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The Ultimate Frugal Guide to Traveling the World After College Graduation

By U.S. News & World Report

You have the rest of your life to work 40-hour weeks at a “grown-up” job.

Before racing into the world of 9-to-5 workdays, consider taking advantage of your transitory freedom and lack of commitments to travel after graduation. As most professions limit vacation time to a couple of weeks, you may not have the opportunity to travel for an extended period again for the next 40 or 50 years.

[See: 12 Frugal Ways to Save on Vacation.]

How to travel when you’re broke. If you’re game to strap on your backpack and roam the world, but hesitant because of the costs, you’ll be happy to learn that postgraduate travel can be cheap. Today’s competitive travel landscape means cheaper accommodations, airfare and food, and there are plenty of tips and tricks that can save you thousands of dollars on the road, in the sea or skies. Here are some insider travel hacks for recent grads.

Work or volunteer. It’s a big world, and lucrative opportunities abound for broke travelers bold enough to seek them. Popular work-abroad options include:

— Cultural exchanges. Check out sites, such as Workaway.info, where you can browse volunteer jobs around the world. These gigs typically provide you with free room and board in exchange for a few hours of work each week.

— WWOOF. World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms, or WWOOF, is another popular platform that links you with organic farms, where you can work in exchange for room and board.

— English teaching. If you have interest or experience in education, consider getting certified to teach English as a foreign language and teaching abroad. Asian countries, including Vietnam, Thailand and China, tend to offer a lot of six-month and yearlong opportunities for English teachers.

— House-sitting or pet-sitting. Sites such as Trustedhousesitters.com and HouseCarers.com will hook you up with opportunities to watch over homes and pets in exchange for free accommodation.

— Freelancing. If you have skills in areas such as web development, writing or graphic design, you can find freelance opportunities that allow you to work remotely from anywhere in the world.

Bunk up in hostels. Depending on where you travel, you may be able to bunk up in a comfy bed in a hostel dorm for less than $15 per night. Browse sites such as HostelWorld.com to check on pricing and reviews of hostels in your area.

[See: How to Live on $13,000 a Year.]

Take advantage of Airbnb. Not only can you use Airbnb to hunt down affordable accommodation, you may be able to use the platform to fund your travels. If you have an apartment, you can list it on Airbnb to land paying houseguests while you’re abroad.

Explore cheap transit options. Uber and other ride-hailing apps are available around the globe, so you can skip pricier options such as renting a car or hailing a cab. Better yet, learn how to use local public transportation, and you can get around for mere cents in many countries. All it takes is some daring and Google Maps, a good guidebook or a friendly local.

Choose the right credit card. If you’ve got the credit score, there are plenty of travel rewards credit cards that allow you to earn points that can pay for flights, hotels and more. Popular options include Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card and the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card for travelers seeking free flights and other travel perks. Just do your research to make sure the card will suit your budget and determine whether you are likely to qualify.

[See: 15 Financial Steps to Take Your First Year After Graduation.]

Where to travel when you’re broke. The world is a treasure trove of budget-friendly destinations with amazing sites to see, food to taste and adventures to experience. Below are seven awesome and affordable destinations, including average travel costs based on May 2017 data from Numbeo.com and Hostelworld.com.

Thailand. With sandy beaches, lush mountains and vibrant cuisine Thailand has been a mecca for adventurers for generations. Average costs include:

— Dorm bed at a hostel: $3 to $6

— Meal at an inexpensive restaurant: $1.73

— Domestic beer: $1.73

— One-way ticket on public transportation: $1.01

Colombia. Colombia is a favorite among backpackers with its towering Andean mountains, pristine coastline, deep jungles and friendly locals. Average costs include:

— Dorm bed at a hostel: $6.15 to $8.54

— Meal at an inexpensive restaurant: $3.37

— Domestic beer: 84 cents

— One-way ticket on public transportation: 67 cents

Morocco. This North African country is diverse and vibrant, with soaring Atlas Mountains, vast deserts and ancient cities. Average costs include:

— Basic double room (shared bathroom): $5 and up

— Meal at an inexpensive restaurant: $3.02

— Domestic beer: $2.52

— One-way ticket on public transportation: 50 cents

The Philippines. With more than 700 islands, formidable volcanoes and frenetic cities, the Philippines is an adventure-seeker’s fantasy. Average costs include:

— Dorm bed at a hostel: $8 to $16.06

— Meal at an inexpensive restaurant: $2.90

— Domestic beer: 94 cents

— One-way ticket on public transportation: 16 cents

Nicaragua. It’s less touristy than its neighbor Cost Rica, but Nicaragua wins over travelers with surfer-friendly shores, untamed forests and graceful Colonial architecture. Average costs include:

— Dorm bed at a hostel: $5 to $15

— Meal at an inexpensive restaurant: $2.50 to $5.54

— Domestic beer: $1

— One-way ticket on public transportation: 35 cents

Albania. Though the country remains largely under the radar of most tourists, Albania’s splendid beaches, rippling mountains and dirt-cheap prices make it both an enchanting and affordable travel destination. Average costs include:

— Night at a hostel: $16.39 to $21.85

— Meal at an inexpensive restaurant: $3.37

— Domestic beer: 84 cents

— One-way ticket on public transportation: 67 cents

India. It would take several lifetimes to explore India’s breathtaking and diverse landscapes, to sample all its intense flavors and understand its teeming cities. Better start now. Average costs include:

— Dorm bed at a hostel: $16.29 to $21.72

— Meal at an inexpensive restaurant: $2.32

— Domestic beer: $1.55

— One-way ticket on public transportation: 25 cents

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The Ultimate Frugal Guide to Traveling the World After College Graduation originally appeared on usnews.com

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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