Studenomics reader Wilhelm asked me for advice on how he should invest the $100 a month he saves.
I started looking over what I do with my money and my different investment vehicles. After a few minutes I realized that I didn’t want to put together an investment article where I pretend to be an expert about where to put money. Instead I decided to think outside the box.
It’s been a really long time since I have posted an edition of outside the box thinking at Studenomics. So here is my advice on what you can do with the money you save as a college student:
Use the $100 a month you save as a college student to travel some where you have always wanted to go in the world once you graduate.
This is the one time in your life where you can drop everything and go. Sure I could have written an article highly optimized for search engines about certain bank accounts or I could have written about the million investment options out there. Instead I wanted to tell you guys to think outside the box today and put aside a little bit of money each month to travel the world after your college graduation:
See the world by Couch Surfing
Baker wrote about how you can use CouchSurfing to the world and it really got me thinking. CouchSurfing is a social networking site that allows you to host travelers that you connect with online. Not only can you choose to host a traveler but you can also find someone to host you in countries all over the world.
CouchSurfing is perfect because your biggest expenses now becomes the flight and not the hotel accommodations. Sure you may be required to help out around the home you stay at or something along those lines. It is well worth the money you can save.
Afraid of going into a strangers home? CouchSurfing has references and hosts are registered with the company. Apparently it’s very safe and I’ve heard nothing but positive reviews from people that have tried it. My goal is to give this a try in a few years. What do you guys think about this option to see the world?
Travel to an all inclusive resort
All of my trips except for one have consisted of staying at an all inclusive resort. Even $20-50 a month after a years will be enough to send you on a nice all inclusive vacation down south. Whether you want to enjoy the 7 mile white sand beach in Negril, go snorkeling in Cayo Coco, or have a few drinks in Punta Cana, there is a package that will meet your demands.
These types of trips are typically shorter due to the price. However, you can pack tons of fun and adventure into the short period of time you are there. You can drink your liver dry, you can travel around the area with the locals, you can go scuba diving, and anything else that you may want to try.
Back pack through Europe
A classic option for most college graduates is to go backpacking through Europe. From most stories I have heard the backpacker just books a flight to a random city in Europe and brings enough money to get around for a specific amount of time.
You don’t think you have enough money saved? No problem. You can always pick up odd jobs along the way. This can be the most spontaneous (perhaps outside the box?) thing that you ever do in your life. Once college is done you deserve to get away from the formal structure in life and let loose.
Just remember that when you come back from one of these trips after your college graduation that the job hunt begins. That’s why it’s important to have as much fun as possible after college because once you start your career it’s unlikely that you’ll have this much spare time again.
photos: 365bunnies, vagabond, mjrm
{ 1 trackback }
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
I was lucky to backpack the middle east after college and loved it. Anyone who has the opportunity to travel should. I have never used couchsurfing but my friend has a few times and enjoyed the experience, even has a new girlfriend out of it.
This “he” is actually a “she”! And that is a fun, out-of-the-box idea