As the sharing economy phenomenon sweeps the globe, people from all backgrounds are finding amazing ways to make this incredible revolution work for them. From parents to college students, everyone can find some way to make the system benefit them.
One group that has become particularly fond of this phenomenon are the travelers of the world. These clever wanderers have found a whole host of ways to get the most they can out of peer-to-peer systems.
If you are one of the many people with a severe case of wanderlust, you may be wondering how you can take full advantage of this system yourself. In this article, we will discuss a few of the many ways peer-to-peer sharing, renting, and selling can help long-term travelers maintain their exciting lifestyle.
— Save Money —
- Couchsurfing — When you are just passing through a city and need to save a few bucks, Couchsurfing is the perfect solution. This room-sharing program allows travelers to find a free place to crash in exchange for good conversation, a meal, or a nice bottle of wine.
- Homeaway — Similar to Airbnb, Homeaway gives modern-day gypsies a way to find homes for short-term stays at a reasonable price.
- Outdoorsy — If you prefer to wake up in the middle of the woods, but want to skip the tent, a peer-to-peer RV-rental site such as Outdoorsy gives wanderers the opportunity to rent a home-on-wheels.
- Boondockers Welcome — Looking for an inexpensive place to take your rental? Check out Boondockers Welcome. This nifty system gives travelers a free place to set up camp for a night or two.
- Fon — Most people who travel long-term do still have to get work done along the way. This usually means internet access is a necessity, making Fon a perfect solution. Fon gives members access to Wi-Fi connections worldwide in exchange for offering other users access to their home connection.
- Trusted Housesitters — Another amazing way to stay somewhere for free, Trusted Housesitters gives the vagabonds of the world a place to call home for a few nights. In exchange for a place to sleep and eat, travelers are asked to take care of plants, pets, and mail while the homeowners are away.
- Spinlister — Readers of our blog are already well aware of many peer-to-peer car rental options out there. However, did you know you can also rent a bicycle? The Spinlister site is the perfect place to go when you need a ride but don’t want to spend a fortune renting a car.
- YachtLife – If you’ve ever wondered what it would be like to own a yacht, now is your chance. YachtLife gives travel lovers the opportunity to rent a fully crewed luxury yacht.
- ParqEx — Sometimes a bike just isn’t going to cut it. In these cases, you will likely find yourself renting a car from time to time. When that happens, be prepared to find inexpensive and convenient parking with ParqEx.
- Getaround – Any time you find you do need a car, it is a great idea to save yourself some time and money by renting from an individual through Getaround. Not only will you be helping your wallet, you’ll also be helping the wallet of another individual rather than a giant company.
- Turo –Â Can’t find what you are looking for on Getaround? Another great peer-to-peer car rental option is Getaround.
— Make Money —
- Homeaway — We have talked about renting a home from Airbnb or Homeaway, but have you ever considered renting out your home? This could help recoup some of the money you spend on lodging during your travels, and will allow you to keep your home throughout your long-term wandering.
- ParqEx — If you have a private parking spot or another plot of land that could be used for parking, you should definitely be making some money off of that property. Use ParqEx to make some income without ever lifting a finger. List your parking space(s) when it’s available and start making money. ParqEx is the sharing economy solution for parking.
- Shipt — If you don’t mind running errands for others, there are plenty of little odd jobs you can do to make money while traveling. One of our favorite systems for this is the relatively new grocery delivery service, Shipt. Shipt is a great company to work for, and you are sure to have fun shopping while making some cash.
- Uber — Another amazing way to make some money while continuing your travels is to become a driver for Uber. This ride-sharing program offers car owners a great way to make some cash no matter where they happen to be. Similar opportunities can be found through companies such as Lyft.
- Sittercity — Wherever your travels take you, there will likely be parents there who are looking for the perfect sitter. Take advantage of this by signing up for Sittercity. Just be sure to keep your profile up-to-date so people know where you are at any given time.
As you can see, the sharing economy makes long-term travel possible for more people than ever before. If you’ve always dreamed of taking the ultimate road trip, why not find a way to use peer-to-peer programs like these to your advantage and make your dream a reality?
If you want to learn more about the sharing economy, please contact us. We would love to hear from you!
