How We Travel the World on a Barista’s Budget.
My mom started as a coffee barista. Single income. Small college town in Wisconsin. No extra money. No unlimited vacation days. No mysterious inheritance. Just a low income and a very big dream — to show her daughter the world without going into debt or sacrificing our financial future. Nearly a decade later we’ve been to over 20 countries across 5 continents. Here’s exactly how we did it.
The Starting Point Was Not Inspiring
When we began, neither of us had any experience in travel. Zero. My mom had no unlimited vacation days, no extra money, and no backup person to help us out. No rich uncle. No winning lottery ticket. Just a regular income and a decision that we weren’t going to wait until conditions were perfect — because conditions were never going to be perfect.
What she had was a big dream. Three cities to start: Dublin, London, and Paris. That was it. Humble beginning. Low income. Not exactly an encouraging launch pad.
If my mom could figure this out starting from a barista’s salary with no clue what she was doing — the system works for anyone. I’m not gate keeping this. I’m literally about to tell you exactly how we do it.
The Wander Window + Flight Radar Method
It starts with a list. Write down the top 10 countries you’d like to visit. Don’t overthink it — just the places you’ve always wanted to go. Think of it like your world country wish list, but one that actually comes true when you follow a few simple steps.
Instead of picking just one country and obsessing over it for months, my mom and I stay open to all 10 at the same time. We don’t rush. We just stay curious and ready. It’s like keeping your options open — except the options are countries and the prize is actually going.
The second step is writing down when you’re able to travel. For me, this is completely set by my school calendar. I only travel during school vacation times — spring, summer, fall, and winter breaks. Yes, I actually go to school. No, I’m not homeschooled.
We keep a sheet with all my school vacation dates and use it as our tracking anchor. We know about a year in advance when my breaks are. So here’s the thing — and this is important:
I always know WHEN I’m going to travel. What I don’t know is the WHERE. Most people do it backwards. They pick a destination first, then try to make their schedule work. We pick our schedule first — then let the destination come to us.
Flight Radar is not an app. Not a computer program. Not a Chrome extension. It’s a mindset — simply how my mom and I think about booking flights. We don’t chase deals. We stay ready for them.
We track flight prices on Skyscanner or Priceline for all 10 countries on our Wander Window list, over 7 to 10 months, checking once a week. Yes, on a spreadsheet. I’m 14 and I use spreadsheets voluntarily. You could also just use a notebook. Either works.
Over those months you see huge price changes. Like “wait, did I write that down wrong?” kind of changes. The entire weekly tracking process takes about 15 minutes. Less time than scrolling TikTok, and with a dramatically better return. Whichever country has the lowest prices during your school break window — that’s the winner. That’s where you’re going next.
At some point, one of those 10 countries rises to the top. Prices drop — not “$5 off” drop. Actual 50% off. That’s when we book. It’s best to do this months in advance to capture the biggest savings. The money saved on flights almost always pays for the Airbnb, trains, day trips, and most of our food.
The cost of airline tickets is usually the single largest expense of any trip. By saving half of it upfront — through patience and the Wander Window system — we have the other half available for everything else. That’s how we never go into debt to travel.
What This Actually Looks Like in Practice
Last fall break — Mumbai and Kathmandu, two weeks — we saved $1,200 on flights for the two of us. That savings paid for essentially everything else on the trip. The year before that, Argentina and Uruguay — same result. $1,200 saved on flights, 50% off, covered the rest. Same savings, different continent. The system works consistently because the mindset is consistent.
My Wander Window is about trusting timing, being flexible, and letting the destination be a surprise. I live in that Wander Window. I love not knowing exactly where I’m going yet — will it be Japan? Croatia? Morocco? That suspense is genuinely part of the fun. Most people plan every detail six months in advance and then spend the whole time stressed about it. We plan the system. The adventure figures itself out. I’d choose that every time.
If my mom could figure this out starting from a barista’s salary in a small college town in Wisconsin with zero travel experience — the system works. It’s not gated behind income or education or connections. It’s behind consistent attention and a willingness to let the price tell you where to go next.
This is just what worked for us. Nearly a decade of it. You can choose to do what we did.