This woman has explored over 70 countries and has finally revealed how she ended up staying in lavish apartments for free while on those trips.?
33-year-old Sibu De Benedictis has been travelling continuously since after school and she hasn't stopped since. Since completing her schooling, she hasn't had a permanent place to live in.?
She has visited several continents and said that people assume she must be rich to afford her lifestyle. However, she says it's possible on a low budget.?
The woman, who grew up between the US and Costa Rica, decided to head off to China after finishing high school.After moving to China to study for a degree, she packed her bags and set off on the adventure of a lifetime.
Over the years she has worked out all the tips and tricks to get the trip of a lifetime without the huge price tag. This includes getting the best accommodation for free - by house-sitting while owners are away. She discovered a way to stay at the swankiest and most stunning accommodations - totally rent-free. Using an app called Trusted Housesitters, she pays for a membership, meaning she is able to stay in some of the most spectacular homes while their owners are away in exchange for keeping everything safe and in order.
She says that she has no plans to settle anytime soon. Not just that, she encourages people to buy a ticket for anywhere and travel because she believes in "experiences over possessions".?
She said: "There's such misconception travel is unaffordable. But money-wise, my number one priority is to travel as much as I can, even on minimum wage - it's just about being smart with it. Twenty-five dollars can buy you five Starbucks coffees, but it could also buy you drinks at a rotating bar in Baku, Azerbaijan, or a day wandering around Mayan ruins in Mexico.?
"There are so many things you can do or get for free too, you just have to do some research and pick your favourite. All my belongings are in storage apart from the suitcase I have with me, so I can go anywhere I want. I've been living off jobs that are minimum wage or less for a good amount of years now - I'm living proof you can make it work on a budget. The world would be a better place if we could all travel more."
After leaving home to study for a degree in China, Shibu visited up to 70 countries in total, and spent some time as a resident in Poland, the UK, Germany, Nicaragua and the US over the years.
For survival, she has worked countless jobs, including waitressing, pot washing and bartending. In June 2020, she decided to take the leap, putting all of her possessions in storage in Germany, where she had been based while completing a remote master's qualification.
How incredible!
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