If you're sitting at your desk but your mind is off meandering across a foreign land, maybe it's time to give in to your daydreams.
It may sound scary at first, but with the right preparation, long-term travel can become a reality.
With the right budgeting and the help of a self storage unit, you can soon be seeing the world with your own eyes instead of looking at it through photos at your desk.
Take the Leap to Travel
Many people have a dream to travel, but few end up making it a reality.
You may be sitting at your job trying to work out how much vacation time you have to accrue before you can take off and travel the world. But the truth is, many times you have to create your own adventure.
If traveling long-term is your goal, look at what sacrifices you can make for it to happen.
For example, does your company have a slow period in the year where you can take unpaid time off and return to your job after your travels? Or are you able to save up enough money to travel in between jobs?
It may mean thinking out of the box and frugal spending, but once you're committed, you're on the way to living out your dreams.
Start Saving
At the same time you start planning your traveling adventure, you need to begin cutting costs and putting money aside.
Start by figuring out what your budget will be each month when you travel.
Of course, this is all dependent on where you plan to go. Although your heart may be set on Fiji, you may opt for a more affordable location based on the price.
If you plan on spending $1,000 per month and expect to be gone for a year, you'll need to come up with $12,000. If you plan to leave a year from now, you'll need to save $1,000 per month.
That may mean cutting out some of the luxuries you enjoy, like your afternoon Starbucks run or eating out a few times a week. But saving might not be as hard as you think.
Many countries are much cheaper to live in on a day-to-day basis than in the U.S.
However, don't forget to factor in any expenses you'll have to still pay at home while you're away. Although you have options for offsetting many of these costs, some people will still have bills for items such as insurance, a self storage unit, home-related expenses and more.
Rent Out Your Home
Saving extra money for travel expenses may seem like a lofty task, but there are ways to help with some of the costs.
For example, although your dream may be to travel indefinitely, you might not be ready to completely leave your home behind.
However, dealing with renters can be a hassle that you don't want to deal with when traveling.
Look into hiring a property manager to rent out your home. You can collect rent during the time you're away while someone else does the work for you.
A property manager also has expertise in setting the right rental rate for your market, so you'll get the best price for your property.
By collecting a rent check while you're away, you can continue to pay your mortgage and you'll have your home waiting for you when you're ready to come back.
Rent a Self Storage Unit
Since you're going to be traveling the world, there's no need for your belongings to collect dust.
Invest in a self storage unit for a secure place to store your things.
Whether you're looking to rent out your home or you're taking the plunge and selling everything, a storage unit is a smart idea for either situation.
If you choose to rent your house, you can keep the majority of your furniture in your home. However, make sure you pack any valuable or irreplaceable items and bring them to your storage unit so you don't have to worry about them.
If you're selling everything before you take off, there still might be some items you want to keep in the long run. Having a secure space for these possessions can give you peace of mind during your travels.
Put Your Car in Storage
Unless you're bringing your car with you, you're going to need a long-term place to park it.
Although you may be tempted to leave it in a friend or family member's driveway, keep in mind the long-term impact weather has on vehicles.
Depending on what part of the country you live in, rain, snow, intense heat and wind can cause rust and water damage to cars that aren't protected.
However, parking your car in a drive-up self storage unit can prevent weather damage and keep it safe while you're away.
When you're looking to rent a self storage unit for your car, be sure to check the area for any leaks so you know your car or motorcycle will stay protected.
Pack Like a Pro
When you rent a self storage unit for your items when you're traveling long-term, it's important to organize it from day one.
When you keep your unit in order, it's easy to find and retrieve items when you need them.
Before you start packing, pick one size box for most of your belongings. Although large boxes can fit more, keep in mind they are harder to move.
While you're packing, take note of anything you might need while it's in storage. Put these items in the same box and place these boxes at the front of your self storage unit.
Label every box, and map out where everything is. This way, when you come back from your adventures you'll know exactly where to find your clothes, bathroom supplies, bedding and everything else without feeling stressed.
Get on the Road!
With a budget, savings and your valuables secure in a self storage unit, the last thing left for you to do is start on your journey to travel the world.
With the preparations you've made, you won't need to worry about returning home by a certain date to check on your belongings. You can focus on living out your dreams instead of what's going on at home.
If you're looking to start your travel adventure and need a self storage unit in your area, click here to start your search.
