- Modern nomads choose to forgo traditional housing in favor of a life of travel and exploration.
- Reasons for choosing this lifestyle vary, such as financial freedom, adventure, or stress relief.
- Benefits of being a modern nomad include living on their terms, experiencing local cultures more intimately than tourists can, and making money remotely.
- To live this lifestyle, modern nomads need an RV or camper van, research and plan, save money and live frugally, and learn to adapt quickly.
- With the right motivation and planning, anyone can become a modern nomad and experience life on their terms.
The nomadic lifestyle is becoming increasingly popular among millennials and Gen Zers. It’s estimated that there are now a million people living this lifestyle. This begs the question, what is a modern nomad, and why are they living this way? Here’s a look at the culture of modern nomads in the U.S., who they are, and what motivates them to live on the road.
Who Are Modern Nomads?
Modern nomads choose to forgo traditional housing for an alternative lifestyle around travel and exploration. They typically stay on the move, going from city to city or country to country without ever settling down in any one place. Most don’t own a home, instead relying on their vehicle or RV as their primary source of shelter.
What Motivates This Lifestyle?
The reasons why someone would choose this lifestyle vary from person to person. For some, it is an opportunity to simplify life by minimizing expenses associated with owning a home – rent, mortgage payments, utility bills, etc.
Others are motivated by adventure, seeking new experiences and cultures while exploring different parts of the world. Still, others find comfort in escaping the stresses of everyday life when they hit the open road. Some benefits come with this lifestyle:
The Benefits Of Being A Modern Nomad
Modern nomads experience life on their terms—no more 9-5 office jobs or strict schedules that keep them tied to one place.
They can go wherever and live however they want—at least until their funds run out! In addition, modern nomads experience different cultures in ways that most travelers never do—by actually living amongst locals instead of just visiting as tourists. This gives them insight into local customs and traditions that can be extremely emotionally and spiritually rewarding. Finally, working remotely makes it easy for modern nomads to earn money while traveling, so they don’t have to worry about running out of funds while on the road.
How Do Modern Nomads Make Money?
The most common way modern nomads make money is through remote work opportunities such as freelance writing or graphic design gigs, virtual assistant jobs, online tutoring, teaching English abroad, etc.
There are also more traditional ways for them to make money, such as odd jobs like house-sitting or pet-sitting or working at local businesses along their route. Depending on their location, many also take advantage of opportunities to make money through sharing economy apps such as ridesharing services.
How to Live a Nomad Lifestyle
Living a nomadic lifestyle isn’t as easy as you think. If you’re motivated by the benefits above, you’ll need to follow these tips to get started:
Get an RV
One of the essential components of a nomad lifestyle is having the right kind of transportation. An RV or camper van will allow you to travel from place to place and have all your necessary amenities. Additionally, you’ll need a place to store the RV when you no longer need it. You can invest in a car storage area for it. They can take care of your RV when you’re not around.
Research and Plan Ahead
Do your research ahead of time about the areas you plan on visiting. Know what kind of job opportunities there are, what kinds of activities or attractions you can check out, and any other details that could be important along your journey.
Additionally, you’ll need to plan for the cost of traveling. This includes gas, food, lodging, and any other necessary expenses.
Save Money and Live Frugally
Living a nomad lifestyle is much more affordable than living in a traditional home and requires less money to maintain. Make sure you budget accordingly, live frugally and save whatever extra money you can. This will help ensure you don’t run out of money on the road.
Learn to Adapt
Finally, living the nomad lifestyle isn’t always easy—it takes a lot of mental and emotional strength to adapt to new environments quickly and remain flexible when things don’t go as planned.
Modern nomads offer an alternative lifestyle that is becoming increasingly popular, especially among millennials and Generation Zers. While it can be a difficult lifestyle to adjust to, it offers many rewards if you’re up for the challenge. With the right motivation and planning, anyone can become a modern nomad and experience life on their terms.
