Karina Stathis Daily Mail Australia 2024-07-07 16:26, updated 2024-07-07 16:39
A young couple is leaving Australia and the rising cost of living behind to see the world.
Brittany Trovarelli and Mitchell Taylor, both 28, from Melbourne, left their nine-to-five jobs and set off on an indefinite trip in February.
It's a lifestyle that's a dream for most Australians, with high interest rates and stagnant wages putting added strain on personal finances.
Speaking to FEMAIL, the couple said they had to make sacrifices over the years to save up money for their overseas trip.
They worked two jobs and lived with roommates for 12 months to help pay the mortgage, then moved in with Mitch's parents for five months to save up.
At the time, Brittany was running a business called Caked Melbourne and Mitchell was working as a graphic designer for an international video game company.
The couple, who now rent out their Melbourne home, describe themselves as full-time travellers who are “occupationally unemployed”.
The couple had originally planned to take a six-month trip in 2020, but COVID-19 prevented them from going ahead with it.
Brittany Trovarelli and Mitchell Taylor, both 28, from Melbourne, quit their nine-to-five jobs to set off on an indefinite journey in February, visiting the Philippines, Vietnam, Cambodia, Sri Lanka, the United Arab Emirates and Turkey before just arriving in Italy.
“This is the best decision we ever made and I wish we had made it sooner. It has opened up a new perspective on life in Australia and life overseas. It feels like a dream but it's just everyday life,” Brittany said.
So far, the pair have travelled to the Philippines, Vietnam, Cambodia, Sri Lanka, the United Arab Emirates and Turkey, and have just arrived in Italy.
They plan to stay in Europe for the next few months before heading to the US.
To supplement their travel expenses while on the road, Brittany and Mitch run several online stores selling digital products, partner with brands and hotels, and create content on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube under the name @brittandmitchworldwide.
The couple are keeping quiet about the remaining balance on their mortgage in Melbourne but are happy to have found tenants who will help them make payments while they travel.
It's a lifestyle most Australians can only dream of, with high interest rates and stagnant wages putting further strain on personal finances. To fund their travels, they're running several online stores selling digital products, partnering with brands and hotels, and even creating content for Instagram, TikTok and YouTube.
During their trip in Asia, they spent $60 per day, including food, accommodation, transportation, and activities.
Other destinations, such as Europe and London, are much more expensive, costing more than $100 per day.
Looking at Australia from the outside now, the couple say they can't believe how serious the cost of living crisis has become.
“More and more of our friends are starting side hustles or second jobs to make a little extra money, which seems to be a necessity these days,” Brittany says.
Despite the bleak economic situation in their home country, the couple plans to return home in September 2025.
During their trip in Asia, they spent $60 per day, including food, accommodation, transportation, and activities.
One of the most difficult parts of this round-the-world adventure wasn't the language barrier or money, but living out of a backpack.
“We are sick of our clothes! We also really miss our friends and family. We've made so many great friends while traveling, but we usually only stay with them for a day or so before moving on to another destination,” Brittany said.
“I've faced several other challenges, like finding the right travel card and insurance, and I'm always looking for ways to make money while I'm traveling.”
The couple manages their budget by choosing free or inexpensive activities.
“It can be hard to avoid falling into the trap of doing everything ourselves, but we also need to consider the costs of everything we do,” Brittany added.
“For example, whenever possible we try to choose cheaper activities like hikes, days at the beach and walks around town rather than boat trips and excursions.”
“We're cutting back on alcohol a lot, eating out only once a day and spending the rest of the day grocery shopping. We try to remind ourselves that a long trip isn't the same as a vacation.”
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