Worldschooling Costs: Types of Expenses and How to Save

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We spend a lot of time in our book Wonder Year and this blog addressing how to bring money in for travel. Let’s also talk about how money will go out.

 

Full-time travel necessitates a shift in priorities and spending habits. Many families are surprised to find that, although they are bringing in only a fraction of their usual income, they are able to make it work because expenses are lower and their spending habits are relatively simple to change. They naturally buy less when both luggage and living space are limited. They also realize that although sacrifices are sometimes necessary, the benefits gained are worth it.

 

That said, travel expenses shouldn’t be underestimated. Here we review the types of costs you might encounter along the way.

Types of Worldschooling Expenses

Every family’s expenses will be different, but at a minimum, you’ll want to consider and plan for these categories:

  • Expenses back at home (dwelling, storage, insurance, pets, etc.)
  • Transportation
  • Travel-related matters (immunizations, visas, and the like)
  • Accommodations
  • Food
  • Medical (prescriptions, supplies, emergencies)
  • Educational programs and activities

 

Some good news: A lot of expenses you are accustomed to at home may go away while you are traveling, including utilities, water use, vehicle maintenance, summer camps, sports programs, babysitters, music lessons, gym memberships, other recurring fees (like monthly subscriptions), and the ubiquitous costs of convenience.

 

Here are some tips for reducing costs on the road, several of which are discussed further in Wonder Year:

  • Be flexible with your transportation plans—sometimes you can find significant savings just by adjusting things by a few days, taking an earlier departure, or adding a connection.
  • Look for less expensive accommodations. There are many, many options for places to rest your heads, including campsites, free land, long-term rentals, house sitting, hostels, couchsurfing, and more (see the resources section for more details). Visit those far-flung family and friends you’ve been missing.
  • As you prepare for your trip, you’ll read it again and again: pack light. In some countries, the cost of checking a bag can be nearly as much as the price of your plane ticket. Paring things down can save money.
  • Similarly, don’t purchase too many items for your travels. Many families find that they overprepare and bring things they simply don’t need once they are on the ground.
  • Cook at “home”; this can yield big savings. Kids’ finicky appetites can make restaurants a low return on investment, and eating out can quickly put a big dent in your budget. You can often enjoy local cuisine by visiting markets and preparing food on your own. Similarly, pack meals for full-day outings.
  • If you’re traveling internationally, consider buying a local SIM card for your phone and paying as you go. In many cases, this will lower your costs quite a bit. If you need cellular coverage, using your plan from home can quickly rack up significant charges.
  • Be aware of what you are paying to manage your assets. Are you paying market rates for your property manager? Can you prepare your own taxes using software?
  • If you are working while traveling, note anything you are using for business purposes that you can claim as a tax write-off (cell phone, Wi-Fi, etc.).
  • If you took out loans for travel or any other reason, check into adjusting your payment schedule based on income.
  • Take public transportation. Not only can you save some coin, but you’ll also meet more locals.
  • Be aware of tour and activity costs. There are excursions—snorkeling/scuba-diving trips, delicate ecological sites like glaciers or animal sanctuaries—you should only visit with a guide. For most other places, you’ll be able to put together your own itinerary for significantly lower cost. Perhaps your children can do research online and be your guides. Choose activities that don’t charge fees, like hiking, browsing farmers markets, visiting natural sites, or exploring a city on foot. Museums often have free admission days, and hotels might offer complimentary kids’ camps; you can also find online travel guides that provide self-directed tours.
  • Track your expenses. It’s easier to understand what you measure, and recording your expenses can help keep costs down. A working budget is also a great teaching tool for kids.

 

As full-timers, you can travel during the off-season when transportation bookings and accommodations cost notably less. It’s possible to be a lot more flexible with dates given that you aren’t scheduling as tightly around work or school commitments, so you can shop around for transportation and lodging deals (this also makes things less stressful, as you aren’t fighting the crowds). In addition, you won’t need to budget for vacations!

Contingency Planning

In addition to your Plan A, we encourage you to have contingency plans in case the world deals you an unexpected blow. Doing a bit of scenario planning in advance and having a backup plan can provide peace of mind up front, and potentially welcome relief if it’s ever needed.

 

Lee Strongwater, a financial advisor and partner at Colorado Capital Management, provides a few specific pieces of advice for long-term travelers:

* Build a medical safety net fund, with consideration for what your insurance will and won’t cover. Hopefully, you’ll never need it, but it’s smart to be ready for the worst-case scenario.

* Budget for living expenses after you return, to cover the time you may need to spend looking for employment, a new home, or other essentials.

* Things most likely will cost more than you think. Pad your budget accordingly.

Some Words of Encouragement

Remember, it doesn’t have to be all or nothing. If you can’t travel full time (yet!), take shorter trips, read about far-off places, save your “someday” ideas as inspiration, host exchange students, and incorporate a worldview into your education plan. And, although easier said than done, we encourage you to do your best not to compare your experience with that of other families. Every experience is unique, and any type of worldschooling can be amazing. Keep your values in mind, and make the most of your version.