American woman who quit her job to travel the world reveals her disappointment

At 28 years old, Helen Zhao was living the American dream, with a job as a video producer at CNBC. But, of course, not everything is perfect, and waking up in the middle of the night with the feeling that “working forever is not living” is a drama that many can relate to. So, in a stroke of genius, at 32, she dropped everything, bought a ticket to Peru and decided to “live life”. The detail? She spent about US$ 34 thousand (yes, around R$ 190 thousand) on this spiritual journey through 18 countries. But, like every great adventure, some regrets also arise. Let’s look at them?

Cheap ends up being expensive, but with style

Ah, Rio de Janeiro, land of samba, sun, and… regret? Helen arrived in Rio in December 2022 and, of course, realized that she should be in Buenos Aires with her friends, celebrating Argentina’s victory in the World Cup. But no, she was there, alone in an Airbnb, watching her friends’ stories and asking herself: “Why did I buy the ticket to Brazil weeks in advance? Oh, yes, I was afraid of the prices going up!”

And to top it all off, she booked the cheapest flight to Bogotá, leaving Brazil on her birthday, just in time to miss the New Year’s Eve festivities in Rio. Meanwhile, her new friends were there, living it up. Who hasn’t, right?

Saving for the future… or not

Spending $34,000 on a gap year means there’s definitely some money left over for longer-term plans like retirement or a down payment on a house in Los Angeles. At 34, Helen reflects on how her year of travel has made her other goals a “little bit” more distant. But who needs financial security when you can have amazing Instagram photos, right?

Investments? Who needs that!

Helen even tried her hand at stocks in 2020, excited by the market indices. But it only took one dip in 2022 for her to decide to stop investing. After all, why keep contributing to your retirement when you can spend it on daily cocktails and lattes while traveling? Wise choice.

Material detachment: Helen style

And as if spending a small fortune wasn’t enough, Helen also tested her hand at material detachment. After all, who needs an iPhone 13 when it can be stolen in Phnom Penh, Cambodia? She learned, the expensive way possible, that walking around distractedly with your phone in your back pocket might not be the best strategy. At least she got a good story to tell, along with the nearly $800 bill for a new phone.

Summary for those in a hurry:

• Helen Zhao dropped everything to travel and spent US$34,000 in 18 countries.
• You missed out on a lot of experiences by trying to save and plan too much.
• He ended up with little financial reserve for retirement and the purchase of a house.
• He stopped investing while he was traveling, which could have helped in the future.
• Had belongings stolen and paid dearly to replace them.
• In the end, she learned that the cost of “finding herself” can be quite steep.