Millennial couple quit jobs to travel with just ONE carry-on bag each 

A millennial couple have revealed why they have quit their jobs to travel the world with just one carry-on bag of luggage each.

Alexandra Connors, 32, and her boyfriend Matt have been subscribing to the idea of ‘minimalist travel’ since 2017, when Alexandra walked 922 kilometres across Spain with nothing except the 10 kilograms she could carry on her back.

‘After returning home to Sydney we started exploring the idea of living with less stuff,’ Alexandra – who lives in Sydney’s Northern Beaches – told Daily Mail Australia.

Now, the couple are set to take on a global adventure with just seven kilos of luggage each – or the equivalent of two carry-on bags.

Alexandra said her own minimalism has taken on different forms since it began.

‘When I got back from Spain, I started by dealing with all of our excess clutter,’ she said. 

Beginning with the spare room, she went on to the bathroom cupboards kitchen and wardrobe.

‘I would re-purpose items, give them to friends or recycle,’ she said.

When it came to her wardrobe, Alexandra opted to try the ‘Project 333’ idea – an idea devised by Courtney Carver that says you pick 33 items and wear those solely for three months at a time.

‘What started out as a great way to reduce the size of my wardrobe suddenly transformed the way I approached packing, travelling and buying new things,’ she said.

Before she knew it, the 32-year-old transferred Project 333 to her trips – travelling to and from different locations with just a carry-on bag. 

‘No more lost luggage after a rushed airport connection, no more staring aimlessly at the baggage carousel and most importantly, an easy way to move from place to place without 20kgs to lug about,’ Alexandra said.

Alexandra got her boyfriend involved and recently, the couple planned out their year-long adventure, which begins in a month, with only 14 kilos of luggage.

‘A rough guideline of what I pack when we go away is six tops, two pairs of shorts, two skirts, two dresses, one sweater, one jacket, one pair of jeans and two pairs of shoes,’ she said.

‘You don’t need all that much really, especially since the majority of my clothes are made from natural fibres which means they should be easier to clean and they should last longer than synthetic clothing.’

On their one-way trip, the pair intend to start in Athens, before heading around Europe and to Botswana, Patagonia and Cuba.

‘I’ve learned that clothing and homewares do not define who I am already,’ Alexandra said.

‘We’ve both realised how little we need to feel content, and that it is really the little things that fill you up more than buying new stuff.’ 

Speaking about her tips for others who want to try the idea, Alexandra said the best thing you can do is get used to buying less things that you want and giving things a second lease of life.

‘Try to repair, reuse and recycle anything that no longer sparks joy for you,’ she said.

To follow Alexandra and Matt’s adventures, you can visit their website here.