How Travel Taught Me 8 Lessons About Money and Wealth

A myth many of us believe is that wealth equals luxury – flashy cars, grand houses, and endless bank accounts. And to be honest, money drives me too.

But I’ve learned that symbols of success aren’t universal; they mean different things to different people.

Working onboard cruise ships and exploring destinations during shore leaves and between contracts taught me something entirely different.

The more I travelled, the more I realised wealth isn’t about fitting into a single definition of success. Instead, it’s about having the freedom to make choices that align with your values and embracing the experiences that truly enrich your life.

Here are the eight lessons I’ve learned about money and what it truly means to be wealthy.

1. Experiences Trump Possessions

When I started exploring as a cruise ship crew member, I realised how little I needed to feel content.

Watching the sun rise over Japan or sharing a meal at a bustling street market in Taiwan brought me more joy than anything I could buy.

These moments taught me that investing in experiences, not possessions, creates memories and a richness you carry forever.

2. Budgeting is Freedom, Not Restriction

Before working onboard, I saw budgeting as limiting. But during my contracts, I learned it was the key to freedom.

Every dollar mattered, whether it was saving for a shore excursion in Vietnam or budgeting for trips during my breaks.

Budgeting wasn’t about saying “no”; it was about recognising what truly mattered and aligning my spending with those priorities. It helps to focus on what truly matters and align my spending with my values, making exploration feel liberating rather than stressful.

3. Wealth is Relative

Wealth isn’t about hoarding money; it’s about knowing what you need to live the life you want.

Working in the cruise industry showed me that wealth isn’t absolute; it’s contextual. What I’d spend on a coffee back home could buy an entire meal in Thailand. This perspective made me more grateful for what I have and reminded me that there’s a difference between spending to survive and spending to satisfy.

True wealth is about having the freedom to embrace life’s opportunities – whether it’s an unexpected adventure or a sudden need – without the fear of financial constraints.

4. The Power of Saving and Investing

Saving and investing taught me one of life’s biggest truths: the more we learn and improve ourselves, the more earning potential we have. It’s not just about being frugal; it’s about being intentional.

Every dollar should serve a purpose – whether it’s funding a dream, providing security, or creating opportunities.

Learning to save and invest wasn’t just about money; it was about building confidence and having the resources to take on life without hesitation.

5. Flexibility is a Financial Superpower

Missing out on shore leave because of a last-minute schedule change or figuring out how to make limited funds stretch over an unexpected extra week in port taught me the value of flexibility.

Whether it was rearranging plans to make the most of a new itinerary or finding ways to adjust budgets on the fly, being adaptable often saved the day.

That same flexibility applies to life and wealth: the ability to pivot, financially or otherwise, makes all the difference when life throws the unexpected your way. Building financial flexibility, like having an emergency fund or adaptable goals, is as empowering as making quick decisions while exploring new destinations.

6. Minimalism Is Underrated

Living out of a suitcase while working at sea revealed the beauty of minimalism. When your life fits into a single bag, you realise how little you truly need to feel fulfilled.

This perspective spilled over into other parts of my life, reshaping how I approach spending. Each purchase became an intentional choice: “Do I really need this, or is it just adding unnecessary weight?”

Minimalism isn’t just about saving money; it’s about creating space – both physically and mentally – to focus on what really matters.

7. Money Can’t Buy Happiness, but It Buys Choices

While it’s true that money alone doesn’t guarantee happiness, travel taught me its power to create opportunities.

Having enough money to say “yes” to a spontaneous trip to Universal Studios enriched my experiences.

Money gives you choices, and those choices often lead to moments of joy.

Defining Freedom

"Freedom is not the absence of obligations, but the ability to choose – and commit to – what matters most."

Freedom, as I’ve come to understand it, is about making intentional choices with your time, energy, and resources.

It’s not just about being debt-free or supporting your loved ones (though those are important); it’s about waking up knowing your day belongs to you.

Lessons from budgeting, flexibility, and minimalism have all contributed to this understanding, showing me how freedom is built not on abundance but on alignment with what truly matters.

8. True Wealth Is Time and Freedom

The most profound lesson I’ve learned is that wealth isn’t just about money; it’s about having the time and freedom to shape your life.

Travelling gave me a glimpse of what it means to truly live on your own terms – to wake up when you want, explore at your own pace, and savour experiences without being rushed by obligations.

Freedom and time are deeply connected; one fuels the other, creating the space to live life on your terms. When you have the financial means to free up your time, you unlock the ability to pursue what matters most – whether that’s travelling, spending time with loved ones, or simply living intentionally.

To me, that’s the ultimate definition of wealth.

Turning Wealth into Freedom

The problem with how we often view wealth is that it’s tied solely to money – accumulating it, spending it, and saving it. But travel revealed a solution: wealth is just as much about time and freedom.

Freedom, at least to me, means having the ability to choose what I do with my time and energy. It’s about ensuring that money serves as a tool, allowing me to wake up knowing my day belongs to me, not someone else’s expectations.

Travel showed me the solution to living a truly wealthy life. It reshaped how I view finances, shifting my focus from accumulation to intention. The lessons I learned on the road – about saving, budgeting, and finding joy in simplicity – have become tools for building a life of freedom.

Is your money helping you create the freedom to live on your own terms?

Because sometimes, the greatest riches aren’t measured in dollars but in the life you choose to build.