Income Streams

As a digital nomad, you must diversify your income sources—never put all your eggs in one basket.

However, you must also be vigilant: if you cannot withdraw your earnings in a timely manner, consider them fake. Do not waste too much energy on such platforms.

Yesterday, I tried to withdraw a $2 balance from a platform where I had accrued some earnings. It required real-name verification; I tried seven or eight times, but my identity was rejected every single time. One of the verification methods even required me to hold up my ID card for a photo—it was absolutely fucking insulting. Holding up an ID card is a method typically used by prisons when processing criminals. Fuck that—not only were the so-called earnings impossible to withdraw, but they subjected me to humiliation as well.

Separately, I had $10 in earnings on another platform today and requested a withdrawal. Usually, the funds arrive by noon the following day; however, it is now late evening on the second day, and that $10 is still stuck in the review process. (This serves as a reminder to remain wary of any platform that fails to settle payments on schedule.)

The timing of your incoming funds dictates your ability to cover debts and living expenses. If a payment is delayed by even a single day—and you lack savings or proper financial planning—you could end up missing deadlines or defaulting on payments, triggering a disastrous chain reaction.

When you are out on the road, if you are short by even a single penny, you could find yourself kicked out of your room.

When Out and About

Even if you aren’t embarking on a long journey—just taking a stroll in the neighborhood—there are still certain daily essentials worth packing.

First and foremost is the backpack; it determines just how much gear you can carry.

I typically keep a bottle of water and a drinking cup in the left-side pocket of my backpack, and an umbrella in the right-side pocket. The umbrella serves multiple purposes: protection from rain or sun, a makeshift walking stick, or—in the face of danger—a legitimate means of self-defense. These items are kept in easily accessible spots so I can grab them at a moment’s notice.

In the backpack’s outer compartments, I store high-frequency-use items such as tissues, a power bank, and charging cables. Since these items require protection against water damage and scratches—and to prevent them from being swiped by others—I place them in these outer pockets for my own convenient access.

Inside the main compartment, I usually pack a shirt. This can serve as a shawl or a makeshift blanket—useful for warding off a chill, wearing when it gets cold, or covering myself while sleeping (especially during train travel). Alternatively, I might pack a hoodie—preferably one with a hood. My wallet goes into a zippered internal pocket; since my ID and cash are kept inside the wallet, anyone attempting to steal it would first have to open the main compartment and unzip the inner pocket—a security measure designed to deter theft and robbery.

In other external pockets—especially during the current summer season—I might pack sunglasses, a small USB-powered fan, and my room key.

Regarding other internal compartments: many backpacks feature dedicated sleeves for laptops or tablets. If you plan to watch shows or play games while out, consider bringing a tablet. If you need to work remotely while traveling, a slim laptop—such as a MacBook—would be a more suitable choice.

Currently, I do all my blogging via keyboard input—which necessitates a laptop—and rely on VS Code and Node.js for compiling and building code; this is a workflow that a tablet simply cannot replicate.

I also edit videos I’ve filmed—such as footage of food and scenic landscapes—which also requires a computer. While it is technically possible to edit on a tablet, the functionality is significantly limited, making it an inefficient option.

At the moment, I’m only venturing around the immediate vicinity of my rental home and haven’t purchased a laptop yet (I currently use a desktop PC), so for the time being, I’m not carrying a computer in my backpack.

There are a few other odds and ends worth packing: wet wipes (for freshening up your face), chewing gum (to boost alertness and freshen breath), and trash bags (useful if you feel nauseous while traveling, can’t find a public trash can nearby, or simply need a place to stow other loose items). I also recommend packing some fruit, snacks, or cookies—such as bananas, oranges, crackers, or small pastries—to munch on while you’re out.

Finally, you might also consider packing a USB-powered flashlight and a backup mobile phone.

Safety Awareness

I took a taxi today and got into an argument with the driver over a certain issue.

After I got out of the car, the driver staked out the area, waiting to see which door I would enter. He got out to inspect my residence—presumably intending to retaliate against me.

Fortunately, the location I had set in the app was a spot about 50 meters away from my actual rental unit. I had chosen this specific pin because it was more convenient and easier to identify; my actual room was difficult to pinpoint accurately.

Furthermore, I maintain a certain level of safety awareness: one should never directly expose one’s home address to others. Take delivery couriers, for instance: if a courier happens to be in a bad mood one day and decides to attack you with a knife, you would be defenseless—because he knows your exact address, knows when you leave the house, and knows how many people live there.

For digital nomads, it is absolutely essential to redirect sensitive information—such as home addresses used for package deliveries or taxi services—to a nearby convenience store or similar location to avoid becoming a target for malicious individuals.

At the same time, you should keep the phone number of the nearest police station saved on your mobile device so you can report an incident immediately. Set up a “one-touch emergency call” feature in your apps, and carry reasonable recording tools—such as a selfie stick—which can also double as self-defense weapons.

Cultivate the habit of taking photos, recording videos, and making audio recordings to preserve evidence, and report any incidents to the police without delay.

When traveling alone—especially in unfamiliar places—if something were to happen to you, and you were to die, that would likely be the end of it. With no one else there to handle your affairs, your case might not receive the attention it deserves. Therefore, try to avoid traveling completely alone; being solitary can make you appear to be an easy target for bullies or predators.

Ensure you purchase insurance promptly—covering medical expenses, traffic accidents, personal injury, and similar risks. Although insurance companies may sometimes try to find loopholes to deny claims, if you don’t have insurance at all, you will be truly ruined should a crisis strike.

Finally, I recommend taking fewer taxis when you are in an unfamiliar city. Taxi drivers are often prone to road rage, making traffic accidents more likely. Conversely, public transportation options—such as buses—tend to be associated with fewer traffic accidents.