I’m 25 years old and spend more than half my income on vacations – I’ve traveled to 11 countries in a year

A YOUNG traveler is living out his dream, spending the majority of his days, and up to half of his income or more, vacationing around the world.

Although the globetrotter shells out $36,000 to $60,000 each year on travel, what looks like luxury is actually carefully planned and budgeted for.

Aamir Akhtar

Aamir Akhtar is an avid traveler and vacationer, spending up to 50% or more of his salary on hitting up international destinations[/caption]

Aamir Akhtar

Akhtar’s lifestyle is what is known as digital nomadism[/caption]

Aamir Akhtar

Although Akhtar spends tens of thousands of dollars on travel, he has also made a habit of saving money through cost conscious decisions[/caption]

Aamir Akhtar, a 25-year-old based in India, is an avid traveler, taking advantage of the freedom that his remote work offers and traveling almost every month, he told The U.S. Sun.

He hits up destinations that are mostly international, with recent trips taking him across Southeast Asia, Europe, and beyond.

Akhtar has vacationed abroad in places such as Japan, the Netherlands, Indonesia, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Belgium, Poland, Turkey, and more.

“It’s been my dream,” said the traveler, noting that last year he managed to visit 11 countries in 12 months.

A DIGITAL NOMAD

Akhtar is able to travel so much thanks to his flexible hours as the founder of his own company, dApp Tales – a job that is both fully remote and location-independent.

His career provides him with the opportunity to stay at each destination longer rather than doing short, rushed trips, offering him sufficient time and flexibility to balance work with exploration, he said.

The first thing Akhtar does when he decides to travel to a new spot is find a co-working space so he can get himself situated and balance work with travel.

Akhtar’s lifestyle can be categorized as digital nomadism, a lasting trend and mainstream way of working that has spiked in popularity since the pandemic.

A digital nomad is a location-independent professional who uses technology to work remotely from anywhere in the world, traveling frequently and using their laptop and Wi-Fi to earn a living.

MAKING MEMORIES

When it comes time to explore, the traveler said he prefers to avoid touristy spots.

He instead immerses himself in the heart of what each place has to offer.

“I prefer slow exploring, whether it’s cycling through a city, walking around hidden neighborhoods, or just losing hours in a café that serves local food,” said Akhtar.

Some of his favorite memories include hitting up festivals in Belgium and Turkey and recreating Bollywood scenes in Japan and Sri Lanka.

He has also enjoyed watching sunsets by the beach after snorkeling and stumbling upon old vintage shops with collectibles.

“I also love short treks, countryside drives, and visiting museums – especially war history ones in Europe and cultural ones in the Middle East where I can dive into Persian heritage,” said Akhtar, dubbing himself a “slow traveler.”

MONEY TALKS

While the typical person may spend roughly 5% to 10% of their income on vacations, Akhtar spends a greater chunk of his earnings because for him, travel is his default lifestyle, not an occasional expense.

The avid traveler pulls in roughly $5,000 to $10,000 per month from his business and spends around $3,000 to $5,000 each month on travel, meaning that he allocates 50% or more of his earnings to maintaining his lifestyle.

His travel budget includes not only flights and hotels, but also food, transportation, co-working passes, and daily living costs – all of which, for a year abroad, replace what others would normally shell out on rent, groceries, utilities, commuting, and more.

“Affording frequent travel isn’t just about how much I earn – it really comes down to how I manage my finances,” said Akhtar.

After doing so much traveling, he has created a fixed budget for flights, hotels, and his daily expenses.

He also makes conscious choices to reduce his spending, such as generally keeping his hotel stays under $57 a night, travels light, and relies heavily on apps that make his trips smoother and more cost-efficient.

One of his essentials is Truely eSIM, a travel-focused digital mobile carrier that keeps Akhtar connected with unlimited data at bundle rates.

“Since I’m a frequent traveler, I purchase their day plans in bulk so its cheaper, and I love that they have features like pausing data so I never waste what I’ve already paid for,” he said.

“Alongside that, I use other travel apps to track expenses, find local experiences, and make sure I’m always spending wisely while still enjoying the journey.”

The U.S. Sun previously spoke with a family living a “nomadic life” in their car and traveling Asia – four apples were $25 but their “expat” tip saved them so much money.

We also spoke to a couple who jet-sets every three months without breaking the bank, as well as travel experts who shared 10 top money-saving tips so you can explore without stress.

Aamir Akhtar

Akhtar has traveled to foreign countries including the Netherlands, Indonesia, Malaysia, Poland, Turkey, and more[/caption]

Aamir Akhtar

Akhtar saves money by carefully managing his finances and using a fixed budget[/caption]