All prices are based upon October mid-season, not the winter low season and not the high season of summer!

• 2 beds in a 6 person dorm at The Colors Hotel & Hostel – 54 euro = $74.52
• gorgonzola cheese, 2 types of bread, artichoke hearts and a bunch of bananas – 7.50 euro = $10.35
• Metro – from Termini to the Vatican City Area – 2 euro = $2.76
• 2 Americanos @ Piquadroemme wine bar (includes tip) - 1.40 euro = $1.93
• entrance to Sistene Chapel (both at student rate) – 16 euro = $22.08
• Medium gelato near Trevi Fountain – 2.50 euro = $3.45

(two adults) Total – 83.40 euro = $115.09

The total is for Justin and I, two grown adults.  If you are traveling alone you can cut the cost in half.

Solo Total – 41.70 euros = $57.55

Save more money on lodging in a larger dorm.  We stayed in a 6 person dorm, but it is easy to find 8-12 person dorm rooms for even cheaper nightly rates.  We chose to see the Sistene Chapel and presented student cards to save money.  In some European countries if you are less than 30 years old you may be approved for a Student ID card.  However, even if you don’t wish to pay for museums, Rome has hundreds of FREE things to see and do, including the Vatican.  Which means experiencing Rome for $50 a day is easy to do.

How to travel Rome for $25 a day?

1. Self catering – nothing beats the communal meal, prepared in hostel kitchens with other travelers you meet – split the cost of the meal.  Rome is full of delicious red wine too!  Split a few bottles with some of your new friends, and sample a variety of reds.
2. Sleeping in a multi person bunk room.  The more people in your room, the cheaper your bed will cost.  Remember, you didn’t travel to Rome to stay inside, you want to explore and see it all!  The bed is just the place to rest in between your adventure.  We even wrote an article on selecting the best hostel for you in Rome.
3. The coffee is amazing.  Look for the small independently operated cafes that are actually wine bars.  They will have the best atmosphere but watch out for the prices.
4. Don’t spend money in the expensive zones – I really wanted to eat gelato while looking at the Trevi fountain lit up at night.  But I could have found less expensive gelato in Rome.
5. Use the Metro to your advantage.  A single ride is one euro, or purchase a one day pass for 4 euros.  They are valid for a full 24 hour period.  Plan where you want to go in Rome carefully, you can enjoy the Trevi fountain in the evening, and wake up the next day and still have 16 hours remaining on your pass to get you to the Colosseum and back.  At the same time, walking can be amazing depending on the weather.
6. Depending on the season, it can be hard to find a cheap place to sleep in the heart of the city.  Don’t end up having to sleep on the outskirts of Rome.  Pay for your bed in the morning, not only do you guarantee that you will have a place to sleep, but you also have a place to leave your backpack while you explore the city.

It’s amazing to know that Rome can be experienced with very little money.  Super cheap if you dare!

Various Lodging Options:

• Camp in a tent or a motor home
• Rent or own a cottage
• Stay at Bed & Breakfast
• Contact a University and sleep in a dorm room

Be creative with your summer lodging options.  Due to the economic stress in Michigan, now is a great time to bargain and play ‘lets make a deal’ with your lodging.

Michigan is full of summer adventure.  Many of the outdoor enthusiasts focus on water sports, fishing, and other lake-focused activities.  In fact, Michigan has over 11,000 lakes.  Growing up in Michigan turns most Michiganders into fresh water snobs.  I am one  of them.  Why would I swim in the cold, salty ocean?  When I can swim in a fresh water lake that doesn’t sting my eyes or cause me to feel dehydrated.

Besides the countless lakes, northern Michigan has endless places to visit and check out.

Popular Summer Places:

1. Mackinac Island – [pronounced Mac-in-NAW eye-Land]   Did you know that peanut butter fudge exists? Eat fudge, watch butterflies, hike the interior of the island, rent a bike and ride it everywhere because cars are not allowed on the island.  You can even feel like a part of history while going on a horse drawn carriage ride.  Not only can you savor the unique summer culture of Mackinac, but you can savor the food as well.
2. Sleeping Bear Dunes – Some of the most rewarding yet difficult hiking is found at these  sand dunes.  The Sleeping Bear Dunes very in color and size and they are vast and stretching for miles. While hiking the Sleeping Bear Dunes you might find yourself singing the Lawrence of Arabia soundtrack.  After a hot tiring hike, jump in Lake Michigan for some beautiful swimming.  Visiting the Sleeping Bear Dunes leads to a great camping trip, which could include hiking, biking, fishing, canoeing or any adventure you desire.
3. Pictured Rocks – With over 40 miles of National Lakeshore, Pictured Rocks will take your breath away.  Scientifically these sandstone rocks show centuries of life and lake activity.  Visually, there are so many colors and textures to the massive rocks that stretch endlessly that they seem unreal.  Take a boat tour and enjoy a tiny fraction of Lake Superior while enjoying Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore.  Camping is the main lodging option while visiting this remote region of the Upper Peninsula.
4. Sault Sainte Marie – [pronounced Sue Saint Marie]  Have you heard of the Soo Locks?  Here you will find the world’s largest system of locks.  It is incredible to watch the locks fill with water allowing large cargo ships the ability to pass through with ease.  Sault Sainte Marie also boasts a downtown culture with high foot traffic.  There are hundreds of fun shops, restaurants, museums and even an excellent theater.  Plus, you are almost in Canada!
5. Drummond Island – A wonderful place to escape into a secluded Michigan wilderness and relax for a few days.  Drummond Island is a tiny island in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.  Very few people live on the island.  However, enough families live on the island that their is an elementary school and a library, which allows you to borrow books, movies and even jigsaw puzzles for rainy Drummond Island days.  You can drink beer out of a mason jar at the local bar.  You can sit in awe at Yacht Haven as the majestic vessels come in and out of the docks.  Win brownies at Baked Goods Bingo!  Or you can walk through the woods and sight deer and other wonderful wildlife. Drummond Island is truly a gem, as many tourists do not discover it.  I hope Drummond Island remains a tourist-free treasure for years!

Northern Michigan is a great summer get away location for a family, a young couple or even a single backpacker.  As a backpacker, if you pack light enough, and appear clean and friendly, hitch hiking in northern Michigan shouldn’t be too difficult.  However, always carry water (or the means to purify water), as many regions of northern Michigan are very remote and desolate.

Although, we grew up in Detroit, in many ways, both Justin and I have spent our summers growing up in northern Michigan.  We each have amazing childhood memories of unforgettable adventures and exploration.  If you have never been to Michigan, I would recommend it.  Especially, in the summer!

1. A picnic in the park below the Eiffel Tower.  Avoid the line and the fee to take the lift.  Perhaps even witness a film crew and body guards following the “hip European boy band” we still don’t know the name of.
2. Savor each bite of your FREE croissants in the morning.
3. Walking through the Latin Quarter on a Sunday afternoon as couples dance in the street to their friend playing an accordion outside their favorite cafe.
4. Cimetiere du pere Lachaise (a big cemetery) was recently opened to the public (read: 200 years ago) and entrance is still FREE, who knows how long this will last.  Here we visited Oscar Wilde’s grave and counted the number of women who have kissed his large tombstone.  I lost count, but the amazing variety of lipstick shades, colors, and gloss is rather entertaining.  In case you were wondering, I did not pucker up, it just seemed to much of a bio-hazard.  Plus, have you read, The Picture of Dorian Gray?  It’s creepy.
5. While standing on Pont Neuf (a bridge on the Siene) we spent some time closely looking at the boats individuals permanently live on.  Look for the colorful rainbow boat, with the largest collection of rubber duckie’s I have ever seen in my life.  I even realized that these floating “households” have mailboxes build into the sides of the bridges, accessible only with a key, of course.  They wouldn’t want a curious tourist like me trying to steal their water bill.
6. Shopping around for the cheapest crepe in town.  Why pay 8 euros for a crepe near the Eifel Tower or Notre Dame, when you can get a Nutella crepe for 2 euros?  Oh, and make it look so delicious that a group of French photography students begin practicing through the lense with you, and your crepe eating husband, as their subjects.
7. Don’t spend 40 euros on a soup and salad!  Instead buy food, at the best bakery, cheese shop and produce markets.  Return to the kitchen at your hotel, hostel, inn or other place of lodging and cook your own gourmet meal for around 4-7 euros.
8. Walk along the art show’s in the evening.  We caught an incredible photography display outside the Jardin du Luxembourg (Luxembourg Gardens).
9. We also discovered a secret little park around Notre Dame that opens only Sunday mornings until around noon when they lock it once more.  You can enter, take a few pictures, and smell the roses.  Just don’t try to bring your dog in.

If you end up in Paris sometime in the future, I wouldn’t recommend trying to experience the same things we experienced.  Instead, have your own incredible Parisian adventure.  Be creative, have fun, and try to think less like a  tourist and more like a local.  But I guess that advice could serve you well in any location

After talking to locals, as well as a few Australians and Americans living in Paris for 3-6 months, we have discovered easy ways to live on $30 (USDS) or less, per person, per day.  And still have a comfortable bed, a hot shower and great food and entertainment.

For the most part, I like my job. It is flexible, challenging, and profitable. My job provides Natalie and I with medical benefits, vacation pay, and….did I mention it was flexible? Be that as it may, continuing to work, and traveling the world for a  year are mutually exclusive goals. So I needed to quit my job.

I do not like to quit things. Even when it is the right thing, it just never sits well with me. My current job was/is very good to me and I may want a chance to get it back some day. After all, it is not about about how you start – it is about how you finish.

Steps to Quitting Your Job with Something Closely Resembling Class:

1. Two week notices are for schmucks: If you know you are going to be quitting your job and your boss is a reasonable human being instead of freakish sub-human without feelings, than show your employer a little bit of respect and give them at least a 1 month notice. Your boss will remember that you gave him/her plenty of time to find a replacement and they will probably return the favor in the future your next employer calls looking to find out if you steal paper from the copy machine.
2. Bosses are like Girlfriends: Once again, this only applies if your boss is a reasonable person. Quitting your job to go travel the world is, although odd to your employer, a worthy reason to leave a job. In many ways, quitting a job is like breaking up with your girlfriend. If you decided to break it off with girlfriend and tell them that you want to become a monk who lives in solitude and silence, they will probably be upset. But, if they take you seriously, they are not going to think it is there fault and feel bad about themselves (even if they drove you to it as a last ditch effort to reclaim your sanity). However, if you tell your significant other that you are leaving and don’t explain why, they are bound to think it is their fault. Your boss is the same way. You are going out to see the world, not going to work for the competitor.
3. Don’t Be Illiterate. Put It In Writing: Whether you tell your boss in writing first and then discuss it with him/her in a meeting, or provide your boss with written notification at the meeting, disclosing your intentions in writing is professional. Remember, you want your boss to remember you as respectful employee not a selfish bastard. Clearly, putting your intentions in writing will not assure you of a positive exit review, but it will help your boss to remember the necessary information and it cannot hurt.

I quit my job about 2 weeks ago. I used the above methodology and I think that, despite my nervousness, the meeting with my boss was satisfactory. Obviously I have not returned from my world travels and I do not know how well this will all work out. I am not sure I will want my job back and I am not sure my current employer would give it back to me. But no matter what the outcome, I feel good about not being a selfish jerk in regards to quitting my job.

Increasing our income

1. As Natalie is currently working part time for Starbucks, we can greatly increase our income if she begins to work full time. To that end, Natalie has taken a full time job in Dearborn, Michigan.
2. In addition to working full time at her new job, Natalie will also continue working at Starbucks. Currently, she is attempting to transfer to a store in the Metro Detroit area. Starbucks is usually very accommodating but as her transfer has not gone through yet we are not sure whether working 1 or 2 nights a week at Starbucks will be a possibility.
3. As a consultant, I am paid on an hourly basis but I am expected to work 40 hours a week (so is everyone else right?). However, currently I am involved with several projects and my work load lends to exceed 40 hours a week. This extra money will be helpful in saving for the trip.

Cutting Expenses

1. Our current largest monthly expenditure is rent. Drastically decreasing our rent is a vital part of cutting our expenses. Currently Natalie and I live in Winter Park, Fl but we will be moving to Livonia, Mi in 6 days. As Natalie and I grew up in Livonia, the easiest way to lower our rent would be to move in with someone with an extra room or two.
   • Suffice it to say that Natalie and I will be living in my parent’s house (for a small monthly rate) for the 5 months we will be in Detroit. This will only work because during the summer my mother moves 3 hours north where she takes up residence at my parents vacation home. Meanwhile, my dad works late most nights and commutes to Northern Michigan on the weekends. In reality, the 4 of us will not be spending much time living in the same house. I point this out not because I don’t love my parents ( I do) but because I would not want our dream to inconvenience their lives. I think sharing a home with their son and his wife might qualify as an inconvenience.
2. The only other way to cut our monthly expenses is to live as cheap as possible. This means that we will not be going out to eat, not buying stuff we don’t need, and generally making every dollar we spend go as far as possible. (I will try to post some specific examples of what this actually means in the future.)

At the moment, this is all I can think of. in terms of increasing our income and decreasing our expenses. I know that the list is small, but the calculations show that these sacrifices (yes I know some of them are drastic… beer is not usually considered a need) will allow us to save the necessary cash to make this trip a reality.
Disclaimer: My parents are not getting divorced nor are they planning on an extensive separation . Although it is a bit odd, my parents do live in different locations every summer. Trust me, they talk enough on the phone that they may not realize that they are living in different geographical area

So, here’s a tip if you ever plan on going on a nomad backpacking adventure.  Everyone has some type of musical talent or magical ability (juggling, card tricks, etc).  And if you don’t you can learn something really fast!  I’ve even found a helpful Tips on Busking website.  Justin’s been throwing around buying a harmonica because it will travel light with us.

UPDATE 29-Jun-2008

Video Updated as per Hannah’s request.

We were able to check out some of the usual St. Augustine sights. The most popular, Castillo de San Marcos, the original fort the Spaniards built upon creating the first town in America. I was most impressed at how much we were able to experience for FREE because of the Pirate Hostel.

Captain Conrad, the hostel owner helped us to park for FREE a few blocks away on a residential side (Riberia Street). We were also able to eat Pirate pancakes for FREE. Go to the St. Augustine Lighthouse for FREE. And the Farmer’s Market was FREE. Conrad gave me a couple FREE grapefruits picked off the tree behind the hostel. And my absolutely favorite FREE element of our time in St. Augustine was “The Old Trolley Tour”. A couple from Colorado that is biking from the Keys all the way north to Bar Harbor, and stopping in Boston for their daughters college graduation in May. They bought tickets ($21 per adult) the day before (good for 2 days), and they gave us their extra passes, since they were biking north continuing on their journey. Justin and I had a great time hopping on and off the trolley for FREE. We were educated about various parts of the city and learned a lot about the history. At one point, we even hopped off at the Sans Sebastian Winery for some FREE wine tasting.

What did we pay for?

The pirate hostel – $40 total with tax ($20 per coed dorm bed)

Castillo de San Marcos – $12 ($6 per adult for a one week pass)

Sangria at Taberna del Gallo – $10 ($5 per glass) an awesome 18th century authentic tavern, no electrical lights in the whole place (all candles) and one local, a 50-something year old woman even busted out with an old sea shanty (a pirate song).

Pizza – $13.25 at Pizzalley on St. George’s

Total – $75.25 – backpacking in America is the most expensive global locations to navigate.

Daily expenses depending on the region of the world can vary. The most expensive places to travel range from $65-125 a day. The middle range of regions will vary between $35-65 per day. And the lowest price range to travel within (developing countries) can range between $15-40 a day. These facts were all taken from The Rough Guide to First-Time Around the World.

Overall, it makes me really excited to see how many random FREE adventures we may participate in as we live as nomad backpackers. I know we will have to pay for stuff all the time, but our experiences in St. Augustine proved to us that with only minimal effort, we were able to receive a great deal from the generosity of others. It’s very inspiring and makes me want to have a generous spirit as well.

So what was the hostel like anyway?

Well, Saturday morning I woke up. And I made my way across the coed dorm to the bathroom. I suddenly noticed that two guys were cuddling in a lower bunk together. At that point I looked around and noticed that all the bunks that were empty (the day before it was Lewis, Justin, myself, and a guy in a tropical shirt), now had guys in all of them. Well, I ended up being the only woman in the coed dorm. But I felt safe because Justin was there.

As I was showering I realized I forgot soap. So, I ended up using a bar of Dove that I believe came all the way from England. I showered in my flip flops as (just in case) I don’t want foot fungus. Overall, it was a stretching experience. It was a reminder of how parts of backpacking will just suck. However, I am hoping that the gross bathrooms, smelly guys that snore, and all of the other unpleasant elements of hostels will be tolerable because of the experiences and adventures that traveling offer will offer.

What I want to discuss is how Natalie and I are going to save money for a trip of this nature. Now, as I am a bit squeamish about publishing details regarding our financial situation, I will be leaving specific numbers out of this discussion. (Those of you with a voyeuristic interest in our finances should probably stop reading: no juicy details will be forthcoming  )

Disclaimer

This post is designed to demonstrate the following.

1. Natalie and I are not independently wealthy
2. With some hard work and common sense (and a few sacrifices), it is possible to finance a trip around the world.

In making that claim, I feel that it is necessary to explain a few things about how we look at money and about our current financial situation.

What We are Starting With

To start, here is a brief summery of our financial picture (I feel like I am writing an article for Money Magazine).

• Natalie is currently employed by Starbucks as a part time barista and I work as a software tester and technical writer for a consulting company.
• We rent an apartment
• Outside of computer technology and typical home stuff (i.e. dishes, flatware, books etc.) we own the following assets
  • A 2001 Toyota 4Runner with 104,000 miles
  • A 12×7 Hallmark Cargo Trailer
• About one year ago we began investing money into various retirement funds (IRAs, Roth IRAs, etc)
• We have paid off our (translation: my) student loans and we have no credit card debt

Natalie and I live a very simple life. In part, this simplicity is a direct result of living as Nomads for about 9 months. In terms of stuff, if it does not fit into our 4Runner and our trailer we don’t have it. (If you want more details about the Nomad America lifestyle you can read our other blog.) The other major contribution to our simple lifestyle is some great advice I received right around the time I graduated from college (go broncos!) Here is the gist.

As a working professional, live at the same level as the broke college student you were 2 months before. You graduated college. So what? A lot of people have shown that to be possible. You don’t deserve a new car, a new wardrobe or really anything new to celebrate. All you proved is that you are capable of going to school. During the time when you attempting to prove that you really are an adult, save your money. You are accustom to being broke and not having nice stuff. If you live that way for another 4 or 5 years and invest that money instead, you can eliminate your debt and create a solid financial foundation.

This way of thinking has proved to be a solid guiding principle and has helped Natalie and I develop a healthy way of looking at, and spending, money. At the same time, in order to save enough money for this trip (we are leaving in 170 days), we need to figure out a way to cut our expenses and increase our income.

In my next post, I will discuss, in detail, the methods Natalie and I will use to drastically cut our expenses and increase our incom

My brother (Philip) is getting married in Italy on 10-Oct-2008. Justin and I decided as soon as Phil and Amy announced their engagement that we should take full advantage of Europe and do a little backpacking while we were overseas. I mean, we knew we had to buy plane tickets, why not add two or three weeks of backpacking the Continent?

At the same time, we felt limited by the fact that we could only spend a few weeks in Europe. We began to explore teaching abroad. However, we were distracted by South Korea for a while and were seriously entertaining the idea of living there for a year. But then we realized that we would be stuck in the same country for a whole year. We want to explore and travel the world.

We ended up seeing a DVD called, a A Map for Saturday . It’s a great documentary that Brooke Silva-Braga filmed, edited and is now marketing. He is really quite a remarkable guy. I’ve never met him. But his film has inspired Justin and I to dream bigger, and really think outside of the “American vacation box”.

Justin and I are at the point in which we are willing to save money with “gazelle like intensity” (as Dave Ramsey explains in his book The The Total Money Makeover). We are ready to dream, plan, save, research, and then eventually GO! And set forth on a journey of budget travel, by aiming to backpack and explore various places in the world.

Justin and I are excited about the adventures ahead! We can only hope that this website becomes a great resource to others who dare to dream of becoming nomad backpack