A lot of the comments I receive about moving to Australia are, “I wish I could do that.” My response is, “YOU CAN!” Anyone can with a bit of time and hard work.

I know a lot of people my age worry about student loans on top of regular expenses, but if you are on a monthly plan you can still pay loaners abroad, you just have to work a bit harder to earn more before departing.

Regardless of what your circumstance, it’s possible. Everyone has to do something different to prepare, but the essentials are universal.

1.) Start saving: I recommend this step first, because it will take the longest and if the rest of the steps fail the worst that can happen is you’ll have extra money to spend on something else. The Australian government requires people applying for a work-holiday visa to prove they have $5,000. This is what they say, but I did not have to do anything to prove this.

Still, I wanted to have more than that amount so I didn’t have to worry as much about money and I could take some time to travel. You need to decide the amount that is right for you and what you are comfortable with, but I estimate you’ll spend at minimum $50 per day while living in hostels and looking for work. That is the bare minimum (hostel, food and basics), on top of that you need to consider transportation (taxis, public and long-distance), tourist attractions and nightlife. So I would recommend saving at least $7,000.

Saving is not easy nor quick. It took me six months and I know people who have saved money over two years for trips. You have to find a routine in which you can still live a happy life at home, but with less things. Some people move in with their parents, others get a second job and somew even sell their possessions. Stephanie Yoder wrote a great post on her blog Twenty-Something Travel that gives tips and commentary about saving cash.

2.)Apply for a visa: It’s easy to psyche yourself out of this step, but you shouldn’t. I researched 462-visas about once a week during my last two years in college. I read blog posts about people being rejected or claiming the country had a limit and it had been reached.

I had completely convinced myself that I would never move or work in Australia. Then, one night for kicks I applied at 10 p.m. I got an email at midnight that same night saying I had been approved. It costs $230 and you have to fill out a lengthy questionnaire. But if you are healthy, not convicted of any felonies and between the ages of 18-30, I am confident you will be approved.

While on visas, the country also requires you have travelers’ health insurance to receive a visa. I didn’t have to prove this either, but I recommend it. I recommend health insurance regardless, but you are at higher risk of getting sick or injured when traveling. Sick, because you are in contact with so many people, hostel living is not always the cleanest and a lot of major air-borne diseases are spread on airplanes. Injured, because you are more likely to do extreme things when traveling, such as sky diving or even hiking than you would in your everyday life. A large hospital bill can ruin your trip. Why even risk it? Ask your health care provider at home about travelers’ insurance or look at sites such as STA for more information.

3.) Book a flight: Some people have told me you can find cheap flights closer to the date or through stand-by. I have never found this to be the case with international travel. All the flights I have ever been on abroad have been packed and seem to raise in price the closer to departure date.

So much is invested in a trip this large and it’s easy to put off. Just pick a date and buy a ticket so you have something to plan around. I booked mine five months ahead of time and my flight from Chicago cost about $1,000. You may be able to find something cheaper earlier, but sometimes earlier than that can actually be more expensive or not even available.

A flights from pretty much anywhere to Australia is hell. I traveled for a total of 25 hours, 21 of which were actually in the air. You will most likely have at least one layover, if not more. You also lose a day coming from the states. Stopping in Hawaii or flying first class  are wonderful options, but unlikely for most people in their twenties.

The date you chose depends mainly on how fast you can save up money, but other things to consider are whether you want to be home for the holidays or a special occasion, what type of weather you want to travel in (the seasons in most parts of Australia are the opposite of the Northern hemisphere, but check the weather for where you want to go), how much notice your work requires, when your housing contract is up and how much long it will take you to prepare (packing, saying good bye, storing your things, etc.).

4.) Tax File Number (TFN) and bank account: A visa is just the first step to working down under. Businesses also require you have a TFN and a bank account. Both are easy, but you should get them out of the way early so you don’t have to worry about it when you finally get a job offer.

Ask someone at your hostel about where to fill out your tax form. You can also do it at a post office or online. It’s free and you can do it in most major cities.

The bank account works just the same as in the states and there are plenty of banks in Sydney, even Citibank and HSBC. Banks usually require you deposit between $10 and $100 initially in your account.

5.) Find a job: The last and sometimes most difficult step. I recommend traveling around a bit before settling down in one city. You can always come back if you want.

The tricks to finding work are universal. Dress presentable no matter what the job, be polite and network. You can find work on Gumtree (the UK version of Craigslist, which is popular in Australia) on job boards in hostels or internet cafes, in newspapers and just by looking around for hiring signs.

A lot of people look for jobs in the service industry, whether it be waiting or working at a hostel. Some jobs require a certification, such as bartending, so research that. Bartending requires you complete an Responsible Service of Alchohol  (RSA)course, which cost around $80 and can be taken at a local university or places posted on hostel walls.

Working at a hostel is not right for everyone, but it’s actually a great deal. I’ve seen a lot of hostels that pay $200 a week and allow workers to live in the hostel for free and sometimes even supply food. The hours can be strange, but that’s $200 solely for leisure. Plus you meet new people everyday and sometimes get to go on trips.

If a few days in a 10-person dorm with community showers is enough for you, then look for an apartment. There are flyers for roommates posted all over the cities. You also might meet someone during your travels that you want to rent a place with. Gumtree is a great source for this as well.

You can only work at the same job for six months with a work holiday visa, then you’ll have to find another one. A lot of people are doing the same thing as you so it can be competitive, but there is a reason Australia allows so many foreigners to do this, so don’t get discouraged. You’ll find something eventually.

Graffiti at Bondi Beach by Bobbi Lee Hitchon.