As soon as I got back from my six month backpacking trip, the first question that I got from my family was, how much did it cost you?
Cost will always be relative. It depends on what you can compromise and what you cannot. It also depends on what your perception of cheap is. If you’re a western traveller or a local executive who’s earning more than $3000 a month then budget won’t be an issue.
But if you’re just a regular Filipino guy whose monthly income is barely $400, then everything seem to be expensive.
I left Manila with only $600 in my pocket and travelled for six months in eight Asian countries.
Here’s how I did it.
Here’s how I did it.
Accommodation:
Five dollars was my ceiling or approximately around P250. Yes, it’s not a typographical error that’s only how much I could spend and if you do the math I wouldn’t really be able to afford it if I pay $5 for every single day I was on the road.
6 Months X 30 Days X $5 = $900 (I wouldn’t be able to afford this!!!)
Now, how the hell did I survive?
Looking at the numbers, I wouldn’t be able to afford to stay for six months. Check out my previous articles, ‘’How to Find Free Accommodation” and “How to Find Cheap Accommodation” for the details. I did everything that I mentioned in the articles except for camping and Wwofing (I almost did this but I was prompted to go home during that time- check out “Convince me to go to India” for the story behind the decision.)
Food:
This is the easiest to adjust. My budget for a meal was only $1 and I even went cheaper in some days. I know this is not a very practical and sane thing to do but I had to do it. There were even days when I only ate two meals a day. I also didn’t keep on buying bottled water. I always kept the old one and I went to a water refilling station and had it refilled.
This is not something that I recommend anyone to do. It can be hazardous to anyone’s health.
I also took advantage of eating as much as I could whenever someone treats me for a free lunch or dinner to compliment the nutrition that I lost in some days.
Transportation:
This is something that is a little beyond your control. We don’t dictate the airfares, cab fares, etc. But there are ways on how to save money for the transportation. Check out my previous article about saving on airfares, "How to Find the Cheapest Airfare". And also, do not be shy to ask your fellow traveller if they would like to share a cab, tuktuk or whatever with you. Chances are they will say yes. Everyone’s eager to save a dollar on everything.
Work along the Way
Work along the Way
If you’re in for a long trip and you don’t have enough bucks for it, ask around for a possible short employment. I did this for three months in one of the countries that I went to just to get free food and accommodation. By the way, before you engage in any kind of short term employment, make sure you stay informed with your rights and other stuff like that.
A lot of backpackers are doing this. There're a lot of odd jobs out there. I met a Singaporean in China who worked as a baker in Sapa, Vietnam for a few months just to get free accommodation and free food. There were some backpackers from UK, USA and other native English speaking countries who did some short stint in Southeast Asia and China as part time English teachers and tutors.
There were some backpacking artists busking (practice of performing in public places for tips) all over the world trying to earn some cents for their next meal.
There were also a lot of volunteering opportunities that offer free accommodation and sometimes free food.
The newest (not really so new) is earning from blogging about your travels and doing other online money making activities.
You could also submit your articles and pictures to some travel magazines back home to earn some bucks.
Doing part time job or volunteering enables you to travel slower on a certain place and thus gives you more opportunity to immense yourself in the local culture. It also becomes your break from your usual country hopping spree.
A lot of backpackers are doing this. There're a lot of odd jobs out there. I met a Singaporean in China who worked as a baker in Sapa, Vietnam for a few months just to get free accommodation and free food. There were some backpackers from UK, USA and other native English speaking countries who did some short stint in Southeast Asia and China as part time English teachers and tutors.
There were some backpacking artists busking (practice of performing in public places for tips) all over the world trying to earn some cents for their next meal.
There were also a lot of volunteering opportunities that offer free accommodation and sometimes free food.
The newest (not really so new) is earning from blogging about your travels and doing other online money making activities.
You could also submit your articles and pictures to some travel magazines back home to earn some bucks.
Doing part time job or volunteering enables you to travel slower on a certain place and thus gives you more opportunity to immense yourself in the local culture. It also becomes your break from your usual country hopping spree.
Backpacking is tougher when you really don’t have the money just like me when I did it last year. But more than the money, it’s your determination and passion that would make this possible for you.
If you really want something so bad, you'll find a way.
Volunteering - or 'voluntourism' as they say - is a great way to serve while immersing in another culture but many of them now require some sort of payment. I'm told the money is meant to help with an organization's upkeep.
ReplyDeleteHey Flip — an inspiring post. Can't believe you were able to adhere to $1/meal while on the road. That's $3/day budgeted for food — hardcore!
ReplyDelete@Dennis: I've seen some volunteering opportunities online that won't require you to pay though. Although I'm sure that in case you pay for volunteering, the money goes to the organization itself.
ReplyDelete@Daniel: That's only how much I could afford hehe although sometimes I wish I could've spent more especially when I see sweet treats like pastries etc.
One area in which money (and poundage) could be saved is travel guides. I typically do not want to pay $15 or more for a guidebook that weighs several pounds, contains dated and occasionally inaccurate information. This is especially so if I am interested in only certain sections of the book. So I trek down to the local library and check out the latest guides. While some of these guides may be several years old, I am only interested in learining about sights of interest and obtaining maps. Then, I access the Internet to find out the various accomodations and transport options available in the area, as well as any new attractions or developments. Once I I either discard the pages or hold onto them as momentos. Besides, my bookshelf is sagging from the weight of my early guidebooks.
ReplyDelete@flipnomad — if ever our paths cross and you're still adhering to the $1/meal budget—your meal and the first beer are on us!
ReplyDelete@jody: i definitely agree, the guidebooks cost alot, i didnt bother to buy one for china, india and nepal,. all i did was borrow from backpackers that i met and sometimes go online and wrote down the info (usually routes) that i need. thank you very much for the additional information :-)
ReplyDelete@daniel: wow! what a generous offer... i'll look forward to that.:-) take care on the road :-)
ReplyDeleteOoops, I forgot to mention that I photocopy only those pages of interest from the borrowed books, which are supplemented by Internet printouts and other notes. I did not want to create the impression that I tore these pages out of the books. Like you, I too have been given guidebooks by other backpackers who no longer need them on the trail, and who are relieved of the weight and bulk in their rucksacks. Once I am done with it, I pass it on to another needy backpacker or leave it in a hostel's book rack.
ReplyDeleteGreat article Flip!
ReplyDeleteSounds like you do things on quite a budget. I made my funds last for a long time on small things like never buying snacks or drinks, only drinking water and refilling at stations, continuous couchsurfing, volunteering, only buying the absolute necessary, and trying to share everything that needs to be payed for with as many people as possible. It also helps to be ultra flexible and accommodating to anything. Sounds like we used some similar tactics. Great job!
wow! i want to reiterate the other comment, that is one hardcore trip! $600 for 6 months, where did my money go, i spend double that money for a month! i need to get in your money management class very soon!
ReplyDeletethe problem is i always worry in the end, you know how it is when you've been drinking non-stop, the chances are you will keep on drinking... the next day you will ask yourself... where did my money go?! LoL
hey how about planning a trip real soon, flip, pinaytraveljunkie and pinoyboy???
@jody: hehehe yeah, i thought you tore out the pages, just kidding.
ReplyDelete@mark: i wish i could spend more but that's only how far my philiipine peso could go. maybe in the future i could hehehe
@jerik: im poor with budgetting too sometimes jerik... i did volunteered along the way to get free food and accommodation...
ReplyDeletewould love to travel soon but it seems like i wouldnt be able to travel this year because i just got a job and i dont have vacation leaves yet.
as soon as i get a vacation on nov ill contact you, maybe we can do a weekend trip.
whoa! you really were able to travel cheaply! I'll have to make something similar work for my big trip.
ReplyDelete@adam: you could do it bro so you can make your trip longer :-)
ReplyDeleteHey, can I join you, Pinoyboy, et al on a backpacking jaunt? I've been to the Philippines only once, as a child. Also, it would be nice to meet up with other pinoy/pinay backpackers. Maybe I'll buy the drinks ;^)
ReplyDeleteWow! I have got to read the rest of your articles and links on traveling cheap when I get home for a couple of months. You did great with your budget. Dave and I aren't the greatest at budgeting, I admit it. After traveling for so many years, we enjoy our creature comforts now more than ever. But we really have to get back on track for our next round of traveling and tighten up the budget a bit. Your tips will certainly help.
ReplyDelete@jody: sure jody although as of now i couldnt commit any specific date for the travel...
ReplyDelete@dave and deb: hehe budget is always the hardest thing to follow :-)
I remember my first backpacking trip. I went to Southeast Asia. My friends were asking me how much it cost to travel around and when I told them that I could actually stay at hostels for less than $5 a day they didn't believe me.
ReplyDeleteYou really can travel cheaply. Some people just need to be convinced of that though.
@steve: yup! as what they usually say, ïf there's a will, there's a way":-)
ReplyDeletei ddnt leave a comment here pala when i 1st read this. i suddenly rmmbrd this post and had to search for it coz I wsnt sure how much it cost you. i rmmbr telling exploreiloilo kase while we we're in Batad about your budget for your 6 mnths backpacking and like me, he too was amazed! grabeh ka tlga! saludo tlga ako sayo! idol! :)
ReplyDelete@gael: we have to do what we got to do ;-) need to live cheap so we could travel longer... some sacrifices for our passion...
ReplyDeleteWow Flip! $600 for 6 months is pretty hardcore :) We're planning on our own 6month backpacking adventure. We'll definitely check your blog to gather more tips from you!
ReplyDeletethanks solesisters, i'll definitely watch out for your future backpacking post... where are you going to backpack?
ReplyDeleteAll over SE Asia yeah! We're planning, researching, saving, blogging and sometimes we've been know to freak out. Hey, we'll ask tips and advice from you in the future ok? Happy travels!
ReplyDeletesure... i'd be happy to help out... check out my inputs about southeast asia :-)
ReplyDeleteI can't do this... I really can't do it... =(
ReplyDelete@kumagcow: you don't have to go thru it. the only reason i did it is because there's no other way... i really want to travel but i have limited financial resources... so i had to sacrifice some stuff to prolong my trip :-)
ReplyDelete