I’m about halfway through my pre-travel period. It’s been a little over 3 months since I decided to go to Australia and I’ve only been saving up since the end of July. It took me a month or so to pay off my debts from the last trip (my grandmother loaned me money for the airfare between Thailand and Croatia), so I just got out of the negatives. I’ve still got 4 months until I leave (131 days to be exact) and I still have a lot to come up with. I’ve already paid for my work and holiday visa and international drivers permit and almost have enough for my flight, but here are the expenses I have yet to pay for:
- round trip flight: about $1613 on Orbitz (stopping for 2 nights in Los Angeles on the way)
- hostels/accommodations: $900 (assuming I don’t stay in them every night of the trip, I’m looking at $30/night for 30 nights)
- food and spending money: $800 (about $25 per day for a month, if everything else is already paid for)
- PADI scuba diving class: $480 (this is a high number, but this is just to be prepared)
- internal flights: $250 (just in case I want to see Perth or somewhere else)
- campervan share: $400
- bungee jumping: $200
- travel insurance: $160
- Current amount saved: $1422.89
How have I done it? Well, having 2 jobs and an internship has prevented me from having a life, thus keeping me from spending money on things like dinner and drinks and clothes. I haven’t developed some plan for cutting back on things, it just worked out that way. My biggest expense these days is gas to get to work and back.
So can it be done? That has yet to be seen. I have 2 jobs and 4 months to make it happen. If not, I can get a job while I’m over there. Any tips or suggestions?
Ebay baby! Oh and sell your eggs. ;-)