In this inspiring talk, former stockbroker Tomislav Perko shares his journey of traveling the world with almost no money following the 2008 financial crisis. He explains that travel is accessible to everyone if you prioritize experiences over traditional luxury, and he outlines several practical strategies to minimize costs:

Key Travel Strategies: Transportation: Perko relies on hitchhiking, which he notes is free and creates unique adventures. Other alternatives include walking, cycling, or working in exchange for transportation on boats. Accommodation: He frequently uses Couchsurfing to stay with locals, providing a more authentic experience than hotels. Additional options include camping in city parks or volunteering in exchange for room and board. Food and Expenses: To save money, he suggests buying groceries in supermarkets or even dumpster diving for discarded food. He emphasizes avoiding expensive bars and restaurants.

Earning Money on the Road: While traveling, Perko occasionally earned money through busking or by taking short-term manual labor jobs, such as his experience as a traffic diverter in Australia, which allowed him to fund months of travel with just two weeks of work.

Core Life Lessons: Overcoming Prejudice: Perko highlights his realization that the world is often less dangerous than media or societal fears suggest. He shares anecdotes about how people in different countries often share similar, often unfounded, warnings about their neighbors. The Return Home: He discusses the challenge of reintegrating into normal life, offering three options: returning to the old lifestyle, becoming a perpetual traveler, or finding a balance by maintaining the “intensity” of travel while living in one place.

Ultimately, Perko encourages viewers to act on their gut feelings and move past the fear of being “broke” to pursue their dreams, concluding with the sentiment that in 20 years, we are more likely to regret the things we didn’t do than the things we did.