Chasing Freedom on a Budget

Living Fully on a Hospitality Worker’s Budget: A Journey of Sacrifice, Struggle, and Triumph

I’ve always known that I wasn’t built for the traditional life—working a job I hate just to afford my rent for an apartment I barely live in, following a routine that never really excited me. Instead, I’ve craved experience, adventure, and the feeling of being free. But as a hospitality worker, the financial reality of that dream is a tough one. Living life to the fullest on a limited budget means sacrifices. It means compromises. It means setbacks. But it also means proving to myself that I can do it, even if it takes twice as long.

The Sacrifices No One Talks About

Everyone loves to glamorize the idea of travel, of quitting your job and exploring the world. But what they don’t talk about is what it actually takes to make it happen—especially when you’re not making six figures, and you don’t have a trust fund to fall back on.

For me, it has meant moving back in with my family when I needed to save, even though I craved independence. It has meant saying no to nights out with friends because every drink, every Lyft ride, every cover charge adds up. It has meant working double shifts, giving up weekends, and watching other people enjoy the experiences I was longing for. It has meant holding onto a job I don’t love just because it funds the next plane ticket. It has meant putting dreams on hold while grinding through reality.

The Struggle of a Distant Goal

There were so many moments when my goal felt impossible, when I looked at my bank account and thought, How am I ever going to afford this? I’d work myself to exhaustion, only to realize that I still wasn’t close to where I needed to be. The world tells you to chase your dreams, but they rarely acknowledge how slow the chase can be when you don’t have financial privilege.

It’s frustrating. It’s exhausting. It’s lonely. And sometimes, it feels like it’s not worth it.

But then, one day, it happens. You book the flight. You pack the bag. You step onto foreign soil, and you remember why you did all of this in the first place. That moment—the moment when the struggle turns into reality—makes every sacrifice, every missed night out, and every overtime shift completely worth it.

The Reality of Temporary Freedom

Travel, for me, isn’t an escape. It’s a necessity. It fuels my soul. But it’s also temporary. Because as long as I don’t have a way to make money while traveling, I’ll always have to come back and start over.

I’ve wrestled with the idea of making travel sustainable, of turning it into a job. But I know I don’t have the influencer personality. I don’t want to be on camera every day, selling a dream that isn’t always as effortless as it looks. I don’t want to turn my passion into a performance. And so, for now, my reality is this: work, save, travel, repeat.

It’s not the easiest way to live. It’s not the most secure. And it sure as hell won’t lead to an early retirement—if I ever get to retire at all. But I’ve made peace with that. Because if I have to work for the rest of my life, I’d rather do it knowing I’ve lived.

Making It Happen, No Matter What

I may not have a huge income. I may not have a glamorous job. But what I do have is determination. I’ve found ways to stretch every dollar, to prioritize what truly matters, and to accept that my version of success doesn’t look like everyone else’s.

I know that I will always have to return to work. I know that financial security will likely always be a battle. But I also know that I am living my life in a way that makes sense to me. And in the end, that’s all that really matters.

So to anyone out there who feels like their dreams are out of reach because of their income, I see you. It’s hard. It takes longer. But it’s possible. And when you finally get there, I promise—it’s worth it.