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A travel blogger who ditched a successful career as a financial adviser in favour of a life travelling the globe says she earns more now than she ever did as a bookkeeper.
Christy Woodrow, 36, had her own business in San Diego but decided to give it up in favour of her real passion - travel - despite fearing that she was giving up a lucrative career.
Much to her surprise, Woodrow actually earned a six figure sum in 2015, thanks to astutely marketing her travel writing and photography services.
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Christy Woodrow, 36, from San Diego, gets paid to blog about her travels. She ditched a successful career as a financial adviser in favour of a life including experiences like feeding flamingos in Aruba (pictured)
Christy, snapped here dancing through a fountain in San Di ego, is now living the dream travelling the world
Christy started her travel blog after a six-week trip to Southeast Asia in 2010 with boyfriend Scott, 37, right
Before she started her travel blog in 2010, Woodrow says of her day job: 'I wasn't passionate about it, but it was easy money and allowed me to travel often because of the flexible hours.'
Six years on and Woodrow has 20,000 followers on Twitter and thousands of people reading her blogs which offer easily digestible tips on destinations worldwide.
She told Metro decided to start her travel blog Ordinary Traveler after a six-week trip to Southeast Asia in early 2010 with boyfriend Scott, 37. At the time, she recalls, 'many of the popular travel blogs were written by permanent, or soon-to-be permanent, nomads.'
She continues: 'People who want a family, a home, and an adventurous life are the "ordinary" people we strive to connect with and inspire. That's the idea behind the name Ordinary Traveler.'
Christy ( now earns six figures with her suitcase. Before she started her blog Woodrowdwas not at all passionate about her career, but says that it was easy money and allowed her to travel often. She started start her travel blog after a six-week trip to Southeast Asia in early 2010 with boyfriend Scott, 37, right
Christy (pictured on a solo trip to Cabo, Mexico) 'Ordinary Traveller' was named because m any travel bloggers were written by nomads, but that the people who want a family and an adventurous life are the 'ordinary' people
While still experiencing the peaks and troughs of being self-employed, Woodrow (pictured in Palm Beach, Aruba) says the last two years have been incredibly fruitful
While still experiencing the peaks and troughs of being self-employed, Woodrow says the last two years have been incredibly fruitful.
She says: 'Self employment is a rollercoaster: money ebbs and flows, contracts fall through, and clients pay late.'
Woodrow adds: 'The hours are LONG. In my first three years of travel blogging, my income worked out to be about $5 per hour.'
Woodrow, pictured diving in the crystalline waters of the Cook Islands, in the South Pacific, says that in the first three years of travel blogging, her incom e worked out at about $5 per hour
'I still work long hours, but I've been fortunate enough to make a very comfortable living over the past two years.'
Boyfriend Scott has decided to preserve his job at a software company meaning they always return from their travels for a period at home and relish the moment they step through the front door.
During her time travelling, Woodrow has clocked up air miles and made 'lifelong friends' visiting 'dream destinations' including the Norwegian fjords, meeting puffins in Newfoundland, getting PADI-certified in Bonaire and snorkelling with Humpback whales.
Boyfriend Scott has decided to preserve his job at a software company meaning they always return from their travels to paradise destinations such as Mauritius (pictured here, at sunrise)
During her travels, Woodrow has clocked up air miles and made 'lifelong friends' visiting 'dream destinations' like Scotland, where snapped this puffin
She says: 'I believe travel helps people realize that we are all the same,' she concludes. 'Travelling teaches us to love other cultures and it teaches us that the world is not as scary as it seems.'
The downsides? Woodrow says family relations have been hard to keep up as she's often been away for key events such as birthdays.
So should anyone with wanderlust give up their job and start writing? Not immediately, says Woodrow. 'Keep another job for at least the first 2 to 3 years – otherwise it can be very stressful.
Although her life sounds like a dream Christy says her relations have been hard to keep up with as she's often missed key events such as birthdays, as she's in countries including Sweden (pictured in Gothenberg, above)
'Build your audience first; don't focus on making money for at least the first year of travel blogging. Never stop educating yourself – this industry is constantly evolving and you have to stay ahead of the curve.'
'If you are prepared to work extremely long hours, stay motivated when times are tough (and they inevitably will be), sacrifice time with friends and family, and you are extremely passionate about what you do, then I say go for it.'
Christy records her travels on Instagram, on her travel blog, and she posts her fine art portfolio online.
Source: 'I get paid six figures to travel the world!' Former financial adviser now makes MORE money being paid to write about her global adventure - but still loves getting home
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