How much cash?

by **girl_nomad** » November 17th, 2004

Quick question. I'm doing a 4-5 month trip this spring. Livin' on a budget and such, will $4,000 be enough? Roughly 1,000 per month? I'll be in Prague, Dubrovnik (Croatia)Bulgaria, Turkey, Egypt, Kenya, South Africa and New Zealand. Of course, I realize New Zealand and parts of Eastern Europe will be more expensive. Just wondering if anyone's done it on roughly $1,000/month.

I've joined Servas, so a lot of my accomodations will be homestays.

Has anyone done Servas before or Global Freeloaders???
Susan

by **Court** » November 19th, 2004

Hi Susan-
I spent 1,000 a month WITHOUT TRANSPORTATION when I was in Western Europe. I think you'll be fine in those countries, especially if your airfare is already taken care of.
Court

by **Laura M** » November 19th, 2004

I spent a lot of time budgeting myself and there is a necessity for it, but if you keep worrying about cash you may never get off the ground. My advice is simply not to spend money. Cheap food and accomodation, donÂ´t buy souvenirs. just my 2 cents

by **borderland** » November 20th, 2004

I posted this before somewhere, but carry a US$50 on you somewhere safe 24/7 (inside shoe etc.)
It can get you out of a lot of different bother in many places around the world - transport, bribe, food if you're robbed etc.

Don't leave home without it :-)

by **mr bigles** » November 20th, 2004

Hey im quite worried now after reading this post...
I'm going travelling for 8months RTW and i saved up about Â£5,000...
But then Â£1,500 of that has went to the Flights, and i'd say another Â£1,000 has went to things like Insurance, backpacks, and bits and bobs and just supporting myself for the past few months.
I think, in the end, I'll have about Â£2,000 to last me the 8 months. Which will include accomdation and food etc etc.
I'm quite scared now... do you think i'll make it?
Bearing in mind i know people in some of the places i'm going... so i should save a wee bit on accomodation. and also planning to get a job in Sydney (i'm there 2months...)
plus im scottish... i dont part with my money easily!

by **girl_nomad** » November 20th, 2004

I have no idea - you should be fine, but It all depends on your spending habits. I tend to overplan when it comes to these things in the event of an "emergency" so I'll have extra cash.
When I lived in Eastern Europe, I could live a lot more cheaply, so I suppose it depends on when you go. Also, you'll be traveling part of your trip in the "off" season, so hostels, etc will be much cheaper.

I love scotland! One of my favorite places on earth.

Good luck!

by **mr bigles** » November 20th, 2004

yeah good point about the off-season.
Well i'm going with a friend who also over estimates... which is quite disconcerting as she is really well off anyways, and can afford to take all the extra cash.
Ihope i'll be ok... although i do tend to underestimate (for example... i dont really consider taxi costs, etc)
The worst thing for me would be to have to call home and ask my dad to bail me out! I'd probably never hear the end of it for a start!!

by **static** » November 20th, 2004

$4000 is enough money, provided that you already have transportation sorted.

(For example, South Africa is very, very expensive to fly to, and would eat up over $1000 easily)

But, I gotta ask: why so many places that are so far apart? My rule-of-thumb is to at least to stay on roughly the same continent when traveling.

by **FemaleNomad** » November 20th, 2004

I lived for six months on $600, so you just do what you can with what you have.

Don't worry.

Website · by **Sisuphile** » November 21st, 2004

"Ihope i'll be ok... although i do tend to underestimate (for example... i dont really consider taxi costs, etc)"

If you donÂ´t want to spend cash on the taxi then just walk. Does wonders for you gluts.

by **mr bigles** » November 21st, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by Sisuphile:
then just walk

LoL!
Walk?!?!
No I meant like the taxi from the Airport to our Accomodation etc... especially since we land in the airport in the middle of the night in some places!!

by **borderland** » November 21st, 2004

If you're worried about your budget, and there's no buses at the airport at midnight, lie down in a chair and get some rest till morning till the buses start running.
Who knows what the taxi will charge you compared to a cheap bus fare in a few hours. Taxis will eat up your money very fast.

by **ChrisH** » November 21st, 2004

Who loves the taxis? Nobody loves the taxis, cos everybody hates the taxis...

(The above is from personal experience. I deliberately booked flights that *didn't* arrive in the middle of the night - though some departed early morning, for which I caught the bus the previous evening and slept there.)