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Writer's pictureSarah

How to Stop Paying Rent! - An Extreme Minimalist Guide

A personally tried and tested guide to quitting your job and travelling instead of paying rent.

1. HAND In Your Resignation:

Set an end date or a goal to leave.

2. END Your Rental Agreement:

Arrange for your rental agreement to end on a specific date.

3. SELL Everything You Don’t Need:

I mean everything you can’t fit in a backpack or one suitcase. You can keep a box and a suitcase with someone you trust, but other than that, free yourself!

4. PICK a Starting Point:

It doesn’t matter where, but choose anywhere in the world to start. You can use a map and a dart if you wish. (My first point was Costa Rica—my only options at the time were Costa Rica and Mexico due to COVID restrictions, so my choice was pretty easy.)

5. SEARCH on Worldpackers:

Look for opportunities in your chosen location and see which options appeal to you. If you can’t pick just one location, select a few and apply to them. Sign up HERE with a yearly fee of $40 instead of $50 with my unique link. (I promise this is the only thing you need to pay for to get started)

6. PACK Everything You Need for 6 Months of Travel:

Pack light, what will you wear on repeat? Don’t worry you can buy second hand clothing in most places or do swaps with other travellers when you arrive.

7. BOOK YOUR EXIT TICKET:

Book a one-way flight, train ticket or other transportation to your first Worldpackers experience destination. You can use the money you made selling your material items you no longer need.

8. After Your First Experience:

You may find yourself addicted and start applying for more opportunities, maybe in the neighboring country or a place you’ve always dreamed of visiting.

9. Doors Will Start to Open:

You will meet many travelers, and your mind will expand with new ideas and options for how to live rent-free in other ways.

10. Opportunity hop:

Jump from one opportunity to the next using the cheapest transport to each one or even hitch-hike. Work in places where accommodation is included, travel and stay in hostels, or camp under the stars.


Once you’re out there, you don’t need to pay rent. You don’t even have to leave your country or take a plane if you can’t afford that initial jump. You can start within your own country while working to save up the funds. You can work 20 hours per week in a hostel for rent-free living and then the rest in another part-time job if you like! There are so many ways; you just have to think outside the box and meet other travelers doing life differently.


If you feel there are 100 reasons why you can’t do this or problems keep coming your way, face each one individually. Focus on one at a time. That credit card debt? Set a date and make a plan to pay it off. Can you borrow the money from someone to pay it off and slowly pay them back instead? Can you remove the cost of rent and use that extra money to pay off your debt within your set time frame before you leave for your new adventure? Is there a sofa you can crash on while you sort out your finances and break free from the rent cycle?

Worldpackers is a volunteer exchange website/app that allows users to search WORLDWIDE for opportunities to volunteer in exchange for accommodation and food. The exchange can bring new family, friends and free training for jobs maybe you wouldn’t usually get to try!


Find what you love, find new friends and fund your lifestyle at a low cost in exchange for 15-20 hours work a week.


To sign up it’s only $50 for the WHOLE YEAR, but with this special link you have it for just $40 - $3.33 a month .. now I dont need to convince anyone that that’s cheaper than rent!


Sign up HERE and start your new life!

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