Well, my hubby and I returned from our first big 8 week 'nomad' trip away. What a laugh - I think for your first adventure, everything that can go wrong will go wrong!

However, I wanted to share something my daughter shared with us. A mystery shopping company helped us pay for our petrol! When she told me I thought there would have to be some sort of catch - and there is (you must have your report in within 8 hours) - but it was worth it. Reports can even be faxed in to make our lives easier!!!

The company is struggling with it's regional petrol station assessments and offers excellent 'fees' for visiting these remote sites - which were on our way anyway! For any one station we were given a $25 fee plus $15 petrol and $5 to spend inshop. Can you imagine how happy we were to get $45 for visitng a petrol station that we had to visist anyway! Quite amusing really.

I wanted to share this with you all because for us, it really was too good to be true. With the cost of petrol these days - well... every little bit helps! :)

The site is www.spectre.com.au. You will need to register and pass thier training, but it's all very straightforward.

Does anyone else know of any other freebies/companies offering similar deals? We are planning out next 4 week adventure and would be more than happy to take up on other deals! ;)

P.S Another tip - I emailed the organisation and offered sites we would be passing and then they gave me those sites. This was very effective.

wow well done !Don't know how long it will last now that everyone will be on it !

I write my way around when I'm actually on the road. Write my story, take some pics, and sell my story to a couple of magazines or web sites who actually pay me. A story is worth about a tank of diesel. Not bad when the writing is easy. That's how I subsidise my travel. I can't actually do any physical work anymore, so sitting at this gadget putting my thoughts down is pretty good for a recreational writer. How do others subsidise their travel? I know about the onion sorter, and the seasonal work. Looking after, or doing odd jobs around stations is another way to see country off the beaten track. Fuel is the biggy, so if we can do something to take the financial pressure of the nest egg, it has to be a good thing. Good on you for subsidising fuel by buying fuel.

well I'm open to donations!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! bugger this working for it when all you buggers are out there getting it for nothing!! now how do I make stories come out of this bloody thing, WORK YOU MONGREL, WORK