In my twenties, I often left jobs to explore the world. This blog began as a reflection of those journeys. In late 2014, I embarked on a trip, backpacking through Central and South America. My frugal lifestyle allowed me to save $15,000 by living in a friend's small space for just $230 a month, making it possible to travel without financial stress.

Rewind to 2008: I was thriving in my journalism career as a contract photographer for a magazine, traveling shortly after graduating. However, the recession hit the media industry hard, forcing me to adapt. I seized the opportunity of newfound time and relocated to Australia on a year-long work visa with $10,000 saved.

Eventually, I developed a habit of saving money, quitting jobs that paid around $20-30K a year, and traveling until funds dwindled. My focus shifted to travel instead of a stagnant career. I managed to do all this with no debt, thanks to my financial savvy, which I detailed in my book.


Meet Alfred the Globetrotting Gnome, who has traveled with me across all seven continents. For his adventures, including Easter Island, visit his gallery.

My Journey into Travel Blogging

When I boarded a one-way flight to Mexico City in 2014, I had no clue that this leap would kickstart my travel journalism career. Life is often a series of defining moments that, in hindsight, shape our paths. (Without this adventure, I might never have discovered my love for Buenos Aires!)

At the start of my travels, I decided to launch a blog to document my experiences—how I saved for this journey, the top destinations, and budget travel tips. My intention was to inspire others and share practical travel advice that I struggled to find online. (I meticulously tracked every dollar spent, even creating pie charts upon my return!)

I settled in Panama City during the holidays to launch my blog in late December/early January 2015. My primary aim was to assist others. The idea of monetizing came later, starting in 2018 with affiliate links that barely generated any income.

Though my blog carries my name, I don't often feature in photos like many bloggers do. (After hauling camera equipment up a mountain, I'm usually too disheveled to pose for pictures.)

Shortly after starting my blog, a grad school friend at the Denver Post saw my posts and invited me to write a monthly travel column about my experiences, which lasted about six months. I eagerly added my blog to my byline. To my surprise, people began subscribing to my email list! This motivated me to post consistently and learn about email marketing.

While traveling, I frequently pitched articles to magazines and newspapers, facing initial challenges. However, this journey opened doors to AFAR, a travel magazine I had pursued for five years, leading to opportunities with other publications and the beginning of a successful career in travel writing and photography, including my first National Geographic feature last year.

Keeping the Blog Alive

As my Central and South America trip concluded and I returned to juggling multiple jobs, maintaining the blog became daunting. I wore many hats: writer, photographer, web designer, editor, marketer, and social media manager. (Creating a simple blog post took a day, while detailed guides required several days.) I struggled to maintain consistency, initially posting bi-monthly but later reducing to monthly updates, often taking breaks for my mental well-being.

It was also difficult to choose between writing for my blog or for magazines that paid. At the end of 2019, I decided to give the blog one last try for a year. If it still felt draining, I would close it down. A few months later, the pandemic provided me with ample time to focus on my blog. I'm not one to give up easily, and my perseverance has paid off.

Last winter, I noticed a significant and steady increase in my blog traffic. This spike coincided with Google's algorithm changes, which impacted many bloggers negatively but benefited my blog. (During this period, Google began prioritizing high-quality, user-focused content and interestingly, appreciated my detailed posts. For context, my blog already had a strong domain authority due to being linked in my freelance articles over the years.)

My guides on Vietnam and Chiang Mai have recently received 50,000-60,000 views per month, despite being over three times longer than the typical 1,000-word posts many bloggers aim for. Overall, my total blog traffic has surged by 1,318 percent compared to last year!

Envisioning the Future of My Blog

This surge in traffic couldn't be ignored, so I began updating older posts and enhancing popular content, like my Southeast Asia guides. By October, my traffic reached a level that allowed me to join a top-tier ad network with stringent requirements. The ad revenue, along with affiliate earnings, helps keep my content free and allows me to focus more on my blog by reducing freelance commitments.

I'm now a full-time freelancer. My income comes from a mix of editorial and commercial work [photography and writing], a part-time photo instructor for a luxury travel company, and teaching a one-credit university course on freelancing that I designed myself. I travel nearly full-time and save about 40-50% of my income now, as opposed to relying on savings like in 2014.

Juggling a travel blog is challenging since I cater to diverse audiences—my email subscribers, who enjoy my favorite photos of the year posts and practical travel advice, and my SEO traffic from Google, which often focuses on

navigating

airline status hacks

while traveling—and my SEO traffic that includes

two-step authentication

,

specific destination guides

and

eSIM cards

. Don't fret—I'll continue to create content for both audiences moving forward.

travel insurance reviews

This year, I plan to find a balance between crafting new content and updating older posts while managing my other work. Expect at least one new post monthly for my email subscribers. I've started outsourcing some of the more tedious WordPress tasks to focus on generating exciting new content!

Thailand's oldest national park and a UNESCO site, home to wild elephants, is on my travel agenda.

Ways to Support My Blog

First, I want to express my gratitude for your support, especially to those who've been with me since the beginning. You make this blog possible!

Share my posts! If you find something valuable, please share it with friends or on social media. (You can also find me on Instagram and Pinterest.)

Provide feedback. I love hearing from readers who find my posts useful; your emails truly brighten my day. (Reach out at info@savinghunt.com)

Utilize my affiliate links. If you're planning a travel purchase, consider using the links on my site. I earn a commission at no extra cost to you, which helps support the blog. You can find these links on the Resources page and within individual posts for

travel gear,

travel insurance,eSIM cards,

and more. I only endorse products I truly use. (I often decline offers from companies seeking inclusion in my posts.)

Booking.com

Support me with a coffee or a beer! Your contribution helps cover the blog's operational expenses!

Check out my book, Good with Money, for yourself or as a gift!