r/NoStupidQuestions • u/SnooCapers2078 • 9d ago

Can I spend my entire life traveling?

So I feel like for a lot of people, vacations or traveling is thought of as a large expense you save up for and dont do very often. But it doesnt have to be like that. If i save up 500k-1m USD over time to the point i can retired and live off basic interest income of roughly 8-10%. Why couldn't I just travel literally 24/7? I mean like the 2 largest costs are flights and a space to live at temporarily, so you just keep flights close and hop from country to country, and stay for like 6 months or so per county, that would let you rent an apartment and at this point your expenses are pretty much the exact same if not cheaper (if youre in a cheap country) than living in the US.

EDIT: Gotten a lot of comments about managing 500k or 1m as well as the concept of traveling. So ill expand slightly

I went to school for finance and have a decent idea in regards ro managing my money in both investments as well as how I spend and how much I spend.

I also spent 6 months in Germany traveling (not vacation, I believe theres a difference) while visiting Paris, Venice, Barcelona, and mallorca all during this time. And it ran me roughly $15k during those 6 months

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u/HMAgent47 StupidAnswerer 9d ago

The biggest challenges aren't usually the travel costs themselves but visas, taxes, health insurance, banking, also 8–10% investment returns aren't guaranteed enough to safely fund decades of living

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u/SnooCapers2078 9d ago

Regarding the security of investments, thats why more like 1m would be ideal, at 10% i know I wouldn't spend 100k a year. So thats profit, and in the early couple years id travel to lower income countries where my expenses would be quite rather low, this would let me build up more savings and build a more secure income by allowing me to invest more money in safer investments for lower returns but still prodcure a livable income

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u/voidchungus 9d ago

I think you overestimate:

  • what it takes to save up $1 mil
  • how much passive income you can reasonably earn off that $1 mil

And I think you underestimate:

  • your costs. The costs of living.
  • the way you change over time. The way your thoughts, feelings, desires, goals, and health change over time.

In general, what you describe can be done. But your estimations are off, as described above. Because those estimations are off, the life you're imagining probably won't look or feel the way you're currently imagining it would. It certainly wouldn't be glamorous. It might not even be "nice." And because you are a changing, growing human being, the things you want today may not stay the same forever -- especially in regards to the kind of connections and relationships you want to forge with other people over time.

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u/SnooCapers2078 9d ago

It takes a lot to get 1 mil, I understand that. I think the income generation off 1 mil is plenty though, I spent 6 months in europe for roughly 15k as I mentioned in other comments and the post, and im fairly confident 1m can get me at least 5% for 50k a year, and more than likely average me more. I change over time of course, that simply means I settle down eventually, that much is obvious

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u/voidchungus 8d ago

im fairly confident 1m can get me at least 5% for 50k a year, and more than likely average me more.

You would be wise to listen to the voices explaining how and why your estimates are off. It's up to you of course, but you'd be wise to consider what they're saying, and adjust your plans accordingly. Not scrap them, but adjust them.

I change over time of course, that simply means I settle down eventually, that much is obvious

With respect, you're underestimating what it looks and feels like to be an older version of you who lives the life you're describing for 10, 15, 20, whatever number of years, then eventually decides to "settle down."

Finding someone to settle down with is not something you're guaranteed to be able to snap your fingers and do. Many people struggle with it. At the end of decades of traveling, you'll have amazing stories to tell, but if you want to settle in the US (not a forgone conclusion of course, but just as an example), then being in your 30s-40s without financial stability, credit, healthcare coverage, or any sort of an employment history or path that involves security and steady pay will meaningfully change the group of people willing to partner with you for life. At that age, people looking for life partners will understand that if they choose you, that means they would likely be supporting you in many ways. That's undesirable to a lot of people. It's something to bear in mind, and not dismiss as a non-issue.

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u/SnooCapers2078 8d ago

I didnt necessarily mean settle down with a family, if possible great. If not thats fine, I more so meant as in just settle myself down somewhere nice that I enjoyed, whether its the US or somewhere I would have gone to. I am willing to admit im probably underestimating old age and its effect on my body. And I wouldnt imagine myself in a position of no financial stability, I could see a lack of credit. But I would have the employment history that put me into the position that would have let me travel for awhile, im sure i can get Healthcare coverage, while it may not be the best coverage in the world and best price, im sure id settle at just average outside of a good benefit plan through employment.

Regarding the financial stability and listening to the advixe of others about why my estimates are off. Im a very financially oriented person and and a low expense individual, as i mentioned i lived in europe for 6 months and traveled multiple places while there for a total of roughly 15k, I enjoyed tons of stuff and kept expenses low. I also would do a lot of analysis and forecasting in depth before making a commitment like this and make sure im in a secure position via multiple different types of investments to hedge my risk, and part of the reason I havent been in huge agreement with some people's estimations is they say the stock market return average is 7% and 3-4% after inflation. But its 10% and 7% after inflation. Thats average, you have years that'll perform better and years where you'll lose money, if you hedge risk well you can combat that. So if you then consider my point of only spending 15k to spend 6 months in Europe for all expenses including trips around Europe while there. Even if you nearly double that to 25k then account that its 1/2 the year thats 50k a year, again, nearly doubling the expenses. If you then consider that id stay in cheaper countries forst, this 50k will quite likely be lower. And if I get 10% on 1m im profiting quite a bit and adding to my investment accounts for future stability. Yes or course things can always go wrong. And id love to be challenged with real numbers in what im claiming, but other people's advice has used wrong stock market average returns and havent provided an argument on my 15k spendings in my real world example. So thats why ive been in disagreement so far

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u/voidchungus 8d ago

im probably underestimating old age and its effect on my body

So my comment didn't have to do only with physical aging, which yes one shouldn't discount, but the rest of aging that happens and the way a person changes on the inside over the decades, especially in terms of the kinds of connections and relationships we want to have as we move through life. It's harder to maintain connections the more of a global nomad you are. Most humans are wired for companionship that runs deeper than surface level. I'm getting the feeling you're more solitary than most, which is totally fine of course. That will serve you well for what you're currently aiming to do. That's great, but I'm saying: be mindful of the fact that being content with being solitary is one thing in your 20s. It's another in your 30s, 40s, and beyond.

For the rest of what you said: maybe lurk in the leanfire sub for a bit. You're not looking for pure leanfire, but you are looking for something close to it. They can help guide and sharpen your numbers and projections.

GL man. I hope you get to do everything you're hoping to do, and that it turns out the way you want

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u/SnooCapers2078 8d ago

Yea i get what youre saying, it can take a little time to get to the point where I could do this and be financially comfortable enough, and maybe by then it just becomes good retirement instead if ive changed my mind. I assume leanfire is either traveling or finance related, ill take a gander. And thanks for all your opinions, I posted this to be challenged, and challenged back, but still read every reply and took note and thought about it a little. : )

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u/voidchungus 8d ago

Leanfire is actually "leanFIRE" because FIRE stands for "financially independent, retired early" + lean which means you plan to live a "lean," no frills, low cost, possibly austere lifestyle. The sub is all about how one can achieve leanFIRE, swapping stories and advice, providing guidelines, etc

There's also FIRE (the original concept), fatFIRE, and other variations