Saving for your trip can be a long process, especially if you don’t want to commit to a full-time job. I’ve managed to work part-time jobs to save up for adventures for the last three years, all in different fields. You need to find a job that will help you save for your adventure while still keeping your attention. Here are the best jobs to save for travel, as well as how to find them.
Hospitality
Jobs: Bartending, serving, hotel, banquets
Pay: Ranges depending on company and experience, but typically $2/hour plus tips for serving, $4/hour plus tips for bartending and an hourly rate for hotels and banquets.
Flexibility and Commitment: This also depends on the company, but be prepared to work at least six months. Very few establishments want to hire someone for any shorter amount of time. You will likely need to work three to five days a week for it to be worth it.
How to Find: Check websites like Craigslist for hospitality jobs. Also look on hotel websites or find them in person.
Requirements and Qualifications: Very little experience is required for hospitality jobs, as most offer on-the-job training. You may, however, need a bartending certificate.
Education and Childcare
Jobs: Childcare, babysitting, camp counselor and substitute teaching
Pay: Compensation depends again on who you’re working for, but substitute teaching ranges in pay from $50-100 per day. Babysitting rates differ by the family, but you should expect at least $8 per hour.
Flexibility and Commitment: With substitute teaching and camp counseling, there is a set amount of time that the job lasts for, so you know your schedule beforehand. You can also work as often or little as you like with substitute teaching. Babysitting and childcare are more structured, usually five days per week.
How to Find: Apply through the camp or school board’s website. For substitute teaching, you will need to go through an afternoon of training and get a background check and fingerprints.
Requirements and Qualifications: Some companies may require CPR certification or prefer those with an education degree.
Retail
Jobs: You can get seasonal work for big shopping periods like Tax Free Days and Black Friday at department stores. I also work twice per year at the Atlanta Gift Mart, which I’ve talked about in the past.
Pay: Department stores pay a little more than minimum wage, but wholesale jobs pay by the day, around $100.
Flexibility and Commitment: If you can find seasonal work, that has the most flexibility. Otherwise, commit to at least three months. Many of these jobs are every day for two weeks.
How to Find: Finding some of these jobs is all about who you know, but for department store jobs you can typically find information on their websites.
Requirements and Qualifications: Most companies require little to no experience.
Contract and Extra Work
Jobs: Film extra, events staffing, office temp, housesitting, petsitting
Pay: This ranges by job. Extra work pays around $80 per day. Events staffing and office temp work are subject to contracts, which you may be able to negotiate. Housesitting and petsitting pay little to no money, but often include a place to live.
Flexibility and Commitment: Film extra work is only by the day, while staffing work usually lasts a few months. Housesitting and petsitting varies, but can last a few months.
How to Find: Follow casting agencies on Facebook to find jobs, as they’re constantly looking for people on short notice. Contact staffing agencies for office and events work and check websites like Housecarers and Care.com for house and petsitting jobs.
Requirements and Qualifications: No qualifications are required for these jobs, but some companies want office temps with a knowledge of technology.
The job I had for the past two years was so perfect: I was a seasonal travel consultant, meaning I only had to work during high season (about 7 months), then would be unemployed for the rest of the year, during which time I would travel around with the travel industry benefits/discounts I got from having that job. When I was at home I could collect unemployment benefits to help with rent/groceries. I imagine there are several travel companies that hire people during high season to help with increased traffic, although I haven’t really looked into it yet. I’ve always wanted to look into that movie extra thing, especially now that I’m back in Los Angeles — following casting agencies on Facebook is so simple and brilliant and I have no idea why I didn’t think of that.
Great post – hospitality is definitely a great way of getting a wide circle of friends when travelling and is easy work to pick up!
Hey Caroline! I just want to say that this post is pretty inspiring! I was looking for ideas on how I can fund my travel plans for 2014 when i came across this blog entry. I’m thinking of getting into teaching for awhile since I already have a bit of experience as a substitute teacher. My other option is to work on a cruise ship. It will be hitting 2 birds with one stone, travel and work at the same time.