Stuck In Another Country With No Money? (16 solutions + tips)
Being stuck in another country with no money sucks. It’s stressful and potentially even dangerous. And trust me, I’ve been there. I remember it like it was yesterday. Stuck in the outskirts of northern Tokyo, penniless and trying to scrape together enough yen for a train ride and some food.
No fun.
So what do you do when you’re stuck abroad with no money? While prevention and planning ahead is the best option, there are luckily some options when you’re in a pinch.
So welcome to my quick guide of top solutions and tips for getting by when you find yourself overseas and penniless.
Let’s get to it.
Table of Contents Show
[Pt. 1] 10 Solutions When Your Stuck Abroad With No Money
1. Get an emergency loan
When we’re in a pinch and all out of options, sometimes getting a loan is all we can do.
It’s not always the best option – especially the high-interest, predatory ones.
But if you need quick cash, then this may be one of the first options to consider – and at least bookmark for later (if none of the other options are possible).
2. Get a ticket home using “buy now, pay later”
If you’re really in a pinch, the best bet may be to head back home (there’s no shame here, it happens to the best of us).
But that’s not always easy since plane tickets (especially last minute tickets) are pretty pricey. Luckily, there are buy now, pay later options.
Some airlines offer this on checkout. For example, United provides an option to split up your payments through Uplift. Of course, there is a soft credit check required.
So another option is buying through a site like Alternative Airlines. They offer various payment options to buy now and pay later. Using PayPal credit is one popular choice here.
You can read about my experience using Alternative Airlines here.
So if you’re stuck abroad with no money, looking into a ticket back home is definitely worth exploring.
3. Try house sitting
One of the first things you need to figure out when you’re stranded without money abroad – besides food – is your accommodations.
This can be one of the bigger expenses, so finding ways to reduce (or eliminate) this cost can be super helpful. You can learn more about house sitting while traveling here.
Ideally, you would have this backup plan already set up before you travel as a contingency plan (by creating a profile and having some experience or reviews to boost your hireability).
4. Meet up with other travelers or expats in your area
Here, you can pool resources and work together or meet up with some generous expats who may be willing to lend you some scratch until you can get back on your feet.
The internet makes it pretty simple to connect with new people (just use your best judgment and don’t meet up with weirdos – listen to your gut and common sense training).
You can try apps like Meetup or Tandem to connect with backpackers, locals and other travelers abroad.
Travelers and expats are always some of the kindest and most awesome people. So it’s definitely worth a try to reach out.
5. Look into emergency financial assistance through your embassy
If you’re stranded or financially stuck abroad, your government may be able to help you.
Some common services include banking, contacting your home and wiring money. They can also assist with medical emergencies or crises abroad.
The type of help you can get may depend on your situation, location and government, so do some more digging into your options here (you can start with a simple Google search, such as “emergency financial assistance abroad” or simply “assistance abroad (+ your nationality)”).
But it’s definitely worth keeping in mind.
6. Borrow money from family or friends
No quick cash list would be complete without mentioning this one.
But borrowing money from your friends or family is an excellent option – although, it may not be a solution for everyone.
So if you’re lucky enough to tap into these resources, then it may be your best bet for any short-term money woes (or at least one of the easiest solutions).
Quick tip: there are various ways to send money across borders – some better than others. I personally like to send funds through Revolut or (if you’re more tech- and blockchain-savvy) crypto is also an option – because after all, it is borderless and operates 24/7 (not financial advice).
7. Make some quick cash wherever you are
This is technically illegal under a tourist visa, so I can't actually recommend this, buuuut if you’re in a pinch and strapped for cash, I’ve known some people who do this. ;)
For example, English teaching in a cafe or even busking if you have a talent (like playing music) could be an option.
You could also do online gigs – especially if you have an in-demand, digital skill. So if you have experience or knowledge that you could monetize, you may do well on freelance places like Fiverr.
8. Volunteer
Many travelers leverage volunteering opportunities right from the get go. You can get a free place to stay and/or free meals in exchange for work.
It’s not everyone’s cup of tea, but if you’re in a tight place financially, you could look into local volunteering opportunities. Just be sure to use reputable platforms and not commit to anything sketch.
Here are some popular options
If you want to work on a farm
Or, if you’re feeling industrious, you could hit the streets and reach out directly to local hostels and look for room and board opportunities in exchange for work or helping out
For example, you may offer these services: cleaning, front desk or digital skills (like marketing, social media, film/photography or website design and optimization)
9. Sell Something
If you have something valuable to sell, this can be another option for some quick cash.
While this tip may work better in some areas than others, it’s still a solid option worth researching. I’ve definitely done this while in Japan.
I was out of money and needed some cash quick. So I took inventory of my assets and realized I had a mirrorless camera that I wasn’t using.
After some light research, I found many secondhand shops around my area that bought used cameras. So I grabbed my goods and headed into town.
I was able to sell my Sony a6300 and lens for around 70,000 yen. Win!
So take stock and see if you’ve got something you can part ways with. Even if you don’t want to sell your stuff, sometimes it’s neccessary (especially if you need to eat).
Besides, you can always buy your things again once you’re back on your feet.
10. Try crowdfunding
The internet is a great resource. And crowdfunding may be an option if you’re really stuck (and you can wait a little bit).
There are various campaigns and platforms you can set up here.
For example, you could do a casual ‘fund my travels’ type of campaign on social media for your friends and followers or you could set up a more formal GoFundMe and try your luck there.
You can learn more about this option here.
[Pt. 2] 6 Tips to Prevent Getting Stuck In Another Country With No Money
1. Have a contingency fund to cover a ticket home
Having enough to at least cover a plane ticket home is good advice.
I never did this when I first started traveling, but now it’s something I always think about before leaving. That is, if everything falls apart, can I at least get back home?
I also use my Amex travel rewards card so with good planning, I can sometimes snag a free (or discounted) flight with my miles (which is pretty sweet).
2. Have an online income stream before traveling
This one is especially important for longer-term traveling. It just requires some work, focus and patience.
And depending on your skills and experiences, you can earn a pretty solid living (either as a digital nomad or just a remote worker). But we’ll save that conversation for another day.
There are tons of opportunities to make a living online. But here are just a few ways to earn some extra money while traveling:
Teaching English online
Editing and/or transcription
Freelancing in social media marketing or management
Become an influencer
Design or creative type of services
Selling services in web design
Offering services in music production or mixing and mastering
Filmmaking or photography
Video or photo editing
Freelance writing
Digital marketing services like SEO or PPC advertising
Doing voice overs or reading for audiobooks
Translation services
3. Research your destinations + make a budget
Budgeting…works. So I do this now, albeit rather lackadaisical.
I usually have a rough idea of costs (based on research of core costs, like rent, bills, transportation, etc.) – and then I just add up those travel expenditures plus my regular bills for back here in the states.
I usually round up for everything, so I’m sure to budget more than enough.
So no spreadsheets or anything formal for me. But if you’re more analytical, you could definitely throw these numbers in a Google Sheet or Excel doc.
You could also track currency fluctuations and become a full on travel budgeting expert.
But, at the very least, throwing together a quick mental note of what you’ll likely be spending will help you avoid any surprises or monetary issues.
4. Become a budget traveler and avoid tourist traps
Keeping costs low is always good advice. It can be easy to overspend abroad – but it can also be pretty easy to save (with a little intention and planning).
For example, avoiding hotels in touristy areas (and staying more outside city centers), splitting costs with fellow travelers, doing free things and attractions and staying at places with kitchens so you can cook your own food, rather than going out every meal.
Basically, my main move is to live like a local. It’s the type of travel that I usually prefer anyways. It feels more authentic.
5. Have a small emergency fund
This tip sort of echoes some of the others above – but I thought it deserved to be a standalone section.
Paying off credit cards can be easier said than done, especially if you’re strapped for cash or paycheck to paycheck (trust me, I’m more familiar with this status than not).
Still, with a little bit of planning, chipping away at some of my credit card balances ended up being a huge asset abroad (plus it’s some great peace of mind).
6. Have good credit before you depart
If you do find yourself stuck with no money, then having good credit can come in serious handy.
Namely, it’ll be a lot easier to find loans and lending options (without completely outrageous interest requirements).
This isn’t an overnight fix (and again, easier said than done sometimes), but it’s worth exploring your credit report and reviewing the negatives and hits.
Once you’ve found the main issues, simply work on resolving them. Some common issues include:
Low amount of available credit
A high debt-to-income ratio
A short credit history
Not making payments on time
Later ✌️
Whether you’re a seasoned nomad or a new traveler, being stuck abroad with no money can happen to anyone.
Despite our best intentions and solid planning, sometimes life happens. Luckily, there are some options.
If you’re stuck abroad without any cash, it’s best to start with your priorities and take things one step at a time. Reaching out to friends, family or your local embassy can help.
There are also convenient options such as buy now, pay later plane tickets or micro loans to help.
So while planning ahead is the best solution, just remember that you’re not alone and you’ll make it through this.
So with that, good luck and safe travels friend!
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