Income at Sea

Planning ahead will certainly be the most important step in financing our adventure.  But, we’ve come up with a few other income sources we can maintain at sea.

• Professional Services (Contract Basis).  One thing both Rich and I can do to maintain a meager income stream is to provide professional services on a contract basis.  I’m an attorney, and as long as I have internet access, I can do research and writing remotely.  There are also staffing firms I may be able to work with to find contract research and writing work.  Similarly, Rich is a computer storage know-it-all.  He’ll also likely be able to consult on an hourly basis, as long as internet access is available.
• Tastefully Simple Independent Consultant.  (Psst!  Here’s one you can help us with and it’s a win-win for all of us!)  I love using “real food” ingredients – in other words, I only cook with it if the ingredient list is recognizable, pronounceable food.  A few years ago, I discovered Tastefully Simple spices, mixes, sauces, and gifts.  Not only are they DELICIOUS, but their shelf life (none shorter than six months), also makes them great on a boat.  So, I signed up to sell it.  The great part is, I can do this remotely because I don’t have to personally handle any of the inventory, packing, or shipping.  We’d love your support by shopping the products here.  (Yep, we can do international shipping.)  Select “TS” in the tag cloud to the right to see some great boat recipes using Tastefully Simple ingredients.  Or, if you’re thinking about how you can make some extra money (whether cruising or not), please get in touch as I’d love to be your sponsor!  Update: I’m no longer selling Tastefully Simple; keep your eyes on our blog for an explanation of why, and how to choose what direct sales companies might best fit your cruising lifestyle!
• Port Services.  This one is tricky, because you may need a work visa to provide services in foreign countries.  But, if you have a particular skill that other sailors find useful – such as sailmaking/mending or marine mechanic – you may be able to earn money helping fellow boaters make repairs.  At this point, we think Rich will become a certified marine diesel mechanic for our voyage.
• Freelance Writing.  This is on the list because – well, just because it’s an option.  However, it’s not a particularly lucrative option.  So, I’m not sure we’ll be putting much effort into freelance writing during our trip.
• Affiliate Linking.  If you have a website, you might as well throw a few affiliate links up there.  Not too many, as you don’t want your readers to be inundated with sales pitches.  But, a strategically placed affiliate link can put a few coins in the bank, and they may include an Amazon search box or store.  The income from affiliate linking generally isn’t much, but given how little effort is required, it’s a viable option for cruisers.

We’re updating this page as we go, so stay tuned!  Also, be sure to let us know what your suggestions are for cruising income by leaving a comment!