Print edition: 
When we asked professional hobo Nora Dunn how shes stayed on the road since 2006, she revealed her biggest golden egg: Bartering. By exchanging light work for lodging, she eliminates a large portion of her expenses. On a recent all- expense paid trip to Spain, which included three-course meals and wine, Dunn exchanged English conversation sessions with paying guests of a language program. Her only cost was her plane ticket.
Reducing your overhead is the key to affording long-term travel.
Currency swap: Use currency differences to get more bang for your buck while traveling. If you earn money in a country with a high-value currency, leverage that value into a higher standard of living by traveling in countries where the overhead is extremely low. Don't be surprised if you find yourself able to live somewhere exotic with a nanny, driver and house keeper for less money than you pay for rent back home.
Time: When freelance writer Thursday Bram goes on a vacation, she tries to book for three months at a stretch. That time frame saves her money in several areas. Landlords are willing to negotiate for a lower price when leases are 30 days or longer. Also, three months is long enough to find a local buddy to show you the ropes with the public transport systems, and scope out food vendors willing to negotiate on price.
Retreats: Conferences, scholarly programs and artist retreats provide a great opportunity to enjoy high-end vacations at low prices. Many universities and colleges host cultural and literary programs on their campuses during summer sessions or semester breaks. These programs often include affordable housing in campus dormitories, nightly entertainment, short excursions and events related to the conference topic. Some summer programs and conferences offer scholarships to qualified students or discounts for spouses.
Chaperone: Youth programs, travel groups and special tours often hire seasoned travelers or regional experts to assist with logistics, chaperone duties and other travel related chores. One Florida-based college professor, for example, has led extensive tours through Southern India. His expertise helped pay for most of his travels. Likewise, qualified adults with security clearance can serve as chaperones on trips for teenagers.
