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A Little Budget…Tracking Your Own Travels

14 October 2009 Comments

There are any number of reasons that you might want to track your own expenses on your travels: for tax purposes, budgeting, or just for the heck of it. Whatever they are, you are welcome to use the one that I developed for my own travels.

I posted my complete budget for my year around the world along with a spreadsheet with my own trip figures.

If you’d like to track your own though you can download your own spreadsheet that is fully formatted to calculate your budget as you travel on your own RTW trip – all you have to do is type in your expenses and it calculates the rest! Here’s what the RTW budget looks like if you download it.

And because I just couldn’t help myself, there’s even a mini list of instructions on how to use the spreadsheet (it’s easy, I promise!). When I was planning my own travels I couldn’t find this kind of detailed, country-by-country data with daily costs and the such online – that’s why I’ve posted it :-)

I’m going to take this opportunity to go on the record one last time and say that RTW travel is affordable. A lot of people have contacted me through blog expressing fears and concerns about financing their own trip – well, it’s doable and just look through any of the other RTW Travel blog links to read about other travelers who have saved up the money to fund their own trips around the world, or found location independent jobs so they can travel and earn money at the same time! Really, you just have to want it enough to see past all of the obstacles and hurdles we can all surely think up and find the way that’s right for you. :-)

And now I’m done on my soapbox, I promise!

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Curtis

Hi Shannon,

This spreadsheet is a great resource.Thank you for sharing it! I'll be using it on my trip through australia, China and Japan..

ShannonRTW

You're welcome Curtis! Glad that it will come in handy. Safe and happy travels and stop back in and let me know how you're trip goes - I haven't been to Japan yet but really want to go!! :-)

liz

Hey Shannon, its Lix.. the puking girl from the train to Laos :). Thanks so much for the spreadsheet template, I had one but your is sooo much better, i'll be using it from now on!

ShannonRTW

Hey Liz! You totally cracked me up with the puking comment and put me right back on that bus in Laos when Laura and I realized what was happening ;-) Glad that the spreadsheet is helpful! Where are you headed next?

Amy @ The Q Family

Thank you, Shannon for being so open and share your own experience. It's better to show with the proof than just word. And I'm sure that once and for all there will be no argument with your spreadsheet as a proof. :)

PS. I love Excel too so this rocks!!

Shannon

Thanks Amy! I get a nerdy warm and cozy feeling inside from it, lol :-)

Dave and Deb

Well said Shannon. RTW travel is affordable. Thanks for being a great inspiration to us all!

Shannon

Thanks Deb! You guys are such an inspiration as well and I'm excited for your upcoming trip, you're proof that it can be a lifestyle choice and not just a one-off :-)

Emma

I wholeheartedly agree, world travel is affordable, and also pretty easy these days (perhaps a little less when your're lugging four people around ;) ) But even with two young children (we started planning the trip before our youngest was born) we never entertained the thought that we couldn't do it. Like you say, if you want it enough, you will see 'between the trees' and find a way. Thanks Shannon :)