvenirs for family that I shipped to Austria via DHL. Unfortunately, even though I responded to Austrian customs with everything they asked, they shipped the package back to Mexico. Mexico tried to treat the package as an import and charge me $1300 USD to get the package back. I have tried with different people with DHL and Mexican customs. I have prayed, stayed calm, and released it all. As of July 21, 2021, I have not gotten items back.

My guidance to you is do not have items shipped to you or ship items anywhere in the world. The only items I have gotten easily is Herbalife via their commercial agreements with shippers like DHL and postal offices.

In Tulum, I did not buy any souvenirs. My souvenirs are pictures and I will be creating phonebooks for each country. During my time previously in Guatemala, I took 21 days off to not buy any clothes or souvenirs. Before that, I spent about $70, and after about $25.

As a result, you may see now I have cut expenses in this area.

Travel Costs in Mexico

My challenge to you is to think outside the box with creative ways to manage travel costs and living expenses in Mexico, or anywhere in the world!

What I have learned is that the more out of the box I think, the more I attract and learn about new opportunities as well. More importantly, the more leaps of faith I take, the more my eyes are opened to limitless possibilities.

Are you thinking about traveling the world?

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