I suck at budgeting

I've been on my trip for about 1 month. NZ and Australia for 2 weeks, Singapore for 2 days, Thailand for 2 weeks. Spent almost $4k USD so far.

Just today I spent $200 in Thailand doing a motorcycle tour in the mountains.

I'm losing motivation to continue if I keep splurging, but it seems all the fun stuff costs money especially when traveling alone. If I had my friends or family here, I'd enjoy doing more simple stuff.

Anyone else find that you spend more when traveling alone? I remember when in Hawaii for a week with friends, it cost $700. I think I spent $700 in a week in Thailand, and this is a "cheap" country.

So you started in the most expensive countries, I spent 6K for a month in OZ + a week in NZ, Singapore isn't cheap either.

I ended up 30% over my budget on my 11 month RTW but I did/saw what I wanted, like the $250 hot-air balloon ride at Alice Springs.

Look at it this way, you may never return to these places so it's better to enjoy & cut your trip short if necessary (you can always pick up where you left off another day) than regret missing the chance to do/see something while in a country.

Traveling alone shouldn't be a factor, you can enjoy the simple stuff with new friends from the hostel, traveling with family or long time friends just means compromise.

Thailand along with Singapore are the most expensive countries in SE Asia, Laos, Myanmar & Cambodia should get you back on budget but if not so what, enjoy while the money lasts.

Hmm you're so right, I'll just make the run for as long as I last.

Also I don't know why but I had this idea in my head that it had to be 1 year. If my style is to travel fast and burn through countries, no reason it can't be less than a year. I've been kind of extending my stay in Thailand just to rack up time, even though I feel satisfied with how much of the culture I've soaked up.

PS I should hire you as a mentor. Thanks for the morale boost.

Thanks for the compliment.

Also the faster you go through a country the higher your daily costs due to travel, if you find a cheap place to chill for a week where there are others to BS with, as I did on Don Det, Laos, $5/night bungalow. Spent the day walking & chilling, a few beers in the evening with other travelers, you will see the costs average down.

Busman is right.

If you like splurging on good food, you will spend more. Singapore is not cheap for a good time, because the Singaporean dollar is on a par with the Australian dollar.

Thailand can be expensive as well if you do 'tourist' things.

Enjoy. and if you find you're spending too much, slow down and look for cheaper things to do and see.

I'm not sure how you ended up spending 700$ a week in thailand, but let me guess:

eating out in Bangkok, thai delicacies- prob 30 bucks a meal for the 'best' or more.
Tourist packages- priced for those who can afford the best.
not staying in a hostel. Hostels cost about 10 dollars a night, or did in Bangkok when I stayed there, but a good place will cost 50 bucks a night, or more, I'm sure.

Flying here and there- lots of money..

Busman is also correct about the time/money relationship:

The more time you spend in a place, if you're not staying at an expensive place, the less you spend. The more you move, the faster you move, transport prices skyrocket(esp with planes) and its hard to settle in a good cheaper place all the time, so you 'settle' for expensive and acceptable. The same goes for eating, if you have no time to find the best most affordable places to eat.

I spent a lot of money popping around venezuela, and lots more than I thought I would in Peru, because i saw so many destinatins, for me. Alas, when I wanted to stay for another month on a slower schedule, or two, my plane ticket could not be changed!!!

Oh well.

Enjoy!!!!

If it really worries you, make out a budget and see where your money is going, and correct the effusion of funds. Only you know where that is. Here's a hint: If you go out for fancy or hard drinks in a bar, they always seem to cost 5 bucks a pop or more no matter where you go, if you want quality. 50 bucks a night is nothing in any bar if you have good enough taste. Mexico, tequila?? good bottle can cost 50 bucks or more, the cheapest can be rotgut.

That's just one example.