HI! My Name is Alli, and I Quit My Job to Travel: A Re-Introduction

Well, my darling friends! I have been keeping a secret from you: a big, life-altering, colossal secret. So, allow me to start over… HI! My Name is Alli, and I Just Quit My Job to Travel.

If you’re new here, you’ve just stumbled upon a hidden chest of stories and wanderlust at On the Trip Side. This is no ordinary space; it’s a portal to a world of whimsy, wonder, and solo adventure. In 2019, this blog underwent a shift (a re-brand, if you will), when it started shedding its former identity as a fashion-aholic blog. The blog transformed from a trend-focused space into a reflection of my solo travel adventures (with the major addition of at-home and budget-friendly lifestyle during the pandemic).

For those who have been with me from the start, let me offer a heartfelt thank you! Your support, your comments (both here and on Instagram), and the community we’ve built have been nothing short of magical. Your encouragement has guided me to where I stand today. So, consider this our biggest adventure yet! Together, we’ll explore new places, laugh with locals, and lay in the beauty of the unknown.

So, let’s talk about it!

How the heck did I get here? But first …

Table of Contents

HI! My Name is Alli, and I Quit My Job to Travel: A Re-Introduction

Let’s begin with a re-intro!

Hi! My name is Alli and I’m a travel & lifestyle blogger from the PNW, USA who has recently quit her job after becoming financially free and crushing her savings goals. 💰

Pleased to meet you!

The 5-Year Journey to Financial Freedom

It’s amazing what you can do with your life in 5 years. Not only did I pay off every cent of:

my student loan debt
a $12k medical bill
my car

I then saved for 2 years straight. By that point, I was a pro at being frugal and making every dollar work for me. So, I saved really fast, but not before buying some big-ticket items (like my Awara mattress and a Vitamix)!

Debt Demolition

What you need to understand is, you’re seeing this as one blog post. You’re seeing my 5-year long journey wrapped up in a pretty little bow… from a lounge at SeaTac International Airport.

You’re not seeing how often I had to say “no, thank you” to going out after work or how often I would choose the gym over dinner with friends (cause I couldn’t afford dinner but my gym membership was paid that month). You’re not seeing how I sold clothes on eBay to make an extra $200 a month to throw at my principal loans. Nevertheless, on the nights I sat home with Netflix and a puzzle from goodwill or invited friends over for homemade pizza, cheap wine, and Practical Magic on DVD.

This took blood, sweat, and, truthfully, tears.

I threw every cent humanly possible at my principal loans. Sometimes I would cut back on a nice homemade lunch in exchange for peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for two whole weeks. Just to put in an extra $15 to pay them off. I watched friends blow thousands on lavish luxury trips, while I was fortunate enough to set aside a little money for a domestic plane ticket to see family.

The truth is, I’d do it again and again to end up where I am right now in this moment.

Mastering Frugality

I joked on my recent Instagram post that I wore the same dress to multiple weddings. In all honesty, I truly did. Not just that, I wore a thrifted dress I bought three years prior. It cost $6. It’s a dress that’s in my everyday wardrobe to this day. I can dress it up or down and I just kept repurposing it because I would have rather buy my friends a lovely gift than purchase a new dress I’ll only wear once AND a gift. I’m a big fan of community clothing swaps and swapping dresses with girlfriends. To be frank, if you want to be debt-free, you need to make sacrifices. Not to mention fast fashion is single-handedly killing our planet but that’s for another blog post.

Again, my friends, this took a LOT of determination, creativity, and an extreme amount of discipline.

One of the things I’m excited to start sharing on my blog more is how I got creative with my frugality but was still able to be fashionable and practical. In the meantime, for more posts on budgeting, meal planning, etc, check out my posts here.

From Sacrifice to Adventure: The Transition & What’s Next

Now? Now is the fun part! I get to spend my savings on adventures and experiences. Even though I’m sitting here, enjoying my little corner of this lounge (with a killer view of Mt Rainier), I’ve realized something important: this experience has changed me for the better. I am not the same woman I was 5 years ago and I couldn’t be more proud of myself for it.

What’s next?

A 4-week journey through Europe!

1 Carry-On
1 Backpack
1 Life 💕

As of right now, I am spending a week in Ireland and a week in Edinburgh. I have no idea where I’m heading to after but I know it’s going to be a great adventure.

The biggest transition I’m experiencing right now is how hard it is for me to spend money. I’ve been penny-pinching for so long that it’s hard for me to splurge on myself. It’s not a bad trait to have. I love spending on my family and friends but not on myself. It’s difficult and I’d rather spend money on experiences than clothing, super fancy dinners, and handbags. So, we’ll see what I’m able to pick up and what I deem unworthy.

That’s it for my re-intro! I’m so excited to share all of my adventures, how-to guides on becoming debt-free, and how to save faster.

I hope you’ll join me! 💕