FAO: ms_london

se999

Depending on where you want to go, you should know what time of year you want your trip. Also work out a basic cost. So why not work out two different budgets, one for doing it quickly the other for a year later. Then decide what you want to do.

You can always swap between the two if you get a mega-deal on flights or tours to bring it forward, or delay it if you find that travelling isn't such a priority (you'll have the money in your savings account earning interest ).

I've had to organise a big trip this year, and it's amazing what savings you can make when you research it thoroughly, shop around and then combine it with the cashback sites. But it did take a lot of time, but it was worth it.

The one thing I'd say about the holiday is that you need spare cash, because we've been places where you can enjoy the place very cheaply, but other places you actually need to be able to spend money to do the things that make it special to go there. Some of them you only discover when you get there.

Hope the weekend gets better.

Tondella

I take the point about how difficult it must be to budget for such an unknown quantity. If it were me I wouldn't delay travelling because i hadn't reached a preset savings target, you never know what might be around the corner (meeting master london for example?) that could scupper your plans. Carpe Diem, make a date and go for it. It's not such a bad dilemma to be in now is it!

ms_london

Tondella wrote:

I take the point about how difficult it must be to budget for such an unknown quantity. If it were me I wouldn't delay travelling because i hadn't reached a preset savings target, you never know what might be around the corner (meeting master london for example?) that could scupper your plans. Carpe Diem, make a date and go for it. It's not such a bad dilemma to be in now is it!

Thats very true. Its just irritating, because I get these things into my head and then feel as though Ive let myself down If i dont achieve them (paying off my final £10,000 in the last 11 months was one of them!!).

No. its not a bad position to be in, i'll be doing it for me, rather than saving for some fat cat at Lloyds :0)

Off to get some lunch, thanks for all of your kind words :0)

xx

Callisto

Hi Ms_London, Just wanted to say congratulations on being debt free, I've been following your posts with interest since I joined MSE a couple of months ago. You are an inspiration to many of us on here and I hope you will talk about your travel plans from time to time - I would love to hear about them! Get planning!

I was in Australia last year, 3 weeks visiting relatives in NSW and 3 weeks travelling up the east coast from Sydney to Cairns. It was great and I'm really hoping I can go again in the next couple of years... My favourite places were Sydney, the Whitsunday Islands and Bellingen - there was a river running through the valley in Bellingen and I did kayaking (brave for me as I dont really like boats!) and there is also a rainforest nearby in Dorrigo - was the first time I had seen a rainforest and there are trees that have stinging leaves! If you would like any advice on the East Coast places to visit or youth hostels etc in Oz, please feel free to pm me.