Long before I actually started this blog, I started scraping my money together for a trip to S.E. Asia. I started my blog with every intention of starting my travels in Thailand, then soon fell in love with the idea of going to Argentina.
For a vast majority of my trip planning, I thought I was going to Argentina. I budgeted and saved my money for Argentina.
Then the one way ticket to London came up, and it was something I just couldn’t let slip. But now I’m left with a glaring money hole since I’ve been saving for an Argentinian budget. All of us know how expensive Europe is right about now, and if this whole debt crisis situation in the US doesn’t get solved, the value of the dollar is expected to drop significantly. But don’t get me started on that. Sigh.
What’s a girl to do who wants to splurge a little bit and not scrape by? I started applying for a part time restaurant hostess job almost immediately after we purchased the tickets. I have 3 1/2 years of hostess experience, so I just went with what I know how to do best. I went through a crazy 3 week roller coaster of interviews, 2nd interviews, and even 3rd interviews without any luck. Despite feeling let down again and again, I kept applying. It’s amazing just how much the idea of travel motivates and pushes you.
After 6 interviews, a few letdowns and antagonizing long waits, I received not one, but TWO job offers. To say that I’m completely blessed to find jobs in this economy is an understatement. I burst into tears after I heard the news.
So for the next 3 and a half months, I’ll be working part time, having my dolla dolla bills to fill in my budget gap. While working as a hostess is obviously not the ideal job for me, it’s all about saving the extra money for experiences. I know that it’s part time, I know that is only for a limited amount of time, and I know I’ll be able to splurge on the occasional 3 course meal without having to eat on a stale baguette for a week because I spent too much money.
What types of jobs have you had to take for the sake of travel? Leave your stories in the comments!
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I’m glad you got the jobs! I’m sure it’ll be worth it when you’re hitting up your favorite spots in London and buying another one of those chocolate martinis
Ohhh it’s going to be SO worth it. Every hour I work is another experience I earned for myself!
Ah shit, I should probably get a third job, eh? Crap. Well…since I work for the school board prostitution is out. I’m going to get through my 1st semester at Flagler and see how my bodacious bod takes this whole “back to school” gig before I decide whether or not to pick up another job. I already work 11 hours a day on the days I don’t have classes (and 8 1/2 hrs I do have classes) so my ass may be too worn out for another job.
Girl! You have a LOT on your plate! I think you might drive yourself crazy if you get a third job!
Congrats on the job! It is totally about the experiences!!!
Thank you!
Congrats on the job! This post is motivating me to get back on the grind again. I’ve been looking for a temp job because I too would like to splurge a little, but I haven’t found anything yet. I think I will continue the search even when the substitute jobs start rolling in again.
Thank you! Surprisingly, I got all of my interviews through Craigslist. Keep on going, something will totally come up soon!
I’ve just started working for an airline a few weeks ago and I’m hoping that they’ll let me do heaps of overtime once I’ve finished my training. The hours are so scatty that there’s no way I’d be able to fit a second job around it. :S I’m lucky that I’m living with my parents and they’ve seen the financial woes I’m having and are cutting down my rent by half (so sweet). I’m also not buying anything I don’t need and going to sell a load of my books and DVDs on Amazon to earn a little more cash.
Wooo! I can’t believe it’s nearly here!
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