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British graduate saves 8k over three months by backpacking around Australia

Lindy Lenix left for Down Under after missing out on her dream graduate job, but managed to save 8,000 in just three months while living and working around Australia

[Lindy in Australia surrounded by red earth and camping gear]

Lindy struggled to save money while living in the UK(Image: Lindy Lenix)

After getting their A-Level results thousands of British teens are heading on gap years to travel the world.

But, the main concern when going on an extended journey is how to ensure you can afford hotels and food on the way. (If this sounds familiar, you may want to check out the gap year travellers' advice for this year's cohort).

However, one young university graduate claims she not only had the money to go on a long backpacking holiday she actually managed to save 8,000 while on her travels.

READ MORE: Brit makes 1,300 a week as Aussie FIFO worker and visits the Maldives in free time

Lindy Lenix said that shed always struggled to save and budget while in the UK, but things changed when she flew to Australia.

In total Lindy saved more than $14,000 AUD (8,185) in just three months, while travelling and having an amazing time, reports the Mirror.

According to the money savvy traveller, getting away to the right country as recession looms is not the terrible idea some would think it to be.

[Lindy with a kangaroo]

She's managed to experience Kangaroos, surfing and more(Image: Lindy Lenix)

Lindy took a Welcome to Travel tour in Melbourne as soon as she arrived in Australia, having headed Down Under on the spur of the moment when she missed out on her dream job.

I felt utterly defeated. I had just gone through a four-month interview process for the job of a lifetime only to be turned down at the very last hurdle," she said.

Yet, after some time I realised that if I had jumped into this role, I would have been locked in a long-term career for the rest of my life.

"I saw that this is my time to travel and my opportunity to go to Australia. And just like that, I was leaving in two months.

As she hadnt had time to save after university Lindy didnt have a bank account filled with cash to fall back on.

[Lindy with a suitcase in rural Australia]

Lindy did seasonal work in the further out regions(Image: Lindy Lenix)

I did not have much money at all when I got to Australia, as it was a very last-minute plan," she continued.

"Because of this, I decided to jump straight into the three months of regional work required for the AUS working holiday visa and earn some money, so I headed off to the outback.

Lindy, who lived in the UK but is American, is now living just outside of Alice Springs in Australias northern territory.

The self-professed city girl is taking to life in a rural area which has a population of just 30,000 - a far cry from her previous life in London.

She works in an all-rounder position, doing a bit of waitressing, bartending, feeding animals, housekeeping and reception.

We just had six baby goats born and four calves so I spend a lot of my time bottle feeding them," Lindy said.

[Lindy holding a goat]

She's worked with animals too(Image: Lindy Lenix)

"Its a completely different way of life for me but I love working with the animals, it takes away the stress from day-to-day life.

Lindys accommodation and meals amount to 108 a week.

With the Australian minimum wage at 440 for a 40 hour working week, living in a simple life Down Under can be a good way to save up quickly.

But, while Lindy does work hard she also gets to enjoy herself and shes even gone surfing and seen kangaroos.

She is hoping to travel around the East Coast of Australia for a month, visit friends in Los Angeles and get more tattoos.

When it comes to tips, Lindy advises: "Pack the clothes you wear on a day-to-day basis. While most people will tell you to bring your comfy clothes - dont listen to them.

"Think about what you wear all the time and pack those. After all, you choose them day in, day out for a reason."

[Lindy by a hay bale with a goat]

She's saved a fortune in a few months(Image: Lindy Lenix)

Darryl Newby and Adam Ogle co-founded Welcome to Travel in 2017 after travelling to Australia themselves on a working holiday visa.

The company supports young backpackers in Australia on the Working Holiday Maker visa with group tours, employment advice and admin set-up including bank accounts, mobile phone and accommodation.

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