5 Ways I Make Money Online so I Can Travel

by | Jun 29, 2017 | Digital Nomad Tools

After figuring out that life as an Au Pair wasn’t for me, I was on the desperate hunt for a job. But without much time left on my visa and no experience as a barista or front desk agent, I found myself applying for hundreds of jobs without much luck.

Lucky for me I have a computer with pretty decent internet (most of the time), which allows me to make money online! None of these will make you rich but each of these sites has helped to maintain my coffee addiction plus allowed me to save towards my Partnership Visa.

Since December 2016 I have made over $1,000 watching videos, listening to music, and doing odd jobs I have found at these sites:

Method #1: Swagbucks – $245 since Dec 2016Make Money Online

Swagbucks is one of the most well-known sites to make money online and it is for good reason! Over the past year I have made a little over $145 purely by doing surveys, shopping online, watching videos, and playing games whenever I am sitting at home bored watching Ellen. It is such an easy way to make a few dollars while you are sitting around watching TV. I don’t go on Swagbucks everyday but whenever I am just sitting around doing nothing I check to see if there is a short video to watch or survey to take. The best part is I can redeem my rewards on Paypal or gift cards!

You can even earn money while on the go with the various Swagbucks Apps.

Method #2: Upwork – $1,645 since March 2017

Upwork has been my go-to for my new life as a Digital Nomad. After taking a few small jobs, (literally $8 for 4 hours of work), I started getting larger contracts. I personally do lots of data entry and web research for clients but there are tons of different jobs listed for anything from website design to voiceovers.

Method #3: Slice the Pie – $5.90 since Feb 2017

I love checking out Slice the Pie to see if there is any new music or fashion to review. What is awesome about this site is the all of the music and clothing reviews you write directly to help artists, record labels, and brands make decisions. Many of the songs I have heard on this site have ended up becoming hits! There usually aren’t more than a few things to review at a time but at .04-.05 each it is always worth a shot to sign in and see.

Method #4: UserTesting – $353 Since Dec 2016

UserTesting is definitely my favorite way to make money online. I started using this site back in the USA when I was saving to move to Australia and have since made over $250 from doing website reviews for clients such as AirBnB, T-Mobile, and more! You get paid $10 via PayPal for every 20-minute video review you complete. This site pays you out exactly a week from the completion time and it goes directly to your Paypal Account! You must qualify for each test but businesses are looking for all sorts of demographics.

Method #5: Fiverr – $0

(but spent $5 for help with my WordPress site!)

Fiverr is an awesome site when it comes to buying and selling services! I personally haven’t sold anything because I am just getting started with this nomad lifestyle but I have purchased various services to help get my blog up and running. For anyone looking to get started by building up your portfolio, this might be a great site for you to take a peak. (Some people have even made over 6 figures last year selling their services)

 

So my friends, if you are looking to earn some extra cash, the Internet has paved the way to more options than most people realize. Just by answering survey questions, listening to music, or doing your regular online shopping, you can earn real cash rewards!

[The Blizzard of Oz aims to inform and inspire you with recommendations of tools, products, and services to help you build a digital nomad life you can be proud of. From time to time I will promote certain products and services via affiliate links, which means I earn a commission for any customers we refer and in turn, you help to support The Blizzard of Oz with no added cost to you. Having said that, I take your trust very seriously so I’ll only promote products or services that I have researched/tried and truly feel deliver value to you.]

Linking at The Weekly Postcard, Weekend Wanderlust, Travel Photo Thursday, and more!

weekly-postcard-badgeweekend-wanderlustBudget Travelers Sandbox

 

Australia Visa Resources to Get You To Oz

Australia Visa Resources to Get You To Oz

by | Jun 14, 2017 | Au Pair Resources, Travel, Travel Tips

Get the Australia Visa that is Right for You!

So, you are looking to come visit Australia! Let me help you decide what Visa looks right for you. As an American coming to work as an Au Pair I utilized the Work and Holiday Visa ( Subclass 462). I am now in the process of submitting a Partnership Visa request and will post about that process shortly. Feel free to send me any questions you may have. Most of these applications are pretty straightforward but please be prepared to wait a bit for a response. (Don’t apply the night before a flight!)

eVisitor Visa – This visa lets you visit Australia:

  • to visit or for business visitor purposes
  • for up to three months at a time within a 12-month period.
  • This is a free visa.
Requirements

You might be able to get an eVisitor if you are:

  • outside Australia
  • a passport holder of a certain country (Sadly not America)

Visitor Visa – This visa lets you visit Australia:

  • to visit or for business visitor purposes
  • for up to three, six or 12 months.

The base application charge for this visa ranges from AUD135 to AUD1000.

Requirements

You might be able to get this visa if you are traveling to Australia:

  • as a visitor
  • for business visitor activities
  • to visit family
  • on a tour with a registered travel agent from the People’s Republic of China.

Work and Holiday Visa (462)– This visa lets you work and travel Australia:

 This visa is for young people who want to holiday and work in Australia for up to a year.

You might be able to get this visa if you:

  • are at least 18 but not yet 31 years of age
  • do not have a dependent child accompanying you at any time during your stay in Australia
  • have a passport from an eligible country.
Requirements

You might be able to get this visa if you:

  • are at least 18 but not yet 31 years of age
  • don’t have a dependent child with you at any time during your stay in Australia
  • have a passport from:
    • Argentina, Bangladesh, Chile, China, People’s Republic of, Hungary, Indonesia, Israel, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Poland, Portugal, San Marino, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Spain, Thailand, Turkey, USA, Uruguay, Vietnam

Working Holiday Visa (417)– This visa lets you work and travel Australia:

This visa is for young people who want to holiday and work in Australia for up to a year.

 

Requirements

You might be able to get this visa if you:

  • are at least 18 but not yet 31 years of age
  • do not have a dependent child accompanying you at any time during your stay in Australia
  • have a passport from an eligible country. (listed here)

I hope this list of resources has helped you decide which is right for your trip to Oz.

Keep in mind that for each of these visas, it is crucial to have Travel Insurance for unexpected cancellations and incidents. Thank goodness for Allianz because I fell down the steps while I was working as an Au Pair and landed in the hospital with a sprained ankle. All fees were completely covered!

 

 

California Globetrotter

 

Soarin’ Flyin’ over to Oz

by | Aug 3, 2016 | Au Pair

So here I am. Sitting at gate 32 waiting for my flight to come. I am surrounded by kids screaming that I hope I won’t be sitting around for the next 6 hours as I make my way to LAX. Finding the terminal was a serious struggle for me and my dad today. Fun Fact: Newark doesn’t have a place for Virgin Australia, just Virgin America.
Anyways, I am excited right now. I am also nervous. I am also really starting to feel the weight of my decision to spend the next 6 months 15,900+ miles from everything and everyone I have ever known.

It’s still pretty surreal to me that it is actually happening. For now, I am just going to relax as much as I can, grab a bite to eat and then take off in phase one of my trip to Oz. P.S. Children’s Miracle Network and the Make-A-Wish Foundation are clearly following me since there are ads for both around my gate.