Gen Z Student Works Holiday Jobs To Travel, Gains A New Side Hustle & Travels For Free | Money Mind

Jaden Chu: From Odd Jobs to Content Creation While Backpacking

Key Concepts: Solo backpacking, ad hoc jobs, budget travel, content creation, TikTok influencer, sponsorships, financial independence, Singaporean mindset on travel, side hustle, stability.

Early Solo Backpacking & Funding Through Odd Jobs

Jaden Chu, a Singaporean, began solo backpacking at 19, initially easing into it with group trips before venturing out alone. Her parents didn't approve of her travels, so she funded her trips independently by working ad hoc jobs like serving wine at hotels, cleaning, and packing. She would dedicate the first two weeks of her school breaks to working and the other two to traveling.

• Earning & Spending: Jaden earned $12-$13 per hour and aimed for 10-hour shifts to make around $100 per day, working 3-4 days a week to accumulate $800 within two weeks. This $800 could fund a two-week trip to Thailand on a tight budget.
• Budgeting: A round-trip flight to Singapore cost about $200 (max $300). Hostels cost $10-$15 per night ($200 for two weeks). Food was budgeted at $3-$4 per meal, and going out at around $10 per day, totaling less than $50 per day.
• Cost-Saving Strategies: Jaden ate at markets to avoid restaurants, shared rooms in hostels (sometimes with up to 20 people), and avoided checked baggage to save $60-$70 per flight.
• Financial Cycle: She would spend all her earned money on trips, sometimes borrowing from her sister for return flights and then repaying her before saving for the next trip.

Transition to Content Creation

In late 2023, a conversation with a TikTok influencer friend revealed the potential of content creation. The influencer was earning "a few hundred" for one video, which made Jaden reflect on the "10 hours" she spent to make "$100". This inspired her to create content while traveling, offering a more lucrative and flexible income stream.

• Motivation: Content creation offered the potential for "solid income" with "less time" commitment, allowing her to work while studying and traveling.
• Content Focus: Jaden's content focused on backpacking, aiming to change the "Singaporean mindset of what backpacking really is."
• Impact: She gained over 20,000 followers, and many viewers messaged her saying her videos inspired them to try solo travel.
• Benefits: She enjoyed the autonomy of being her own boss, posting what she wanted, and earning money while traveling. "I film myself overseas i post content i get money to travel overseas some more so it's really something that it was really a dream".

Sponsorships and Increased Earnings

Jaden's growing audience attracted brand sponsorships, further increasing her income.

• Sponsorship Earnings: She could earn $500-$700 per video, putting in about 30 hours of work per video.
• Average Monthly Income: On average, she made about $2,000 per month from content creation.
• Shift to Full-Time Content Creation: She stopped her part-time jobs and became a full-time content creator.

Financial Impact and Lifestyle Changes

Content creation significantly improved Jaden's financial situation and travel experiences.

• Increased Hourly Rate: Her hourly earnings increased dramatically. "Back then I would take like 80 hours to make $800 now I'm spending 30 hours to make about $1,000 to $2,000 so it definitely is very worth it".
• Extended Travel: She could extend her trips from two weeks to a month, visiting more places.
• Enhanced Experiences: The extra income allowed her to enjoy more exclusive experiences and save money.
• Financial Security: "I feel like when I work hard for my own money I don't ever feel guilty spending it because I worked hard with the goal of spending for myself here and there compared to like if the money came to me easily".

Personal Philosophy and Future Outlook

Jaden emphasizes the importance of pursuing what feels right, even against opposition. "I also believe that if you feel like something is right for you you should just pursue it because every single person I knew was against me backpacking i don't think a single Singaporean told me to go for it but I knew that it was something I really wanted to do so I did it anyway". She acknowledges the potential instability of content creation and doesn't see it as a long-term career. She views it as a "good side hustle" but recognizes that it has a potential "expiry date." She hopes it will sustain her for the next four or five years.

Conclusion

Jaden Chu's journey highlights the power of resourcefulness, hard work, and adaptability. She transitioned from funding her solo backpacking trips through low-paying odd jobs to leveraging content creation for a more lucrative and flexible income. While she enjoys the benefits of content creation, she remains realistic about its long-term viability and plans to explore other career paths in the future. Her story serves as an inspiration for aspiring travelers and entrepreneurs seeking to create their own opportunities.