I am currently planning a NOBO thru-hike sometime in 2009, and was thinking of little ways of getting some extra money such as consolidating spare change and collecting cans to deposit. What are some unique and interesting ways you funded your trip, or if you dont fall under that catagory, what are some different ways you can think of, to make a little extra money in your spare time? Share your opinions!
Sephiroth
I was recently startled at how much change I had in my change bowl. Every evening I empty out my pocket into a change bowl on my dresser. After counting it, I discovered that I had about 65 dollars in it. That was about three months worth of change. That would help considerably over time. Don’t discount loose change idea. Moon Man
tom bourlier
I hire out on odd jobs and handyman stuff to a local real estate rental manager, decent money with little commitment.
And I try to cut expenses. Walk or bike instead of gas, no cable, no cell phone, use the library for internet, turn the heat down, Coors instead of microbrew, no fast food or Starbucks, no CDs or DVDs–you get the idea. All that crap adds up and makes no difference if you’re a hiker.
(I remember wanting to get a car stereo fixed before my first long hike, then deciding to wait until after the hike. After the hike, I had no idea why I ever thought I needed a car stereo anyway.)
And look on Whiteblaze.com for Weathercarrot’s paper on how to hike the AT cheap. Great suggestions there.
Garlic
I paid for all my family’s Christmas gifts (good gifts for 5 people) using last year’s spare change. You’ve probably seen CoinStar machines at the grocery stores… they’ll convert a bucket of coins into giftcards (including amazon and cabelas, last I checked) for no fee, or cash for for a surcharge.
pebbles
Sell your car and ride a bike or take the bus, buy all your clothing and furniture at goodwill or for free on craigslist. Don’t eat out and avoid the bar. Cook a lot of asain style foods that you buy at a chinese owned grocery store (super low prices for healthy tasty food) Every time you go to spend money think about how amazing whatever your buying would be after you walked everyday for a week through cold rain (“03”) to get it. That’s how we made it out the last two seasons and will be out for a thu in a few weeks. Enjoy living simply once you get out on trail you will learn how very little you truly need to be euphoric for months on end.
Feral
I worked as a waiter in a restaurant for several months before i began my thruhike in 2004. It is a great way to make quick cash (cash every night), and you meet some interesting characters. Be gregarious, but don’t over do it, and you can easily make 100 bucks a night, not too bad for serving drinks and food.
Leanin’
This is some advice from that great section hiker, Henry ‘Bilko’ Thoreau.
Lead a life of simplicity and independence apart from social organization and material civilization. That will save you a ton of dough.
Front only the essential facts of life, and see if you can not learn what it has to teach and not, when you come to die, discover that you had not lived. You are already on the right track for this. It will not make you alot of money but it will make you a rich man.
Simplify, Simplify. It’s not so much how much income you have, it’s more about what you are spending your money on. As Garlic, Feral, Leanin’ and tom indicated spend less save more.
My final advice; get a job any job that pays well, work like a dog and save as much as you can. You can stay motivated long enough to fund your trip. And you will be a better man my friend. Good Hiking, HBT:boy
Henry ‘Bilko’ Thoreau
start selling plasma.
I just gambled to pay for my thru, but i suppose that only works for a small few.
0101
I worked at Starbucks for a while and noticed that an enormous amount of change would get dropped outside of the drivethrough window. I have since noticed that a TON of change is below most drive-thrus. Just a thought/observation.
I also get on craigslist.com a LOT to pick odd jobs through event/promotions companies. I usually make from 15-35 dollars an hour to do fun stuff and give away things.
windex